Growing Kauai Mix Torenia Garden Seeds
- Taxonomy: Torenia fournieri
- Sow Indoors or Outdoors: Sow torenia Kauai Mix seeds 8 – 10 weeks before final frost date. Kauai Mix torenias do not transplant well, so start seeds in peat or paper pots. Torenia seeds will germinate at about 15 days in darkness. Place seedlings 4” beneath a fluorescent grow light until 3 – 4 true sets of leaves have emerged. If transplanting outside, harden off torenias into a warm, shady spot in the garden, porch, or window box.
- Days to Maturity: 84 – 98 days
- Hardiness Zone: 3 – 11
- Planting Depth: ½ – 1”
- Plant Spacing: 8 - 10"
- Growth Habit: Tidy 8 – 12” tall bushy mound with an 8” spread covered in exotic petals
- Soil Preference: Organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained
- Light Preference: Partial sun - full shade
- Diseases/Pests/Troubleshooting: Kauai Mix seeds thrive in extreme heat and humidity, but still require partial to full shade for proper blooming. Do not let soil dehydrate because Kauai Mix torenias thrive in moist, fertile soil. Properly ventilate Kauai Mix torenias as they are susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot.
- Color: Magenta, Lemon Drop, Burgundy, Deep Blue, Rose and White
Sow Kauai Mix torenia seeds 8 – 10 weeks before final frost date. Kauai Mix seeds do not transplant well, so begin germination in peat or paper pots. Torenia seeds will germinate at about 15 days in darkness. Place torenia Kauai Mix seedlings 4” beneath a fluorescent grow light until 3 – 4 sets of true leaves have emerged. If transplanting outside, harden off torenias into a warm, shady spot in the garden, porch, or window box. For direct outdoor sowing, plant torenia Kauai Mix seeds ½ – 1” deep and 8” apart in consistently moist, organic, rich, well-drained soil in partial to full shade. Kauai Mix torenias thrive in extreme heat and humidity, but still require partial to complete shade for fullest blooms. Do not let soil dehydrate as Kauai Mix torenias thrive in moist, fertile soil. Properly ventilate Kauai Mix torenias because they are susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot. Kauai Mix torenia seeds will mature at 84 – 98 days as compact 8 – 12” tall bushy mounds with an 8” spread covered in exotic bicolored petals of mixed magenta, lemon drop, burgundy, deep blue, rose and white.
Torenia fournieri is commonly called Wishbone Flower and is native to warm tropical regions of Asia. The genus Torenia honors 18th Century Swedish chaplain, Reverend Olof Toren. The species fournieri honors 19th Century French botanist Eugene Pierre Nicolas Fournier.