Western Cape Fuchsia Society

Meetings

The Western Cape Fuchsia Society meets at 2pm on the first Saturday of each month between February and November at the St Thomas Church Hall, Campground Road in Rondebosch. Every month there is a practical workshop during which an experienced grower demonstrates a particular aspect of cultivating fuchsias relevant to that time of the year. Afterwards members have some practical experience, for example, in June and July they can bring any of their own plants that need potting-up and they will be guided through this process on these plant/s.

 The Society also invites a guest speaker to some meetings to talk about an interesting aspect of gardening, not necessarily connected to growing fuchsias.

Visitors are always welcome to participate and at the end of the meeting, they have the opportunity to discuss any aspect of fuchsia growing with the members over tea and cake.

Should you wish to join the Society, please contact the secretary (details provided below) for all relevant information.

A membership form may be downloaded here.

WESTERN CAPE FUCHSIA SOCIETY 2026 PROGRAMME 

NOT YET AVAILABLE

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Meeting minutes

Date: 5th September 2026

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This month our meeting took place in the Koinonia Room.

There were 24 members present and 2 visitors

Apologies:   Nikki, Deidre, Nerina, Joanne, Estelle, Shirley, Prof Jan and Kotie.

There was a wonderful selection of items on the raffle table, including some beautiful clivia plants in full bloom.

Belinda opened the meeting.   She reminded the members that next month’s meeting would include a bumper raffle, as the Society wants to raise money for the Show.  

She then discussed what needs to be done for the fuchsias in September.  This includes continuing with feeding, foliar feeding and pinching according to our Pinching Schedule. Its also important to keep an eye open for pests and diseases, including rust, Red Spider Mite and Gall Mite.  A member suggested using Neem Oil for Gall Mite.  Another reminder was to keep turning the pots so that the fuchsia plants grow symmetrically.  Its also recommended that the pot surfaces are mulched to retain moisture.

Belinda then spoke about why we grow these plants, simply because they are so beautiful and rewarding.  They come in most colours except yellow, the only exception being the procumbence that is yellow.   In the wild fuchsias have four petals, but the hybrids that we know and love have four or more petals.  The other fuchsia types that we mostly cultivate are the triphyllas types which have dark, velvety leaves and encliandras which have very small dainty flowers with fernlike leaves. 

Then Francois showed everyone a new idea for displaying blooms at our annual Show, this time a wooden strip with holes to hold the fuchsia blooms.  A discussion took place with the pros and cons, but no final decision was made. A reminder was given about the pinching schedule in order that the blooms would be ready on the day of the Show.   Everyone was encouraged to enter the blooms category, 6 single blooms and/or 6 double blooms are required.

Felicity then gave a demonstration of how to grow fuchsias into special shapes – pillars, fans, circles, even a bonsai.  She demonstrated a new shape she was training, several La Campanella plants are planted at the base of a fan shape.  They will be allowed to grow half way up the fan shape and then the proper shaping will begin.  Amongst the fuchsia varieties that are recommended is Whiteknights Pearl, La Campanella, and small Encliandras. 

Then it was Noeline’s opportunity to tell us how to grow a mixed planter.  There is a category for mixed planters at the Show and the planter must feature fuchsias predominately but can include other plants that grow in the same conditions as the fuchsia.  The maximum size of the container to be 30 cm in diameter. Noeline’s notes are attached for easy reference.

The raffle was very enthusiastically supported and raise a wonderful amount of R860.

October’s meeting:  there will be more plant sales, an exciting quiz, a bumper raffle and there will be advice given to prepare your plants for the Show.

There will also be a Committee meeting afterwards.