If you’re a novice gardener, but want something high-impact for your low-maintenance garden, then Torenia plant is the perfect solution. This exotic looking annual blooms with vibrant blue or purple flowers that last all summer long. And to make it even easier for you, It is highly drought resistant and can even thrive in hot temperatures or poor soil conditions. In fact, Torenia Plant can be planted in window boxes or hanging baskets, even on patios and balconies.
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Although the blue or purple flowers may not be able to match the same beauty as plants that feature prettier colors like white lilies or yellow daffodils, you probably won’t mind if your garden lacks these blooms so much. This plant is also perfect for novice gardeners because it only requires a few maintenance steps, such as cutting back the plant after flowering for several months.
How To Grow Torenia Plant?
For several months, Torenia Plant will grow as a small plant in the ground or pot. When it begins to flower, you’ll need to cut out the flower buds so that Torenia Plant will continue blooming in its reduced form. After you’ve done this for several months, remove all of the spent flower buds and roots from your Torenia plant and transplant the entire plant into its final position in your garden.
The plant is a perennial, so you can harvest and enjoy it all year long in your landscape. For those who live in areas that get a lot of rain, you may want to overwater your Torenia Plant until the weather starts becoming dry, or you can use a planter that drains excess water once settled into place.
Torenia Plant Care Tips
Although Torenia Plant is easy to grow and maintain, it doesn’t take any special care to keep its beautiful blooms coming back every summer.
- Place in the sun
Torenia Plant likes to be placed in areas of the garden that receive six hours of sunlight each day. It can thrive in full-sun or partial-sun conditions.
- Soil and watering requirements
Give Torenia Plant a rich soil that drains well and maintain consistent, moderate watering throughout the summer. You should be able to water it at least every other day, although a daily watering regimen is safe as well.
Water in the morning to give the roots a chance to absorb as much moisture as they can before going dormant at night.
Torenia Plant will not do well in wet soil, so the watering cycle should focus on providing the right amount of water at the right time and controlling water runoff into nearby areas.
Some gardeners place a layer of mulch around Torenia Plant, while others use drip irrigation systems to keep their plants thriving in dry climates.
- When and what to fertilize
Apply slow-release fertilizers once and at the beginning of each growing season. If you notice any yellow leaves or stunted growth, it’s probably a sign that your Torenia Plant needs more nitrogen in its diet.
If you want to give Torenia Plant a boost of nutrients, feed it with a mature compost tea and applied at the base of the plant. This can help to achieve a vibrant green plant with large, healthy leaves. When you cut back your Torenia plant at the end of the summer, make sure to remove the spent flower stalks and roots because they will only contribute to an unhealthy and unprofitable plant.
- Insects and pests
Torenia Plant will grow well in areas that are pest-free, so you won’t have to deal with any nasty snails or other garden pests that may try to eat your plants.
One of the things that you’ll need to watch out for is slugs and snails. Their slime can damage your plant or its root system, which may cause the whole plant to rot.
You can reduce their infestation with a piece of clear plastic tied around the base of your Torenia Plant.
You may also notice a few spider mites around your Torenia Plant, but once you remove them, you should notice that the leaves will begin to grow back and your plant will be back in action.
- Growing from seed
Torenia Plant does not produce seeds and therefore can only be grown from cuttings of its own roots left in the soil. You can take cuttings by using a pair of flat-nosed pliers to snip the top off of a piece of the plant. Take two roots and place them in a small pot before covering it with soil, then place it inside your refrigerator until you’re ready to plant it outside.
- When to harvest
When you’ve decided that your Torenia Plant is mature enough for its blooms to fade, remove the leaves and stems from their stems and discard them because they will no longer be useful to the plant.
Does torenia need to be deadheaded?
Yes, Torenia Plant needs to be deadheaded to avoid the flowers becoming too abundant. This will keep your plants in their best looking form and help them conserve water and space in your garden. Simply cut off all of the flowers as soon as they are finished blooming, but don’t cut down the entire flower stalk. You’ll also want to do this for every season you grow this plant again, otherwise the rest of it will develop into an overgrown mess.