tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66903273850977179452012-01-11T09:02:29.974+01:00A Collection of titbits about fuchsias and related issues.Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-92093376175314761362009-11-08T10:53:00.003+01:002009-11-08T11:05:25.789+01:00

We had a great response to the Mystery Challenge at the meeting yesterday! There were many plants on show, some of which were really superb! Well done to everybody who participated and special congratulations to Felicity whose plant was voted "Best on Show", and Doug who won the "Best Novice" award.Show fever is running high now - just 4 weeks to go!! Most members who are intending to show are

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-60355531813302849092009-08-21T11:58:00.003+02:002009-08-21T12:26:03.835+02:00

My apologies once more - I am still not well and have been taking things very easy! I must say that I am delighted with the way the plants are growing - even though they have not had all the attention they might have liked. Long may it continue!The show is looming as a reality in our lives now so I thought you might like to see my pinching schedule for the rest of the year. This only applies

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-32081426640895930882009-07-27T16:41:00.002+02:002009-07-27T16:58:40.414+02:00

08 Blog baby 18 weeks, originally uploaded by pennyeast.The dry sunny days that we have had have really helped the young plants to get going.I have been feeding each week with a half strength solution of seagrow, and turning each plant 90 degrees each week. When the plants are so small I pinch as soon as I see anything ready - shaping and finally pinching all the tips at the same time will come

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-70598662465882179122009-07-26T22:42:00.002+02:002009-07-27T16:56:55.596+02:00

07 blog baby 10 weeks, originally uploaded by pennyeast.I do apologise for having neglected this blog for 8 weeks!! Life ran away with me for a while! I will try to catch up and fill the gaps during this week, and then get back to the routine of posting progress once or twice a week. Many thanks to the many people who have sent messages of concern - your kindness and good wishes are

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-16370272595376790552009-05-24T21:39:00.003+02:002009-05-24T21:49:50.318+02:00

The Blog Baby is 8 weeks old. Tiny new shoots are developing in the leaf axils and all is looking good. No photograph today I'm afraid - I was determined to finish my pruning today as I have a very busy week ahead preparing for my son's 21st birthday party on Saturday. I'm pleased to report that I made it - just before the rain started!! Just a few bushes in the front garden to go but they

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-48364747557353656622009-05-17T16:20:00.003+02:002009-05-17T16:34:56.603+02:00

The little Blog Baby is seven weeks old. The two lateral buds below where it was pinched out last week are showing signs of growth, and the plant is looking very green and healthy It has weathered the storms this weekend very well, but the soil is very wet indeed so I won't be able to feed it until it is ready for watering again. I did turn it today though - along with all the other newly

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-43792410811402953922009-05-14T08:00:00.002+02:002009-05-14T08:04:28.393+02:00

T5 Extreme Cuttings, originally uploaded by pennyeast.The 5th and final post in the series on cuttings. Scroll down for previous entries.There are times when cutting material is in very short supply! At those times it is possible to divide a normal tip cutting (1 and 2) into four parts - all of which have a very good chance of taking!Figures 3 and 4 show the cutting divided into three and then

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-57222330673048002892009-05-12T07:03:00.004+02:002009-05-12T07:09:06.712+02:00

T4 Hard Wood Cuttings, originally uploaded by pennyeast.Number 4 in the series on different types of cuttings. Scroll down for the earlier posts.If you are really desperate to find cuttings of a particular cultivar and there is no new growth available, a piece of last year's growth, or "hard wood", can be pressed into service.Try to cut it so that there is a node to bury in the rooting medium on

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-56417262913484463702009-05-10T18:46:00.003+02:002009-05-13T18:15:08.157+02:00

The First Pinch, originally uploaded by pennyeast.Our "Blog Baby" is now 6 weeks old, well settled into its soil, and growing well - a little too well if the truth be told!It is quite tall and threatening to become a bit lanky. If it is left to its own devices it will just continue doing this and land up as a most unattractive plant with a few flowers right in the tip.So, it must be "pinched" or

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-4479481457006913072009-05-09T05:59:00.004+02:002009-05-09T06:07:13.248+02:00

T3 Semi Ripe Cuttings, originally uploaded by pennyeast.Part three in the series about cuttings. Scroll down for the previous two.Fuchsias are such obliging plants, that almost any little bit of material will root and grow into a new plant. There are times when you have to make the best of what is available. This case usually arises for me when I am wandering around somebody else's garden

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-5459398424365314272009-05-07T11:24:00.002+02:002009-05-07T11:26:21.856+02:00

T2 Soft Wood Cuttings, originally uploaded by pennyeast.Part Two in the series about different types of Fuchsia cuttings. Scroll down for Part One.There are times when cutting material is in short supply, or you need to propagate a large number of plants for a specific purpose. Here is one way to stretch the material you have. (More on this topic will follow later!)If you can only get one

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-8364118678047032642009-05-06T21:24:00.002+02:002009-05-06T21:26:16.701+02:00

T1 Types of Cuttings - Tip, originally uploaded by pennyeast.Quite a few people asked questions about the various types of cuttings that can can be taken when they were here on Friday. I will try to expand on these over the next few days.Remember the basics: Take cuttings from strong healthy plants, and take them when the plants are fresh and turgid. Watering the plants well the day before is

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-22489195539026985722009-05-03T17:16:00.006+02:002009-05-13T18:15:50.059+02:00

The Blog Baby is now 5 weeks old and has been uncovered and exposed to the elements for a week, and should be strong enough to take the shock of potting up. I'm always keen to pot up as soon as possible because the rooting medium contains no nutrients, and the little cutting must have nearly depleted its store of food by now as it has been making roots and growing quite strongly. That mustn't

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-91188270064731474752009-04-29T07:38:00.005+02:002009-05-01T06:46:08.207+02:00

The first real cold front of the season came through last night, bringing with it cool temperatures, some quite heavy rain, and strong gusts of wind. Winter is on the way!The majority of my cuttings are safe and snug and warm in the propagator and were unaffected by the weather,but the three little "Blog babies" in their small individual pots and plastic bags stand on a fairly exposed shelf, and

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-48413929923958717362009-04-27T22:51:00.004+02:002009-04-27T23:16:33.860+02:00

I wasn't going to grow any new standards this year as they do take up a lot of room, but when I spotted these two gorgeous cuttings this morning I couldn't resist them!'Phyllis', on the left, is a perfect cutting for growing a standard. It is straight and well balanced and has three leaves at each node. This means that she will make three new branches at each level on the main stem - 50% more

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-28331291560506631342009-04-26T16:33:00.005+02:002009-05-14T08:13:42.137+02:00

Cutting - 4 weeks old, originally uploaded by pennyeast.The Blog Baby cutting is now 4 weeks old and all can be revealed!I took the plastic cover off this morning and was delighted to see that there is new growth. This, and the fact that the little cutting resisted a gentle tug are proof that the cutting has rooted and is now a viable young plant!This means that I can leave the cover off now, and

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-13348023891291513032009-04-24T08:09:00.002+02:002009-04-24T08:17:44.241+02:00

Fuchsia 'Tasman Sea', originally uploaded by pennyeast - trying to catch up!.This is another new addition that I am particularly pleased with. I just love the way the gentle purples and mauves blend into each other in the petals. Also happy that the colours don't change much as the bloom matures. This is usually a factor in the purple range of colours - they often go quite pink as they mature

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-24073570519667554592009-04-19T06:21:00.004+02:002009-05-13T18:16:44.732+02:00

Well, the little cutting, which I have now named the "Blog Baby" has been in the rooting medium for three weeks, and we are half way to the next stage! It is still looking green and healthy and all systems are set to "GO". In the next two or three weeks it should have developed sufficient root to be planted up into our growing medium, so it's about time to make sure that all the required

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-36100595061243425862009-04-17T11:30:00.007+02:002009-04-17T12:02:57.947+02:00

Hawkmoth, originally uploaded by pennyeast - still MIA - sorry!!.I have been a bit annoyed over the past few days to still be finding young hawkmoth caterpillars on my fuchsias as I would have expected them to be gone by now. Imagine my reaction to finding a hawkmoth in its prime ready to lay eggs all over the place!!I'm having difficulty identifying this one - it doesn't look like the usual

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-9490730555938193592009-04-15T10:04:00.001+02:002009-04-15T10:14:57.889+02:00

This is a very young plant and these are the first flowers. I really am very pleased with it. It has grown strongly and promises to make a good full basket quite quickly. It has also proven to be quite pest and disease resistant so far having escaped the ravages of the Red Spider Mite epidemic earlier in the season, and has been untroubled by caterpillars, white fly aphids etc.!The flowers

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-31300150236346565452009-04-12T17:28:00.005+02:002009-05-13T18:17:04.582+02:00

There isn't much to report about the cutting today, which is good news in itself! It is looking crisp and fresh, and there is sufficient moisture in the system, so I have left well alone. I did turn it 90 degrees clockwise to ensure that it will get even light. I will try to remember to do this every week!There is generally not much to do in the shade house at present other than dead heading

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-24315019381916652452009-04-08T18:12:00.002+02:002009-04-12T17:49:01.025+02:00

Fuchsia 'Dollar Princess' - petaloid-4 copy, originally uploaded by pennyeast - MIA for a few days.The summer heat, and end of season fatigue, seems to cause many aberrations in fuchsia blooms. Here 'Dollar Princess' has developed a stray petaloid on the end of a stamen. This is one of the most common "oddities" to arise - others include fasciation (that is when blooms are fused together and look

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-30234575306550193652009-04-07T16:22:00.003+02:002009-04-12T17:46:50.608+02:00

13 New cuttings 4-4-09, originally uploaded by pennyeast - MIA for a few days.The weather seems to have cooled down at last, and most of my plants are showing signs of new growth. Autumn is a good time to strike cuttings, which will then grow steadily through the winter and be quite a good size by the time the older plants have recovered from pruning. I am putting lots of cuttings in this year,

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-79751415071703011872009-04-05T16:28:00.006+02:002009-05-13T18:17:32.641+02:00

Cutting 1 week old, originally uploaded by pennyeast - MIA for a few days.This cutting was taken on 24th march 2009, and planted into plain Vermiculite. I usually use a mix of 1 part Perlite to two parts Vermiculite, but I was out of Perlite and needed to get the pics done for the notes! It will be interesting to see how the rooting process differs if at all.After the first week this little

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-81006875003139034372009-04-05T16:27:00.003+02:002009-05-13T18:17:56.202+02:00

Cutting 1 week old-2, originally uploaded by pennyeast - MIA for a few days.I have gently rubbed the bag to move some of the condensation. The cutting is clearly alive and well. Long may it last!

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-1146696017366767752009-04-04T12:28:00.006+02:002009-05-13T18:18:41.339+02:00

I really will try to keep this up to date now!!!The summer is still dragging on and temperatures are still very high so there have been huge problems with Red Spider Mite and many plants were more or less defoliated. Most of them look terrible!!The mornings and evenings have begun to cool down, and there are the exciting signs of new growth starting up. There should be some good cutting

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-25065690102695315152009-02-17T06:41:00.005+01:002009-02-17T06:57:19.125+01:00

The hot and windy weather has continued - as is to be expected in February in the Cape!My young rooted cuttings (3 January) are taking strain and some have succumbed. A pity as I was hoping they would provide a couple of "Current Year" entries for the show. It's the chance you take with summer cuttings!!The young Jhb plants are also not doing well. About 5 appear to be beyond help, and at least

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-14851668139003426952009-02-14T08:24:00.003+01:002009-02-14T08:30:19.482+01:00

It has been VERY hot for a few days - around 36 C - and the plants are all looking a little tired. It is cooler today, but, of course, the wind is blowing strongly!! Will go out this morning and water everything well and give them a little Kelpac as a tonic and 'Pick-me-up".I can't wait for the cooler weather!!!!Fuchsia of the DayThaisFuchsia 'Thais', originally uploaded by pennyeast.

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-29496883940111434732009-02-07T20:16:00.003+01:002009-02-07T20:35:54.091+01:00

We had our AGM this afternoon, followed by the prizegiving and a cocktail party. It all went well was fun. Although I didn't count heads, it seemed to be a fairly small turn out! - Usually the case with AGMsDespite our worries beforehand, there was lots of food and it was all very nice - a good time was had by all.The young JHB plants are not looking wonderful! Some look dead already, some

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-58610393761221754222009-02-06T15:27:00.004+01:002009-02-06T15:45:25.595+01:00

I am happy to say that I have eventually completed the summer tidy-up. All plants have been trimmed, topped up with compost and fed. The labels have been replaced as necessary, and my stock list is up to date!The young plants from JHB are suffering in the intense heat of yesterday and today - three or four of them don't look as if they are going to survive. I'm doing what I can for them!

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-35814880722195118012009-02-04T20:33:00.003+01:002009-02-04T20:45:55.757+01:00

The new little plants arrived today - 30 of them!! I was very impressed with the postal service - they left Johannesburg late yesterday morning and were here by 10 o'clock today!They do look a little rumpled as they were packed pretty tightly to stop them moving around in transit. Most of them look strong and healthy after being potted up and watered and misted. 3 or 4 of them look pretty

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-59602204741676839232009-02-02T20:43:00.004+01:002009-02-02T21:01:10.919+01:00

Didn't do much in the shade house today - busy with other things!Very excited to hear from Beth that she has some plants ready to mail to me! It has been so hot that she wouldn't disturb the young plants, but the heatwave has broken. can't wait to see what she sends and what condition they are in when they get here!! First time I've done this!All my plants seem to be standing up to the heat

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-30189643589909041252009-02-01T12:08:00.005+01:002009-02-01T16:39:00.861+01:00

This poor little Blog was forgotten in the excitement of learning new things about photography, Flickr, Facebook, and many other new electronic delights!!I'm going to try to pick it up again and run with it for at least a year!! I will be recording activities with my fuchsias, and in my garden in general.The mature plants have all had their "summer pruning" last month, and the compost in the

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-88547309276040713072007-08-31T21:09:00.000+02:002007-08-31T21:17:06.397+02:00

Everyone is getting a bit jumpy about the show in 12 week's time!! It is still very cold and we have had lots of rain this week again. The plants are growing, but are not at the stage we would have expected had the weather been good.I have pinched back quite a few this week, but will probably only be able to do so once more before they must be allowed to flower.They all received a dose of

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-83389526466288179532007-08-21T21:05:00.000+02:002007-08-21T21:08:55.232+02:00

The older plants are growing rapidly - more pinching required today. Looks as if they are ready for feeding again - the plants in the small shade house appear to be a bit pale in colour. Evidence of caterpillar activity in the passageway - couldn't find any culprits so will just have to spray with a general insecticide when the weather clears. Still quite cold and lots of rain around till

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-4035787604901673792007-08-18T22:04:00.000+02:002007-08-18T22:06:18.747+02:00

Growth is speeding up and some of the plants arebeginning to look really good - there areeven a couple of stray very early flowers on Abbe Farges, Shelford, and Beacon!!So things are looking up!The pests have also sterted - aphids and Lily Borer caterpillars are evident - need to spray on Monday!!

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6690327385097717945.post-47120259580120563912007-08-16T16:55:00.000+02:002007-08-16T22:25:05.940+02:00

I intend to use this space to record a year in the life of my Fuchsia collection.We are right at the beginning of the season, new cuttings are ready to be planted out, older plants are growing strongly and I've just started pinching and shaping. Growth is a little slow, but we have had a very cold, wet winter thus far. Hope it speeds up considerably as the show is a mere 16 weeks away!!

Pennyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08645042907660950489noreply@blogger.com0