Keep The Summer Heat From Scorching Torenia Plants With This Gardening Tip

If your home is in need of a pop of color, Torenia fournieri flowers are sure to liven up your space. This annual plant is known as the clown flower or the wishbone flower, the latter name referencing how its stamens form a wishbone shape when they touch. While it's a gorgeous plant, torenia isn't particularly fond of the heat, and intense sun exposure may burn its lush green foliage. The best way to prevent scorching the torenia plant to a crisp is simply by growing it indoors instead.

Bringing torenia into your home is a win-win situation for a number of reasons. By growing the plant indoors, not only will you be sheltering it from the afternoon sun's damaging rays, but the torenia's stunning lilac and deep purple flowers grow well in containers and can even hang beautifully from baskets, due to its semi-trailing growth habit. The torenia is one of many plants that thrive without direct sunlight, making it the perfect companion for a home environment.

In regards to the torenia's sensitivity to heat, they thrive in containers in the shade and actually bloom better, which is all the more reason to grow this plant indoors. There are some care requirements to be aware of first, though, such as its light and temperature preferences. First and foremost, place your torenia pot in a location where it receives indirect sunlight. They grow better in temperatures below 80 degrees, so it may be helpful to place the plant in a room where the temperature can be adjusted accordingly. Likewise, the size of the pot will determine how many torenias should be in it. 

Four to five inch pots should only contain one torenia plant, while one gallon pots can house one to two plants. Hanging baskets, meanwhile, will comfortably hold three to five if they are around 10 to 12 inches in size. Keep the soil moist and well-drained. The torenia is hardy in zones nine to 11 and has a long bloom time, from fall to summer, so its tubular shaped blossoms can be enjoyed for months, especially if you're overwintering the plant in zones 10 to 11. In colder regions, if your torenia is typically grown outdoors, in a container, bring it inside in the late summer or early fall to protect the plant from frost.

When growing the torenia indoors, you'll likely face challenges related to watering and climate conditions. Luckily, there are ways to optimize the plant's growing conditions to prevent the environment from sabotaging your torenia's health. Where watering is concerned, some common issues faced by growers include root rot when the plant is over-watered. To combat this, only water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch. Likewise, regularly ensure that the container housing your torenia plant is well-draining to prevent the roots from getting soggy. As for the climate within your home, torenia isn't a fan of humid conditions. 

If humidity is too high, you may see the plant wilt or on a more severe level, torenia may develop powdery mildew. Fortunately, you can easily prevent this from happening by creating airflow around the plant. Try opening windows, giving plants enough space between one another, and using a fan to ventilate the surrounding area. Similarly, spider plants and boston ferns, for example, can elevate indoor humidity levels so it's best to avoid these indoors plants to prevent a humid home. Prioritizing these care requirements is sure to keep your torenia plants blooming happily and making your home more beautiful in the process.