Most gardeners who have been gardening for a while know what N.P.K. means but it is probably worth repeating.
 

 N  stands for Nitrogen and feeds the leaves and stems of the plant.
 P  stands for Phosphates which feed the roots.
 K  stands for Potash, this element helps to ripen the growth of the plant and also enhances colour.
 

These letters are accompanied by numbers e g 1:1:1 or 3:1:5 -  what does this mean?

The numbers simply show you the ratio of fertilizers in the feed so in 3:1:5 there would be more Potash than Nitrogen or Phosphates. 1:1:1 is regarded as a balanced feed as is 7:7:7.

So what should we use for Fuchsias ? As you become more and more interested and you get to know your own plants and environment, you talk to different people and read more you will adapt different ingredients but to begin with I will quote from an expert British grower one Ken Pilkington who says in his booklet

There is no universal feed with which to feed your plants if you wish to grow them to their best. Fuchsias in pots have differing needs depending on (a) what type of compost (soil mix) they are growing in, (b) the season of the year (c) whether it is a cold wet season or a hot sunny one.

I know all this sounds complicated, but if you haven't time to spare, or if you do not wish to try and give the plant what it needs, whenever it needs it, then feed right through the season with a balanced feed.

When buying a feed, don't just look for one with the ratio of nutrients, that you require, look also at how many trace elements there are in its makeup, then choose the one that has the most.

Now when do we feed ?

After your plants have rested for the winter it is of little use to pour in food before the roots have started moving, Ken Pilkington recommends the first step in Spring should be to spray the branches with tepid water rather than pouring food into the pot, in South Africa this might depend on where you live because our winters may not be as cold as in the UK.

Pilkington goes on to say

Mature plants:--- I water any plant that is showing signs of new growth with a High Nitrogen feed. e.g.3:1:1 at a quarter of the strength the manufacturer of the feed recommends. This weak feed is given again at weekly intervals depending on the temperature in which the plants are living. It is wrong to feed plants if it is below 10˚C or if the roots have not started to move in search of food.

Young plants:--- are treated differently. I do not think it necessary to liquid feed plants when they are young, because they are continually being potted up into fresh compost that contains everything they need. I find that by allowing them to search for food, not only encourages root development, but also helps to keep growth compact. I begin to liquid feed only after a plant has been potted on for the first time.

Why feed at quarter strength?

Most plants would prefer to have a frequent supply of a weak feed, rather than a strong one at weekly intervals. The recommended way of feeding Fuchsias is to use a quarter strength at every watering, but there are two points on this method of feeding that I would like to add at this stage: (a) If you have to water more than once a day use clear water for the second watering. (b) I think it is better to quarter strength feed every other day in prolonged hot spells when you have to water your plants every day. This is to prevent overfeeding. Feeding your plants every day with a quarter strength feed means that you are pouring food into the pot at almost twice the makers recommended rate. If feeding was to carry on at this rate for several weeks it could cause the balance of nutrients in the compost to be disturbed, and even worse damage the roots.

What about foliar feeds?

Spraying a plant with foliar feed can be useful early in the season, but I do not think it is necessary if the plant is growing on healthilyin a good quality compost (soil mix) Your plants will benefit, however, from a couple of sprays of Magnesium (Epsom Salts) at the rate of 2 tablespoons to 5 ltrs water later in the season but do this before the flowers open to avoid marking them.

Finally, for now, the art of watering.

There is  one thing that is vital if we are to keep our pot grown Fuchsias healthy and that is to see that the roots have an ample supply of oxygen. You can make sure that a plant gets regular changes of air in the pot by allowing the compost to nearly dry out between each watering. Remember, allowing a plant to come close to a wilt before watering results in success. Keeping the compost permanently wet can lead to disaster.

New cultivar has been  registered and named  Bunty Milton