Fuchsias are highly prized for their abundant flowering which lasts all summer. Their enchanting flowers take the form of trailing bell-shaped blooms in shades of red, pink, purple or white. This is a magnificent plant whether grown in borders, containers or hanging baskets. If you too admire fuchsia flowers, did you know it's possible to achieve even more abundant flowering? How? Simply by pinching them! Follow along, we'll explain how to pinch fuchsias to get more flowers during summer!

how to pinch fuchsias

Pinching fuchsias results in abundant flowering (here Fuchsia 'Elma-Hendricks')

Why pinch fuchsias?

Left to its own devices, your fuchsia will produce some long stems growing in all directions in an unbalanced and disorderly manner! By pinching your fuchsia, that is by cutting certain shoots at the right place and time, you'll force it to branch out and become denser. It will then form a beautiful graceful ball and reward you with a profusion of flowers! Admittedly pinching delays flowering, but it will be far more spectacular and generous. Moreover, this technique can be used throughout summer to encourage your fuchsia to rebloom and thus prolong the flowering period.

Fuchsia regia Reitzii

Fuchsia regia 'Reitzii'

When to pinch fuchsias?

Start pinching fuchsias in spring when they're still small and have at least 4 to 5 pairs of leaves. The pinched main stem will then produce two lateral stems. You can repeat this operation several times, bearing in mind that flower appearance will be slightly delayed. During summer, pinch any overly long stems that disrupt the plant's balanced appearance as it grows, to maintain a lovely rounded shape. Also pinch off faded flowers to encourage repeat flowering.

How to pinch fuchsias?

What do I need?

You can pinch fuchsias using secateurs, taking care to disinfect them first. Indeed, clean tools limit disease transmission between plants. Some gardeners prefer getting their hands dirty by simply pinching fuchsias with their fingernails.

How to pinch fuchsias properly?

  • On a young fuchsia shoot, count at least 3 to 4 pairs of leaves on the main stem starting from the base. Then cut just above this 3rd pair of leaves. Quickly, the fuchsia will produce 2 lateral shoots from the remaining top pair of leaves.
how to pinch fuchsias

pinch fuchsias just above 3 pairs of leaves

  • You can repeat this operation on these two lateral shoots when they have at least 3 pairs of leaves.
  • After this little pruning session, remember to water your fuchsia and give it some liquid fertiliser (such as geranium fertiliser). Repeat every 15 days on average or when you pinch it again.
  • To prolong flowering, pinch off flowers as soon as they fade. This encourages your fuchsia to produce new flowers rather than exhausting itself producing seeds.

To propagate or not to propagate?

You can take advantage of this pruning to make fuchsia cuttings. To do this, simply pinch stems when they have more than 8 double leaves. Cut to 3 or 4 leaves and keep the top part for your cutting.

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