| |  | | Toloache and Sadadhatura
Answered by: Ginny
Question from: James
Posted on: September 27, 2012
Are these both the same plant? I have been soaking Tol. seeds in wet paper towel for approx 7-10 days. Do the seeds take this long? Should I sew the seeds directly in soil? How long a growing season is needed? Can I overwinter the plants indoors under lights during the winter? Fertilizing & sun requirements?
Toloach and Sadadhatura are not the same plant. They both belong to the same genus, namely, Datura, and are part of the Potato (Solanaceae) family. Toloache is Datura wrighti, and Sadadhatura is Datura inoxia. They share similar beautiful trumpet flowers. Toloache grows to about 30 cm tall and has psychotropic uses. Seeds germinate in 1-7 weeks time when kept at 25 degrees Celsius. Germination improves considerably if the seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours. Perhaps it would be best to remove your seeds from the paper towel and try submerging them in water for this period.Then, sow them outside, or into pots.
Sadadhatura grows to about a metre in height and is used more commonly for therapeutic purposes. It germinates without soaking in water in 3 to 7 weeks at a cooler temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. Extreme caution is advised for internal uses, as both plants are highly toxic if used inappropriately. But this should not be a deterrent from enjoying their spectacular beauty. If you sow the seeds directly outside after the last frost, they will bloom by Summer for you. You can save the plants and overwinter with a grow light, if you choose. Alternatively, you can save the seeds from their pods and begin new plants in the Spring again. The plants require full sun (at least 6 hours per day), and can benefit from a balanced 10-15-10 fertilizer.
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