Fuchsia 'Voodoo' (Voodoo fuchsia) care

Light

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Thrives in bright, indirect light. A sheltered position with morning sun suits it well. Afternoon shade is beneficial in summer to prevent the dark petals from bleaching and to reduce bud drop. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water fuchsia 'voodoo' when the top 2 cm of compost are dry, roughly every 5-7 days in summer. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Large double blooms demand consistent moisture. Water thoroughly but allow the compost surface to dry slightly between waterings to reduce the risk of root rot and botrytis.

Soil and pot

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' grows best in rich, well-draining peat-free multipurpose compost. Use a high-quality peat-free compost with 20% added perlite to ensure drainage. Incorporate slow-release fertiliser at potting for a reliable nutrient background. Repot each spring. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' sits happiest at around 55-70% humidity and 10-24°C (50-75°F). Moderate to good humidity supports the large double flowers. In dry conditions, place pots on gravel trays with water or group plants together to raise humidity around the foliage. If you keep the room above 10 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed fuchsia 'voodoo' sparingly. Feed with a high-potash liquid fertiliser (e.g. tomato feed) every 7 days throughout the growing season. The large double flowers are extremely nutrient-demanding; underfed plants produce fewer, smaller blooms. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on fuchsia 'voodoo' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Bud drop — Large double buds are particularly sensitive to heat, drought, and sudden temperature changes. Maintain cool, stable conditions and consistent watering.
• Fuchsia gall mite — Distorts soft growing tips. Remove all affected material promptly; inspect new purchases carefully before introducing to a collection.
• Botrytis on large doubles — Heavy double blooms retain moisture as they age, promoting grey mould. Remove spent flowers at the calyx before they decay.
• Overwintering rot — Excess moisture over winter kills overwintered stock. Store in a frost-free, dry, bright place and water sparingly.
• Aphids — Congregate on succulent new shoots. Treat promptly with insecticidal soap to prevent establishment.

Companion plants

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' pairs well with Heliotrope 'Marine', Salvia patens 'Cambridge Blue', Lobelia 'Crystal Palace', and Verbena bonariensis. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Take 7-10 cm softwood cuttings in early spring for the main season. Root at 18-20°C with high humidity; pinch out growing tips at 2-3 leaf stages to encourage branching and maximise flower production. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' is pet-safe. Fuchsia is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA. 'Voodoo' belongs to the same non-toxic Fuchsia genus; the dark-coloured blooms carry no additional toxicity risk and ingestion would at most cause mild stomach upset. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of fuchsia 'voodoo' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common fuchsia 'voodoo' problems & fixes
• Fuchsia 'Voodoo' watering schedule
• Fuchsia 'Voodoo' light requirements
• Best soil mix for fuchsia 'voodoo'
• Fuchsia 'Voodoo' fertilizing guide
• When to repot fuchsia 'voodoo'
• How to propagate fuchsia 'voodoo'
• How to prune fuchsia 'voodoo'
• What's eating my fuchsia 'voodoo'?
• Fuchsia 'Voodoo' growth rate & size
• Fuchsia 'Voodoo' cold hardiness
• Fuchsia 'Voodoo' temperature & humidity
• Is fuchsia 'voodoo' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is fuchsia 'voodoo' toxic to cats?
• Is fuchsia 'voodoo' toxic to dogs?
• All 43 Fuchsia varieties
• Getting fuchsia 'voodoo' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' qualifies for 10 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best pet-safe houseplants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — every one verified against the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant list.
• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best pet-safe flowering plants — Flowering houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats and dogs — colour and blooms in a pet home, without the worry.
• Best pet-safe plants for bright light — Non-toxic to cats and dogs and happy in a bright, sunny spot — safe plants for your best-lit windowsill.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Best fast-growing houseplants — Houseplants documented as fast or vigorous growers — quick to fill a pot, cover a pole or trail down a shelf.
• Best cat-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to cats (and dogs) — safe greenery for a home with a curious cat.
• Best dog-safe plants — Houseplants the ASPCA lists as non-toxic to dogs (and cats) — safe greenery for a home with a curious dog.
• Browse all 30 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Fuchsia 'Voodoo' is also commonly called Voodoo fuchsia or double upright fuchsia.

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• All 11687 plant care guides in the Growli library