Um Um Minatures
by
Barney Gonsalves, San Diego, CA
Published by the American Fuchsia Society
There is nothing like a good fuchsia show, a judged show is even better because it gets the public involved; especially if it includes a Peolpes Choice Award. Also, judged shows are becoming a thing of the past. We are at a point where the number of judges far exceeds the shows to be judged. Still, they’re out there and those clubs or branches that have them deserve a pat on the back from all of us who take advantage as lookie-loos. In an earlier article I wrote about the lack of wall pockets at the shows and described how to make your own. This time around another area just waiting for someone to enter and win a trophy, miniatures! Hardly any entrants in this class but plenty of fuchsias to choose from. This month’s project includes not one but two ways to grow and display many fuchsias when planted in containers that constrict the size of the root system will simply conform to the pot size by smaller growth patterns and usually respectively smaller blooms. In addition to those that accept miniaturizing there are also a number of cultivars with naturally small root systems, perfect for these small containers. Construction is simple and much leeway on size is possible. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your fuchsias
What you need for one 5” basket
(1) 1”x 8”x 6’fence board if you have access to a table saw to cut the boards into 1/2” x 1/2” x 5” slats. If not: (8) 1/2” x1/2” x 3’ redwood stakes, available at any garden shop.
(1) small spool 19-20 gauge wire, preferably stainless steel, but copper, aluminum or galvanized will work; all available at any hardware store.
Plus a drill and bit, no larger than 1/16”, long nose pliers, waterproof glue or hot melt
(optional) 3/4” copper weather stripping nails, hammer and saw.
Construction(1) Start by cutting fence board into three 5” pieces prior to ripping twenty-two 1/2” slats
from each. If using redwood stakes, simply cut the required number of slats 5” long.
(2) Once you have twenty-two 5” pieces, set six of them aside.
(3) Using a straight edge to butt press against, mark two on opposite ends 1/4” from edge
and draw across all sixteen pieces. Do the same to the other side. This is to mark for drilling
a 1/16” or smaller hole through all sixteen slats on both ends.
(4) To put the base of the basket together, start with four pre-drilled slats, sticking 3/4” nails
through holes to form a square with two tiers. Run a bead of glue on bottom rails.
(5) Space six undrilled slats on bottom rails and let glue dry. Then nail all six for added
strength.
(6) Cut four pieces of wire 5” long. Using long nose pliers, grab one end of a wire and
twist into a circle to make a needle for threading through slats.
(7) Turn base over, slat side down and two rails up. Remove guide nails from corners.
(8) Thread wire from bottom, starting at any corner, making it five tiers high. Using pliers
once again twist wire into a circle to snug up slats. Circle will be used to attach hanger.
Repeat at other three corners. Square up shape before snugging down final wire. Attach hanger of your choosing. Editor’s note: When I made this basket, I found it easier to work around the basket, threading one layer on each corner
.
(9) Fill open spaces of basket with spaghnum moss or agricultural rockwool. Insert plant from 4” pot and fill with planter mix.
A slightly larger basket will result if slats are cut to a 6” length. Anything over that would be out of scale; also using 3/4” or larger diameter will not look right. Dimensions are not critical and using a little imagination and patience, you can also create hexagon or octagon baskets.
Some fuchsias that can be used in small baskets include: ‘Isis’, F.procumbens, ‘Ocean Mist’, ‘Auntie Jinks’, ‘Postilion’, ‘Mrs. W.P. Wood’, ‘Sister Ginny’, ‘Tom Thumb’, ‘Bluette’, ‘Pink Rain’, F.microphylla, ‘Venus Vitrix’, ‘Waltztime’, ‘Red Rain’, ‘CourvaciousLady’‘, ‘Tropic Sunset’, ‘Little Ronnie’, ‘Balcon’, ‘Cascade’, ‘Purple Rain’, ‘Randy’, ‘Baby Lilac’ and ‘Baby Pink’.
The second way to grow mini plants involves very little work, a short shopping trip and an eye for just the right container. A good place to look for them are the cut rate stores full of items that are seconds, overstocks or cheaply made products that while not really good enough for decorating the home are plenty good enough for use in the garden.
Your imagination is the only instinct to follow in choosing the container as long as its not glass or fired ceramic. Plastic or wood products are great. One of my favorites is a goblet 4” across, 4” deep and with a stem 4” long. Its very cheap, milk white and plastic. Drainage holes in plastic containers are easily made using a small soldering iron or even a nail that has been heated over the stove. Drilling is fine if you are careful not to use too much pressure which sometimes causes plastic to crack or shatter. Rattan baskets are always beautiful with a fuchsia spilling out of them. The trick once again is to use the right fuchsia and the container in scale to the plant’s mature size.