Torenia IS a perennial, so your ability to over-winter it will depend on your ability to provide suitable cultural conditions - those being very good light, temps >60*, and humidity levels >50%. If you're expecting it to come true from collected seed, you'll be disappointed.

If you do attempt to over-winter, you should not allow it to bloom. Clip flower buds as they appear to keep energy expenditures allocated to foliage.

Al

Thanks, Al.

Can very much provide a nice even 70-72, good humidity. Do you think 3-4 hours of afternoon light would be enough, or would I need to supplement with a grow light? (Or carrying it around the house to different windows)

Based on the other perennials I grow as bonsai that are very herbaceous when young, I'm going to say that you'll need supplemental lighting. If your intent is to just get them through the winter so you "don't lose the bloodlines", I would start a few cuttings soon. If the plants are growing well, they will be at peak energy levels soon and will come easily from cuttings. Remove the bloom buds before you stick them.

You could try some cuttings in a cold place with no freezing temps, some in water, and the rest in a warm location under lights.

Good luck! ;o)

Al

Great, thanks again, Al!

I'll take some cuttings today and get them going. My first cutting has taken very well and is actually going into a pot today.

My husband laughs at our guest bathroom- it has a huge (36" x 36") frosted glass window with a tile ledge, faces west and gets about 6 hours of good, bright afternoon sun and lots of just bright light all day. It's great for starting seeds, cuttings, rehabbing plants that just came out of the box...

Now there's going to be a row of little baby torenia, LOL.

I love those new trailing torenia. They are much improved from the common upright ones. I have a lavender, purple, and yellow with purple. I use the occasional drip from a small window air conditioner to start cuttings . The condensate drips into a pot where I put cuttings. I have found torenia very easy to propagate by cuttings there. Your window sounds like a great place for plants. Does anyone use the bathroom?

It's the guest bathroom, so not really. The window is in the shower stall, so just draw the curtain and no one can see the greenhouse! ;)

I have about 6 cuttings in there right now, all seem quite happy. A 7th didn't make it. The original one is throwing leaves left and right.

Actually, all The ones I have this year are the bushy "Funny Face/Clown Face" variety. I really want to get some of the Lantern Moon yellows next year. This year I've experimented with a variety of annuals and decided it's all torenia all the time next season. Great blooms all the time and so, so, so easy. Tolerates difficult TX soil & heat, as well as novice handling.

This is a picture of the fattest one, Fatty, next to a 2yo Hydrangea. This is the one I'm trying to preserve. Gives you an idea of how tall and fat it really is:

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Taking cuttings is the way to go. This plant roots in no time. I found a white trailing one this year for the very first time and it's positively gorgeous. I plan to root it and grow it on under fluorescents in my basement. Then, in late winter, I will take more cuttings from IT, so they'll be ready to use when warm weather comes.