Torenia Duchess
torenia fournieri

Minimum Germination Rate: 90%
Seed Product Form: Pelleted

FLOWERING
Time Frame when plants are receptive to flower initiation: Days 25 – 30 days; 6 – 8 leaves present.
Flowering Type: Facultative Long Day Plant (minor) – long days enhance flowering.
Specific Flowering Mechanism: Irradiance (12 – 18 moles) and temperature trigger flowering.

PLUG CULTURE
Germination – Optimum conditions for seedling development that begins the day the crop is sown until cotyledon expansion. Expect radicle emergence in 4 – 6 days.

Cover: Do not cover the seed.

Media: pH: 5.5 – 5.8, EC: 0.5 – 0.75

Light: Light is necessary for germination. If utilizing a chamber, providing a light source of 10 – 100 foot candles (100 – 1000 lux) will improve germination and reduce stretch.

Temperature: 75°F (22°C) until radicle emergence. Reduce to 65° – 68°F (18° – 20°C).

Moisture: Saturated (5) for days 0 – 6 or until radicle emergence. On day 7 reduce moisture to moist (3). Prolonged saturated media will reduce the number of transplantable seedlings.

Humidity: 100% until radicle emergence then reduce to 40 – 70%.

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: Fertigation water should not be greater than 0.5.

Plug Bulking – Optimum conditions during the vegetative period, beginning at cotyledon expansion, needed for the root to reach the edge of the plug cell.

Media: ?pH: 5.5 – 5.8, EC: 0.5 – 1.0

Light: Maximum 3000 foot candles (30,000 lux). Avoid direct sunlight.

Temperature: 65° – 68°F (18° – 20°C)

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Allow media to approach level (2) before re-saturating to level (4). Avoid drying plugs to wilting.

Humidity: 40 - 70%

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: After cotyledon emergence, fertilize weekly at 50 – 75 ppm Nitrogen with a calcium-based fertilizer (14-2-14 or 14-4-14). A little phosphorus is beneficial for improved rooting and flowering. Increase rate to 75 – 100 ppm Nitrogen as seedlings mature.

Growth Regulators: If desired, B-Nine (daminozide) can be applied to mature seedlings to tone the flat prior to transplant. Also responds to A-rest (ancymidol).

GROWING ON
Transplant Ready: 4 -5 weeks from sow in a ‘288’ tray.
Finish Bulking/Flower Initiation – Optimum conditions during the vegetative period, beginning at transplant, needed for the root to reach the edge of the container; AND to make the plant receptive to flower initiation.

Media: pH: 5.5 – 5.8, EC: 1.0 – 1.5

Light: To avoid heat stress, provide a light shade during the summer months. Low light conditions may cause stretching of stems and delay flowering. Supplemental light may be beneficial during winter/early spring production.

Temperature: 60° – 65°F (16° – 18°C) nights; 65° – 70°F (18° – 21°C) days. Night temperatures below 60°F (16°C) may cause leaf curl and leaf discoloration ranging from yellow to red.

Moisture: Alternate between moisture levels wet (4) and medium (2). Allow media to approach level (2) before re-saturating to level (4).

Humidity: 40 – 70%

Dehumidify: Provide horizontal airflow to aid in drying down the media through evapotranspiration, allowing better penetration of oxygen to the roots.

Fertilizers: 150 – 200 ppm Nitrogen with a calcium-based fertilizer (13-2-13 or 14-4-14).

Growth Regulators: Due to its compact nature, growth regulation should not be necessary. Torenia does respond to Bonzi (paclobutrazol).

Pinching: No pinching is necessary due to the natural branching habit of ‘Duchess’.

Common Diseases: Botrytis, Pythium Root Rot

Common Pests: Aphids, Thrips

SCHEDULING
Total crop time: 11 – 13 weeks
‘288’ Plug crop time: 4 – 5 weeks
Transplant to finish crop time: Packs: 7 – 8 weeks
4” crop: 8 – 9 weeks

PRODUCT USE
Packs, pots, containers, mass plantings
GARDEN SPECIFICATIONS
Light: Filtered sun to full sun
USDA Hardiness Zone: 10
AHS Heat Zone: 9 – 1
Garden Height: 6 – 8 inches (15 – 20 cm)
Garden Width: 6 – 8 inches (15 – 20 cm)