Pentas

Family. Rubiaceae.

Origin. East Africa.

Description. The genus Pentas consists of approximately 40 species of biennial or perennial evergreen shrubs.

The stems are erect, branching, and become woody with age.

The leaves are dark green, lanceolate or spear-shaped, 8 - 10 cm long, arranged oppositely or in a spiral, leaf blades are glossy. Young shoots and leaves are covered with fluff.

Flowers are collected in large umbrellas up to 10 cm in diameter, which appear at the tops of shoots and often completely hide the foliage. The buds are small, star-shaped, with pointed petals, very attractive, white, pink, lilac, salmon or red.

Variegated varieties have attractive leaves - green with a white or light green border along the edge of the leaf blade.

Height. It develops quickly and can reach a height of 30-40 cm per season.

Planting and care

Reproduction, growing from seeds 

Propagated by 5-8 cm long cuttings, cut in spring when pruning shoots.

1. Place the lower end of the cutting in rooting powder and immerse it in wet peat mixed with sand.
2. Cover the pots with seedlings with a transparent plastic cap or glass and place in a warm place with a temperature of 21 - 27 ° C.
3. Rooting occurs quite easily, within 4-6 weeks.

Cuttings easily root even in an ordinary glass of water within a couple of weeks.

Seeds can be sown in spring; from sowing to the beginning of flowering, about 4-6 months pass.

Sowing is carried out on the surface of the substrate, for germination the seeds need light.

The first shoots appear in a week at a temperature of 20 - 25 ° C.

Fresh planting material has the highest germination.

Diseases and pests

• Sunburn appears on the leaves when exposed to direct rays. 
• If overwatered, especially in the cold season, the plant may rot.
• If there is not enough light, flowering will not be as abundant or will not occur at all, and the bush will become loose and elongated.
• When kept in a warm and dry atmosphere, the young leaves will dry out.
• Sometimes chlorosis develops on the pentas - feed the bush with iron chelate.

Pests may include red spider mites, aphids and whiteflies. 

Soil 

Needs loose, nutritious, well-drained soil with an acidic pH of about 5.5 - 6.

A mixture of garden soil with peat or leaf humus, with the addition of a small amount of charcoal and river sand, is suitable.

Home care 

Trim long shoots after flowering to maintain a neat, compact shape.

Remove faded buds promptly to prolong the flowering period.

Regularly pinch the tips of young shoots for better branching.

In the warm season, pentas can be taken outside, placing it in partial shade.

Flowering time 

In culture, buds are formed from May to October, the flowering period is long.

Each inflorescence-umbrella retains its attractiveness for 3 weeks.

With proper care, repeated flowering is observed throughout the year.

Temperature

During the growing season, the bushes are kept at a temperature of about 18 °C, at a higher temperature the inflorescences wither faster. In the winter months, a period of rest begins, which the plant should spend at a temperature of about 13 °C.

Do not expose pentas to temperatures below 10 °C - this slows down or stops growth.

Lighting

Requires access to direct sunlight in the morning and evening for approximately 3 hours a day. Organize shading on summer days.

Can be grown in partial shade, but flowering in such conditions will be less abundant.

If there is not enough natural light, you can supplement the lighting with fluorescent lamps and LED lights.

Pentas is a long-day plant that requires additional lighting to bloom.

To grow a beautiful, symmetrical bush, turn the pot a quarter turn every week so that the stems do not reach for the light source.

Feeding

During the growing season in spring and summer, feed 2 times a month with complex fertilizers. In the autumn and winter periods, feeding is stopped.

Watering

Water regularly during the growing season. Allow the top 1 cm of soil to dry out between waterings.

During the winter holidays, simply protect the soil ball from drying out completely. Reduce watering after flowering - after 1 - 1.5 months, and then resume with the beginning of new growth, in the spring.

The plant does not like cold water - use only settled water at room temperature for watering.

Transfer 

Pentas likes somewhat cramped conditions, so there is no need to change the size of the pot every year. When grown in a cramped pot, flowering will be more abundant.

Replant mature bushes in March, every 2 years.

Spraying 

If the air in the room becomes too dry or the temperature exceeds 22 ° C, you can spray the leaves with water at room temperature in the morning.

Using a humidifier also helps increase humidity levels.

Do not expose the flower to cold drafts.

Purpose

A spectacular flowering species that is ideal for landscaping balconies and loggias. Sometimes several varieties with different bud colors are planted in one pot.

Note

With age, pentas may lose its attractiveness - replace it with a young seedling.

Varieties:

Pentas lanceolata

Flowering plant, a perennial shrub that can reach a height of 180 cm, has green oval or spear-shaped leaves. Well-defined leaf veins are slightly recessed into the leaf blades. The surface of the leaf blades is covered with sparse pubescence. The flowers are typically pink, red or white, but modern varieties have developed shades of purple and lavender. There are specimens with flowers painted in two tones at once - for example, pink with a red center. It grows slowly.