Remember that specialist fuchsia nurseries do an excellent job to ensure that a wide range of fuchsia cultivars stay in existence.
Further more, good advice is freely given with your purchases. The expertise gained over numerous years is a priceless asset to tap into - it is after all so much less painful to learn from the experience of others rather than making you own mistakes. Unfortunately year by year we see more specialist nurseries having to close in the battle with the garden centres which only carry a very limited range of the more easily propagated cultivars. If we want to keep the vast choice the specialists can offer us, it is up to us to endeavour in earnest to stop this trend by supporting them now. Go and see them - you are guaranteed a warm welcome and first class plants.

JANUARY

• The most important thing to be doing this month is keeping a check on your stored plants. Cold, damp conditions in a greenhouse can have serious consequences. Open the door and vents whenever possible, even the shortest period will be beneficial.
  
• Examine your plants and remove any dead or decaying material. Any dead material can cause Botrytis to set in, and can spread at an alarming rate.
  
• Also check for any sign of pests, particularly in heated greenhouses. If any pest or disease is noticed spray at once with an insecticide or pesticide observing the manufacturers recommendations.
  
• Water sparingly, don't let the plants dry out completely, a little (egg cup full) will be sufficient. Make sure you check all plants, especially those at the back of the staging.
  

• The days begin to draw out. If your plants are in a greenhouse spray stems with tepid water to soften the wood and encourage the growth of new shoots.
  
• Now, more than ever, you should keep an eye out for pests. Plants that are clear one day can be covered with aphids the next. Prevention is better than a cure so spray with an insecticide fortnightly, but remember to vary the types of spray as resistance is soon built up. If you don't wish to use chemicals use soft soap (Stergene) at the rate of a capful to two gallons of water. Do not use washing up liquid as this contains chemicals that may be harmful to the plant. When the pests have been eradicated rinse the plant with fresh water to stop the pores getting blocked.
  
• Now is the time that a few cuttings may be taken if you have a heated greenhouse or by using a propagator or windowsill (out of direct sun)
  

• As the days lengthen and the temperatures rise, if possible stand your plants outside for an hour or two. You can also start to feed plants with balanced feed i.e. Chempak No3, or Miracle-Gro at quarter strength once a week.
  
• Try not to let the temperature inside the greenhouse get too high on sunny days. It can still get cold at night and nothing is worse than your plants being in a greenhouse where temperatures during the day can reach 90F and drop to 40F at night.
  
• You should continue to open vents and the door and turn plants every couple of days to ensure even growth. If plants are on a windowsill use a reflector box lined with silver foil, or painted white, to reflect all available light.
  
• More cutting material will also be available.
  
• Keep on checking for pests and diseases.