... continued form P.1
Containers
I prefer traditional porous clay pots to modern plastic ones.
The typical Japanese clay pot works as a heat exchanger to cool the compost when water vapors from its small pores.
The clay pot changes its color when you water the plant in it, as the pot itself absorbs water, as shown on the right.
The typical Japanese clay pot works as a heat exchanger to cool the compost when water vapors from its small pores.
The clay pot changes its color when you water the plant in it, as the pot itself absorbs water, as shown on the right.
Clay pot dried up.
For hanging containers, I use coir mats and wire baskets because coir insulates
heat better than plastic.
Clay pot moistened.
Summer cares and backups
From June though September, I protect my fuchsias with a screen net which
cuts approximately 65% of sunlight. I also spray water everyday to cool
down the foliage, and add some glucose to the spray water every few days
to compensate for the energy source fuchsias require.
In spite of my efforts, not all of my fuchsias can always survive the harsh summer. Thus, I make backups by cuttings at the end of April or beginning of May every year. Young cuttings are more heat-resistant than matured plants. They survive summer, grow vigorously and bring flowers again in the spring next year. Pre-summer cutting is a typical countermeasure against the extreme heat in hot climate areas in Japan..
In spite of my efforts, not all of my fuchsias can always survive the harsh summer. Thus, I make backups by cuttings at the end of April or beginning of May every year. Young cuttings are more heat-resistant than matured plants. They survive summer, grow vigorously and bring flowers again in the spring next year. Pre-summer cutting is a typical countermeasure against the extreme heat in hot climate areas in Japan..
Since 2006, I make it a practice to keep my fuchsias indoors during the summer time, which provides a better protection against extreme heat, thus a better chance to survive. At night the room is air-conditioned to maintain the temperature at no higher than 25oC.
Overwintering
Overwintering is quite easy, as the winter climate is mild here, with the
minimum temperature seldom dropping below 0oC (32oF).
My fuchsias, except some triphyllas, can stay outside throughout the winter. Only when an extremely low temperature is forecast, I have to bring them indoors
My fuchsias, except some triphyllas, can stay outside throughout the winter. Only when an extremely low temperature is forecast, I have to bring them indoors
Different challenges
For so small a country covering an area of only approximately 370,000 km2, the climate of Japan greatly differs depending on the region.
The table below shows the temperature data of several cities in Japan.
The table below shows the temperature data of several cities in Japan.
| Averages of maximum and minimum temperatures in 2000 (unit: Celsius) |
| January | February | July | August | |
| max. / min. | max. / min. | max. / min. | max. / min. | |
| Asahikawa | -3.8 / -11.2 | -3.8 / -14.2 | 26.7 / 18.6 | 28.3 / 18.9 |
| Sapporo | -0.1 / -5.8 | -0.6 / -7.0 | 26.4 / 19.2 | 28.3 / 20.7 |
| Tokyo | 11.1 / 4.5 | 9.8 / 2.7 | 31.6 / 24.8 | 32.4 / 25.8 |
| Nagano | 6.1 / -1.6 | 3.3 / -4.7 | 30.8 / 20.5 | 32.5 / 22.0 |
| Osaka | 10.5 / 4.4 | 8.6 / 2.3 | 33.0 / 25.6 | 35.1 / 26.5 |
| Fukuoka | 11.0 / 5.2 | 9.8 / 3.5 | 32.3 / 25.3 | 32.7 / 25.5 |
Note that fuchsias can enjoy comfortable summer while they require careful winter protection in northern areas.
Fuchsia growers in Japan have to cope with different challenges depending on where they live. What I'm doing where I live is not always applicable in other parts of Japan.
Fuchsia friends
In response to the growing interests in fuchsias, enthusiastic growers
have opened their fuchsia sites to give useful information on how to grow
fuchsias in Japan.
They also kindly answer any question posted by novice growers.
As a fuchsia lover in Japan, I would also like to be of some help to further promote the understanding of this attractive plant.
They also kindly answer any question posted by novice growers.
As a fuchsia lover in Japan, I would also like to be of some help to further promote the understanding of this attractive plant.
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