Summer is the primary season for Torenia. This upright flowering plant grows 8 to 16 inches tall and 8 to 10 inches wide and prefers low light, but is otherwise not very fussy, making it an excellent plant to include in beds, borders, or containers. Torenia, or Wishbone Flower, grows as a perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11 and is commonly grown as an annual in other regions. It is possible to grow Torenia during the winter, but this low-maintenance plant will need to be brought inside in the late summer or early fall while the temperatures are still warm.
Protecting Torenia in Winter
Torenia can be grown outdoors year-round in USDA zones 10 and 11. Protection is unnecessary in warm climates, and the plants can be left to grow in the ground or in planters in warm regions. This plant simply cannot survive cold weather even with cover or protection, so Wishbone Flower plants must be brought inside and grown as houseplants during the winter in colder regions. If you choose to grow Torenia as a houseplant, it will thrive when kept in a warm area of the home.
Cutting Back Torenia For Winter
Pruning for winter will keep Torenia grown in zones 10 and 11 healthy. Plants grown as houseplants will also benefit from a trim before coming inside. Cutting back growth will rejuvenate the greenery and give it a fresh start.
Torenia Winter Care in Pots
Potted plants can be brought inside; just make sure to place the potted Torenia in a warm spot, away from drafts, and in medium to low indirect light. Container-grown plants need water very frequently when grown outdoors, but as houseplants, Torenia will need water less often.
Watering Torenia in Winter
Plants need a lot of water while actively growing during the summer. Torenia plants grown outdoors in warm regions during the winter will not need water as often but water when the soil is dry. Torenia will do best when the top several inches of soil dry out when grown as a houseplant. Saturate the soil until excess water drains through the pot.
Growing Torenia Indoors
Bringing the plant indoors can help Torenia survive the winter, but it may not be as showy as it is during the summer. Wishbone flowers can handle life indoors, but do not expect flowers. Under ideal conditions, the plant may bloom, but if not, you can keep the plant happy and healthy until it is time to go back outside.
Steps To Care For Torenia in Winter
Where your Torenia plant spends the winter will determine the type of care necessary. Plants grown in zones 10 and 11 can spend the winter outdoors. But in other areas, the only chance Wishbone Flower plants have to make it through the winter is if they are brought inside.
Step 1 - Trim back dead or damaged growth, as well as overgrowth.
Step 2 - Plants in the ground can be dug up and placed in a pot or container with drainage.
Step 3 - Bring potted Torenia inside and place in a warm spot that receives medium to low indirect light.
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Author Alison Cotsonas - Published 30-06-2022 |