How Adventitious Roots Can Supercharge Growth

If ever you see adventitious roots (roots arising from stems and leaves) growing at the leaf nodes (that point where the leaves join the stem) of your plants, jump for joy. It means that, if utilized, a plant's growth can be supercharged. Why? Well, to a plant, having two or more sets of roots is the equivalent of an Olympic sprinter having two sets of legs - an obvious plus (forget the cost of the extra shoes).

HELPING THINGS ALONG
Of course, there's only an advantage if the extra roots can be buried. In a garden, this is usually no problem. But things are not so easy in a pot. Tomato growers, once they see these roots appear on the bottom nodes, remove the old leaves and place sleeves filled with compost (sitting on top of the original compost) around them. This is the next best thing to deeper soil.

As far as fuchsias are concerned, things are not so easy unless the plant is short-jointed, which this triphylla isn't. Never mind. Burying the node as much as possible will both lower the plant and produce shoots from the buds in the buried leaf axils (these will push up through the compost). It should also produce extra roots, provided the top of the compost is kept moist.