Pentas flower: home care and seed growing options
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Pentas is a flower widely used for decorative purposes both outdoors (in soil or pots) and indoors. It is prized for the beauty of its huge flowers, which attract a large number of hummingbirds and butterflies in the wild in their homeland. Pentas lanceolate is popular in floriculture as a home option. This species is usually taken to create hybrids with remarkable colors.
Description of the street and indoor flower pentas
Pentas is a plant native to Africa. He is commonly known as the Egyptian star. It has simple green leaves with quite noticeable veins. The main species of this genus are Pentas Lanceolata, Pentas Nobilis, Pentas Longiflora, Pentas Bussei, Pentas Zanzibarica. The name of the genus comes from the Greek "Pente", which translates as "five" - five petals of the flower, and the Latin "Lanceola" - "spear-shaped" - emphasizes the appearance of the leaves. Used for shaping garden interiors or planting in pots to decorate balconies and terraces.
Lanceolate pentas
Despite the fact that its life span in temperate climates is rather short, its ease of care and sowing, as well as its high decorative value, make it a very interesting species. For example, Starla Mix pentas is used to decorate terraces and balconies, and Graffiti pentas is a very effective flowering indoor flower.
It is a perennial shrub that can grow up to a maximum height of 1 m. It has oval and lanceolate foliage with teeth divided into two parts. The flowers are star-shaped, appear throughout the summer, even in areas with a predominance of harsh climates. They are typically pink or white, but newer varieties have brought in shades of purple, lavender, and mixed colors like pink with red centers.
Correct cultivation of the pentas flower
The Egyptian star grows well in outdoor containers and can even make a good houseplant if it gets enough light. It grows and develops best when exposed to sunshine and in moist, drained soil. It can adapt to less sunny conditions, but its bloom will not be as abundant. As if the flower is not suitable for planting in full shade, there it will be susceptible to pathogenic fungi.
Pentas Starla
Temperature
Pentas Lanceolata is a tropical plant that loves warmth and intense light. On especially hot days, the pentas weakens and withers, therefore a temperature of 20-25 ° C is preferable.
In a high-rise building, it is better to transfer the flower to the balcony, and in a private house - to the garden. Pentas Lanceolata tolerates drafts normally, so frequent ventilation will not harm it. Strong cold winds in the garden are carried by the flower thanks to the right location. Pentas are best planted near a wall or surrounded by stronger specimens.
In August-September, it is necessary to change the top soil in the container and put the plant on the north window. Moisturize liberally.In October, Pentas Lanceolata can be rearranged to the south window, and in November it will bloom.
Humidity
For a flower, the humidity mode must be kept at around 60%. When spraying, it is better not to fall on the inflorescences. A pallet with wet expanded clay and moss has proven itself quite well. If you plant it in a flower pot, then be sure to make a drainage layer at the bottom of small stones that will help remove excess water.
Watering
It is necessary to take settled water, and after watering, apply mineral fertilizers with phosphorus, which stimulate the development of buds. Since dry soil can lead to yellowing, in the autumn-winter period you need to especially monitor the frequency of watering.
The plant can adapt to different types of soils, but prefers rich soils and slightly moist soils with drainage. When grown outdoors, the flower must be planted after the risk of recurrent frost has disappeared. Excess moisture and watering is very harmful. In late autumn and winter, it is necessary to water just a little.
Watering at different periods
Top dressing
As a rule, pentas blooms several times per season. Pentas Lanceolata cannot be made to bloom continuously, but the duration of this process can be influenced. Feeding a flower significantly increases this period, but you should not get carried away with fertilization, any plant needs rest, just like a person.
The plant needs fertile soil, but does not like high salt levels. Pentasu is suitable for decorative deciduous plants. Frequent transplants are also important. The pot quickly becomes cramped due to the fact that the flower vigorously grows rapidly rooting shoots. Pentas Lanceolata is transplanted every 1-2 years.
To increase the green mass, it is advisable to fertilize in the spring with granular slow-release fertilizer, as well as compost to save water and at the same time avoid the appearance of weeds that can compete for soil nutrients. The soil should be slightly acidic (pH 6.5).
Pruning
Pentas is not very picky. It is quite simple to monitor his health, but it is much more difficult to get the perfect look from him: he bends somewhere, crawls away, stretches out. For any deviations from the required appearance, pinch the flower. Frequent pruning of the shoots will help keep the plant looking beautiful and neat. Pinching is carried out only between flowering phases.
Reproduction from seeds
Growing a pentas flower from seeds and cuttings
This species reproduces quite easily from cuttings or seeds. In the first case, in the spring, it is recommended to cut off the shoots and immerse them in the root hormone. Then the cuttings are dropped into pre-moistened sand and allowed to take root. After a couple of weeks, the new plant will begin to actively grow and develop.
The fruit contains many brown seeds in ovoid capsules divided into four valves. All have good germination for several years. Growing from seeds will allow you to quickly get new specimens, but the flowering of the plant will come much later than those that grew from cuttings. Growing from seed is suitable for Starl's pentas and many other varieties. Seedling picking will be required in 4-6 weeks.
Although Pentas Lanceolata is able to delight with its flowers all summer, it is better to let it rest periodically during this period. The classic winter bloom will bring much more joy.
For a garden, it is better to grow pentas from seeds.The planting material must be planted in the ground at a temperature of at least 20 ° C. The first shoots of pentas will appear in 1-2 weeks. Seedlings can be planted in May. For indoor use, cuttings can be placed directly into the ground.
Pentas Starla in the garden
Description of care
The Egyptian star is a low-maintenance species. As long as it has enough water, sun and warmth, it will develop well and bloom in a large number of buds. After that, it is necessary to remove the dried inflorescences to stimulate new flowering. In addition, it is recommended to prune the bush to give it a more compact shape, otherwise there is a risk that the bush will fall apart into several parts, after which it will no longer be saved.
The leaves can be attacked by various rotten ailments. In case of damage, it is worth immediately treating with a special agent (fungicide). It can also be attacked by aphids and midges. Insecticides have worked well against them.
The pentas flower is able to delight the owner for many months, even with minimal maintenance. The main thing is to monitor the lighting, not to overmoisten the soil and monitor the condition of the crown.
