Fuchsias As Houseplants: Tips On Growing Fuchsias Indoors

Fuchsias are beautiful plants, valued for the silky, brightly colored blooms that dangle like jewels below the foliage. The plants are most often grown outdoors in hanging baskets, and growing fuchsias as houseplants isn’t always successful because of the warm, dry indoor air. However, if you can provide the ideal growing conditions, you may be lucky enough to grow spectacular fuchsia indoor plants.

How to Grow Fuchsia Indoors

Plant your fuchsia in a container filled with any good quality commercial potting soil. Place the fuchsia in bright, indirect light, as fuchsias don’t do well in hot, intense sunlight. The room should be cool – about 60 to 70 F. (15-21 C.) during the day and a few degrees cooler during the night. The plant won’t bloom in temps above 75 F. (24 C.). Water the plant regularly during spring and summer, providing water as needed to keep the potting mix lightly moist but not soggy. Fuchsias are heavy feeders that benefit from regular fertilization. To simplify matters, add a 50 percent dilute solution of water-soluble fertilizer to the water with each irrigation.

Fuchsia Plant Care Indoors During Fall and Winter

To prepare the fuchsia for winter dormancy, decrease water gradually in autumn, gradually increasing the time between each irrigation. Stop feeding the plant in autumn too. The plant will most likely drop its leaves during the winter months. This is normal. Some gardeners prefer to trim the plant to a height of about 6 inches (15 cm.) in autumn. Move the plant into a cool, dark room where temperatures are consistently maintained between 45 and 55 degrees F. (7-13 C.). Water the plant lightly two or three times during the winter months. Bring the plant back into normal room temperatures and resume regular watering and feeding in spring. If the plant is rootbound, this is an ideal time to move it to a new, slightly larger pot.