Fuchsia Compendium

Fuchsia Compendium - D

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

PESTS AND DISEASES Click here to go to the Pests and Diseases Page.

DAMPING DOWN - the wetting of floors and benches in the greenhouse to increase the humidity and help to reduce excessive temperatures. Damp down on hot days during spring, summer and autumn when ventilation alone does not reduce the temperature and when humidity levels are low. Humidity also discourages red spider mite which prefers a dry atmosphere.

DEAD HEADING - it is important to remove the spent flowers and berries from the plant. Left on the flower is likely to become affected by botrytis and the berries will slow down the flowering rate.

DEBRIS - make sure the surface of the compost is clean Pests like to hide under dead leaves. It also encourages Botrytis.

DEEP PLUNGE - this is a way of over wintering fuchsias. Pots are graded by size and then stood upright in a trench that is 5 inches deeper than the pot size. The trench is back filled with soil and added protection is given with an additional covering of straw.

DEFICIENCY - plants which are deficient in certain nutrients may show signs of ill health. Remedies defined under other headings. Also see Nutrients.

DEFOLIATE - a routine that is done before fuchsias are over wintered. It prevents pest and diseases being taken back into the greenhouse.

DEHYDRATION - this causes more losses of standards than low temperatures. Care must be taken over the watering needs of any large structure that is being over wintered. If the compost is allowed to dry out too much the sap can not be maintained in the stems. Once the stems have dehydrated the latent buds die.

DIE BACK - often occurs following poor pruning. The plant may bleed excessively I find a dab of rooting hormone powder helps to check the flow. Always cut back to just above a leaf joint.

DISBUD - a practice carried out by removing all the large buds from the plant two to five weeks before the show, hopefully to encourage those that are left to be fully open on show day.

DISEASES - Botrytis, Rust, Damping Off, Mildew, Root Rot. Bacterial Leaf Spot, Virus.

DISPLAYS - this is what growing fuchsias is all about, especially in your garden.

DORMANCY - a period in which the fuchsias are rested and then encouraged back into growth to give a supply of strong cuttings in the spring. It is said that plants are better for having a resting period but one way of getting large structures like 'fans' and 'standards' through the winter without the problem of some branches dying back is to keep them ticking over in green leaf.

DOUBLE - a flower with eight or more petals.

DRENCH - soaking a plant or it's roots with water or chemical solution.

DRESSING - the preparation of the plant for the show bench. All damaged leaves and blooms are removed. Berries are removed except on species and encliandras. Debris from the pot removed and the surface given a dressing of fresh compost. Most styles of growth can be staked but ties and stakes must be unobtrusive. Flowers are teased out from beneath the leaves and disentangled from each other. Finally write a new label.

DRIFT - it is important to avoid air borne droplets being carried away by a breeze onto other plants. Even what might seem a harmless spray can mark flowers and foliage so spoiling your show plant.

DUSTS - an insecticide or fungicide that is not often used on fuchsias because of it's unsightly nature. If botrytis is being a problem and the heat and ventilation cannot be increased, a dusting with the appropriate chemical can be very useful especially during autumn and winter. If you haven't the right equipment for dusting, a piece of muslin with the powder inside tied to a cane, held over the plants and tapped with a second cane works quite well.