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Continuing the tutorial on growing standard fuchsias - Part
6: Things
are very quiet in the
greenhouses now. The standard fuchsia plants are only just ticking over, we
aim to keep them this way until the days begin to lengthen. If we fed them
and encouraged new growth in the lower light levels we have at this time of
year, the growth they made would be pale, weak and spindly. Just what we
don't want. When the light improves in late February and March is the time
to feed them and encourage sturdy new growth.
I'd like once again to emphasise that we should be very careful with the
watering during the winter months. If a plant does get extremely dry, we
should only give it a small amount of water. It is extremely easy to give it
that little bit more than it can handle, and waterlog the root-ball. So when
we water, we take great care!
In the damp, closed atmosphere we have in the
greenhouses we also need to keep watch for dead leaves and branches on the
plants, these can soon lead to the onset of mildew and botrytis. So we go
round the plants regularly and check them over for dead or decaying material
and remove it. A little care taken at this time of year will ensure that we
have healthy, good looking plants for next year's shows.
We're coming up to the end of 2002, and I'd like to
take this opportunity to wish you all, each and every one of you that visits
this page, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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Alfie Geeson
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