help with fuchsias please

[dingaling]

I brought my fuchsia plants indoors while it was so cold,they are in an unheated porch and watered very sparingly, but still they are sprouting new leaves. Should I leave them to grow, as it seems very early to me or should I 'rub' the new growth off, which seems a shame?Hope someone out there can help.Thank you.

[Hawkwalk]

This will depend on which variety they are. If they are hardy ones then leave them outside. If non-hardy and you are trying to over-winter then they will begin to shoot and will only become a problem if the growth is getting too soft due to lack of light or too much heat. Rather than rub off new growth you can pinch it back to allow it to re-grow and branch better.

[WendyS]

Fuchsia plants hate frost so I'd be inclined to keep them where they are and let them continue growing until the last frost in your area has finished. Unless they start growing too vigorously I'd let them run as this might help them flower a little earlier. Obviously if they get too sprouty you can snip off a little top growth. But do keep a watch out for whitefly which can sometimes be a nuisance to over-wintered plants and if you get a nice sunny day, leave them outside for a few hours.

[dingaling]

Thank you both, they are non hardy so I will leave them as you say, and keep an eye out for the dreaded whitefly!!

[katerich48]

All my fuchsias are outside and have been all winter - 3 out of 4 have new flowers growing - in fact two of them have lost no leaves at all really. I live in Central London.. I have never brought them in all the time I've had them...