Don’s Expert Answers: Fuschia not looking to swish

Question From: 
Grahame Merrick in  Hemmant,  Brisbane QLD

 

Nature of problem: 
Fuschia not looking to swish

 

Type of Plant (if known): 
Fuschia

 

Symptoms of Plant Illness (please try NOT to diagnose your problems yourself): 
Leaves and flowers dying or dead

 

Soil Type (e.g. sandy, clay or loam) OR Potting Mix Type: 
Garden soil, fairly heavy

 

How often do you water the plant:
Every 2 or 3 days

 

How many hours of sunlight does the plant get each day:
At this time of year about 4 or so, a grevillia tree which gave shelter has been trimmed fairly hard so the sunlight is hot at present

 

What type of plant is it:
The trunk of the plant is about 2 inches in diameter and it is about 5 feet high, there are several layered branches (rooted) at base.

 

How long since you planted it:
2 years.

 

Have you fertilised? If so, with what and when:
Worm juice horse manure , twice since planting

 

Is the plant indoors or outdoors: 
Outdoors facing east

 

Is the plant in a pot or in the ground: 
In ground

 

What other treatments have you given the plant: 
None

Upload photo if available: 
Stem of Plant approx 2inches diameter and about 5 feet high.jpg

Other Comments: 
The plant has shown no other signs of distress and the layered branches seem to be doing ok. We have been having some extended hot dry spells, with continuous hot winds. I have recently severed the layered branches from the trunk. The plant looks untidy, with branches all over the place and the top is bent over from the weight of this years’blooms etc. IT HAS TAKEN ME MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS TO GROW ONE OF THESE DELIGHTFUL PLANTS, I always tried to grow one from my grandmother in Newcastle but failed and even plants purchased in Brisbane didn’t fare too well,I DON’T WANT TO LOOSE THIS BEAUTY…
PLEASE HELP RESCUE MY FUSCHIA1!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards Grahame Merrick

 

Answer: Hi Grahame,  I can’t see much at all on the photo, so I will have to make a guess. Get some Yates Anti Rot and apply it as directed to the leaves and the surrounding soil. It might be sunburn, so erect some temporary shade cloth over it until the end of March.  Good luck,  Don