| Description: | Loving warm and half-shaded places, torenias have conquered their place in the bed and balcony assortment in the past decade, and deservedly so. But breeding means continuous change. While a compact growth is desirable for the cultivator, it is primarily the multitude of colours thought impossible for a long time that is appreciated by the consumer. Torenias can be excellently combined with other products provided the requirements in respect of the place (full sun to half-shade, homogeneous soil moisture, proper thermal conditions and moderate fertilization) are similar. |
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| Potting: | 11 - 12 cm pots; 40 - 30 plants/m²; weeks 6 - 12 25 cm hanging basket (3 plants per basket); approx. 9 baskets/m²; weeks 1 - 6 |
| Substrate: | Substrate of type 2; pH approx. 5 |
| Fertilization: | Moderately consumptive, application of 0,15 - 0.3 % complete fertilizer once or twice a week. Have an eye on iron deficiency symptoms during cultivation. Should they occur, they can easily be remedied with conventional iron chelate fertilizers. |
| Temperature: | Start at 18 - 20 °C, lower to 16 to 18 °C after 2 to 3 weeks. Temperatures below 14 °C will result in growth depression and a bluish discolouration of the leaves. |
| Light: | Full light, no shadow. Half-shades at the end consumer's are easily tolerated. |
| Flowering: | From mid-May depending on light conditions. |
| Growth regulators: | Our varieties are extremely compact. If required at all, apply Topflor (0.05 %) a single time as inhibitor. |
| Pinching: | 1 to 2 weeks after potting or immediately in case of a suitable young plant size. Further pinching is not necessary. However, if branching is not satisfactory, some trimming or shaping is recommended to get a better plant build-up. |
| Diseases and pest: | Botrytis, lice, soft-bodied mites, thrips [are vectors for TSW (tomato spotted wilt) viruses ? leads to heavy necrosis]; take hygienic measures! |
| Water balance is of importance; the plants must not stand too wet, danger of botrytis, damage to roots and irregular plant build-up are the consequences. | |