Mandala and Mandala Plus: two colorful new Senecio series

In the starting blocks for the coming season, there are two new Senecio series that can be attractive and sustainable options for producers and consumers alike: Mandala and Mandala Plus. These two new series from Dümmen Orange are suitable for both winter and spring cultivation and their bold colors are guaranteed to banish any winter blues.

Bold colors
The word Mandala refers to a geometric design that draws the focus to the center. If you look down on the floriferous plants from above, you can see that Mandala is a very apt name. They come in a broad range of fresh spring colors from blue and violet to pink and salmon as well as some beautiful two-tone varieties. Both these new easy-care hybrid series of Senecio cruentus (also known as cineraria) are available in five different colors: Mandala Blue Charme, Peach, Pink Bicolor (two-tone pale and dark pink), Purple and Salmon, and Mandala Plus Blue Charme (blue with pale circle around the center), Plus Rose Charme (pink-Burgundy with pale circle around the center), Plus Royal Blue (very deep blue), Plus Sky Blue (with pale circle around the center) and Plus Violet Bicolor (with pale circle around the center).

Naturally compact
All varieties in both Mandala series have a naturally compact, well-branching habit. This means that they have a lower PGR requirement than many of the existing ranges on the market. The short flower stems contribute to the plants’ compact and pleasing overall structure, while the dark leaves contrast beautifully with the vibrant flower colors.

Abundant flowers
These very free-flowering new series of annual bedding and container plants are suitable for growing indoors or out. The Mandala varieties are the ones to choose if you’re looking for a house plant, while the larger plants of the even longer flowering Mandala Plus range are more suitable for the garden. The plants can be grown in 12-13 cm pots. Mandala Plus can also be cultivated in 14-17 cm pots or containers. Vigor ranges from medium to strong, depending on the variety. Flower size varies from medium to large. Both series are in the medium-early range and all are ideal for growing in containers. When grown over winter, their earliness lies between calendar week 10 and 15, so at the same time as osteospermums, primulas and pot carnations. They can also be spring-grown to start flowering between calendar week 16 and 20, at the same time as annual plants like petunias or calibrachoas.

Reduced water requirement
Apart from the large range of colors, one advantage of the Mandala and Mandala Plus series for consumers is their sheer abundance of flowers, which makes them ideal for creating diverse vibrant planting schemes for the garden, patio or balcony. Mandala is also extremely attractive as individual plants. A further advantage is that they need less water than commercial varieties. This characteristic is particularly relevant in changing climate conditions since Senecio normally require a regular and steady supply of water. Consumers are increasingly calling for annual bedding and container plants that are more heat and drought-tolerant.