How to Save An Overwatered Fuchsia?
Fuchsia plants are loved by many for their unique and vibrant bell-shaped flowers. They also help make your garden attractive to pollinators like butterflies, bumblebees, and hummingbirds. You can plant fuchsias in the ground, or raise your decor game by letting them trail from hanging baskets.
But, while they are lovely to look at, there is no denying that fuchsias are fussy when it comes to their watering needs. An overwatered fuchsia will usually appear sad and wilted, and will not make a positive contribution to the aesthetic of your garden or living space.
If you notice these signs of overwatering, do not panic. Check your plant’s symptoms to confirm that the issue is, indeed, overwatering, and hopefully you can apply the right solutions in time to rescue your plant.
Why overwatering is bad for your fuchsia
One of the most important things you probably learned when you first started gardening is never to overwater your plants. But you might still not understand what exactly makes overwatering so dangerous for your garden ornamentals.
Well, first of all, overwatering can seriously restrict the supply of oxygen to a plant’s roots. Furthermore, too much water in the soil can actually drown the roots, leading to an irreversible condition called root rot. For this reason, overwatering is considered the number one killer of houseplants.
Just like other living organisms, our green friends rely on oxygen to stay alive. Oxygen is an essential ingredient, along with sunlight and water, for plants to create their own nourishment in the form of sugars and starches. And one of the main functions of the root system is to transport a sufficient supply of oxygen to the plant from the soil’s air pockets.
However, when the soil is too wet or waterlogged, it no longer has enough air pockets, so the plant’s oxygen supply is cut off. The wet conditions also create a favorable environment for soil-borne fungi, and these pathogens will cause the roots to deteriorate even faster, eventually killing the entire plant. One of the most common of these rot-exacerbating pathogens is Phytophthora spp., a type of fungus that thrives in damp and humid environments.
Aside from fuchsia, almost any type of crop, shrub, or ornamental plant can develop root rot. Unfortunately, overwatering can sometimes be misdiagnosed as pest infestation or even underwatering. Because root rot happens underground, without actually uprooting your plant to check the roots, you might not realize what is happening to your plant until the damage becomes really severe and obvious.
Overwatered Fuchsia tell-tale signs
The first step in diagnosing your plant’s problem is to understand the symptoms. If you suspect your fuchsia is overwatered, check out the tell-tale signs below to see if they fit with your plant’s current symptoms:
1. Leaves turning brown
Browning of the tips and margins of the leaves is a classic sign of overwatering. But how does this happen?
Plant tissue is mostly made up of water, which helps maintain the turgor pressure within the cell walls, keeping the leaves and stems firm and upright. Starting from the roots, moisture is passed through the plant until it reaches the end of the line, which is the tips of the leaves.
In the case of overwatering, the excessive moisture absorbed by the roots causes too much pressure on the leaf cells. Eventually, these cells burst, leaving brown crusty tips or margins on the leaves.
2. Leaves turning yellow
Yellowing leaves is a symptom of both under- and overwatering, so this sign is often misdiagnosed as underwatering. But, in this case, the yellowing leaves indicate that the roots of your fuchsia are drowning. The leaves might display a green-and-yellow mosaic pattern although they are still firmly attached to the stems.
Yellowing fuchsia leaves are also a sign that your plant is losing its vigor. Water plays an important role in photosynthesis, and with deteriorating roots, the plant’s supply of water and nutrients is restricted. This, in turn, affects the metabolic activities of the plant.
Eventually, the yellow leaves will fall off – including the younger leaves – due to the lack of moisture.
3. Dropping buds
After months of caring for and growing your fuchsias, you will be justifiably excited to finally see them bloom! But if their buds do not open and instead fall off, something is seriously wrong.
As you might know by now, fuchsias do not like their soil to be too dry or too saturated. If you have been overwatering your plants, this is probably the reason behind the bud drop. Try not to go overboard when watering your plants in future – ensure that the soil is slightly moist but not waterlogged. This will enable your plants to focus their energy on producing beautiful blooms.
4. Signs of root rot
We have mentioned previously how root rot can severely damage and kill your plants. Aside from browning leaves, other symptoms of root rot might also start to surface, including defoliation, stunted growth, mushy leaves or stems, wilting leaves, a droopy appearance, and dry, crispy leaves.
If you lift the plant from its pot, you might also notice the roots have turned dark in color and look mushy. Rotting roots also emit a foul odor that is slightly sulfurous. All of these symptoms confirm that your plant is struggling with decaying roots.
How to save an overwatered fuchsia
Rescuing an overwatered fuchsia can be successful if done in the early stages of the problem and before any root rot has become too severe. As soon as you notice the signs of overwatering or root rot, follow these steps to prevent further damage:
- Stop watering your plant for a couple of days until the soil dries up a bit. If your plant improves, then from now on, reduce your watering. It is always a good idea to manually check the soil’s moisture levels before watering your plant.
- If the previous step does not perk your plant back up, then you need to remove it from its container or uproot it from the ground so that you can see the roots. Do you still see a lot of healthy, white roots? If so, you can save your plant. Gently wash the roots to remove the dirt and trim off any dead roots you see. Then transfer your plant to fresh, well-draining soil.
- If most of the roots are damaged, that means the root rot is severe and it might not be possible to revive your plant. In this case, it is better to discard the entire plant and start over with a new one.
- To avoid root rot in the future, remember to water your plants only when necessary. Water thoroughly and deeply, and then allow the soil to dry out a bit (but not completely) before watering again.
- Add rotten manure or compost to the soil to improve its drainage. This will also help lock in moisture and provide enough nutrients for your fuchsias.
- Adjust your watering schedule according to the season and the local rainfall. Also avoid overhead irrigation, as wet leaves can promote fungal diseases.
- Keep in mind that the surface of the soil usually dries out first, but that does not mean your plant is drought-stressed. If the surface looks dry, try to check the dampness of the soil at root level. You can do this by poking your finger into the soil to about two inches deep. Soil probes also offer a convenient solution to accurately check the moisture level in the soil.
How often should a fuschia be watered?
As mentioned previously, fuchsias can be a bit fussy about their watering needs. Keeping their soil too dry or too wet can cause drooping, along with browning or yellowing of their leaves. They like their soil to be consistently moist – just enough to keep them hydrated and functioning.
So, depending on other environmental factors like temperature and weather conditions, you need to adjust your watering to meet the needs of your plants. For example, if your fuchsias are planted in the ground, try watering them once or twice a week and see how they respond. For younger plants, you might need to water them every two or three days.
For fuchsias grown in containers or hanging baskets, their watering needs might be more demanding, particularly in the hot summer months. Make sure to keep a regular eye on your local weather conditions as well as the soil, and water your plants as necessary.
Conclusion
Fuchsias are generally fussy about their soil – they do not want it too dry or too wet. Unfortunately, when we notice our favorite plants looking a bit sad and droopy, we might panic and respond hastily by giving them more water. However, this can exacerbate the issue if the plant is overwatered, and you may end up killing it even faster!
Instead of this hasty response, try to diagnose the problem correctly according to its symptoms. Hopefully, through this guide, you have learned what an overwatered fuchsia looks like and how to deal with the issue appropriately.
Image: istockphoto.com / Richard Griffin