United States

Thank you for your wonderful website!
I have a fuchia which is planted in the ground. It must be at least 30 or 40 years old. It is so established that it has a trunk with bark on it; the plant stands approx. 8 feet tall. I recently built a lovely trellis for it. I've loved and nurtured it for 14 years (even though I suppose, technically, it belongs to the Manager of our mobile home park, as it is actually planted instead of in a pot - I still view it as "mine" anyway).
Occasionally, it gets a type of blight. My mother told me years ago to take the affected leaves and flowers (everything seems to shrivel/pucker) and toss them in the garbage in a sealed plastic bag so the blight doesn't spread. This has happened over several seasons - though not every year; so far I've been able to handle it. It's worrying me more this year because the plant is in the most beautiful form ever! Is there something I should be doing (I prefer organic remedies, as I feed wild birds in my yard - and the hummingbirds take nectar from this fuchia). Currently, I regularly give it Schultz (a weak solution every other day or so) and Miracle Grow (every 2 - 3 weeks). I thank everyone in advance for their time and effort on my behalf. I wish I could share a photo, but I don't have a way to do that at the moment. Just one other thing: I don't know the name of this fuchia, but it has a purply "skirt" with magenta "wings"; it does amazingly well with heat and sun. It even grows and blooms in the winter! I also have great luck rooting cuttings from it; it also makes great cut flower arrangements. It lives in the Southern end of the San Francisco Bay area.
I eagerly await your response.
With many thanks,
Angela

• 31 Jul, 2012