Today, there are many beautiful flowers that can be grown both as indoor and outdoor. In our article we will tell about the flower pentas, especially its cultivation and care.
Flower description
Pentas is an evergreen herb or shrub belonging to the Marenov family. It includes more than 50 species that are most often found in Madagascar and in the vicinity of tropical Africa.
Important! Pinching plant is carried out only between its flowering. If to execute it when the bush blossoms, further it can not form inflorescences.
For cultivation in the open ground use an annual plant, reaching a height of 0.5 meters, with upright weakly branchy shoots. Green leaves have a broadly lanceolate form, the length is 5-8 cm. 
Pentas blooms for a long time: from early spring to mid-autumn. It has tubular flowers, the rim has a star-shaped limb.
Flowers consist of 5 petals, gather in large, up to 10 cm in diameter, inflorescences that are umbrella-shaped or dome-shaped. Flowers may have different colors.
Learn more about annual plants such as coreopsis, snapdragon, Chinese carnation, ageratum, alissum, asters, bacopa, marigolds, statice, verbena, heliotrope, gerbera
Is it possible to land in open ground?
Pentas can be grown in open ground, but it is necessary to provide all the conditions. It is also worth remembering that it reacts badly to low temperatures, and provided there are night frosts and temperatures below + 7-10 ° C, the leaves of the plant will quickly begin to turn yellow, and soon it may die.
Growing conditions
If you want the flower to please you with its appearance for a long time, you should create favorable conditions for this. 
Did you know? Due to its original form and bright, varied colors, the plant was popularly called the Egyptian Star, which fully justifies the appearance of pentas.
- Lighting. The bush loves sunshine and will feel comfortable on a sunny stretch. The ideal place for planting will be the one on which the sun hits most of the day, but during the heat wave the flower turns out to be in shading.
- Temperature. The optimum temperature for a flower is + 20-25 ° C. The plant is not afraid of drafts, a small breeze.
- Air humidity. Pentas belongs to moisture-loving plants, therefore it is recommended to moisten it with foliage from a sprayer, trying to do it in such a way that water does not fall on the inflorescences.
Having provided the plant with minimal conditions, you will be able to admire a beautiful flower for a long time.
Grow seedlings
To grow on your site an unusual bush, you must start with the cultivation of seedlings. Consider how this is done.
Seed and soil preparation
It is necessary to prepare and sow the seeds in January. You can purchase them in a specialty store or ask your friends. Plants are unpretentious to the soil, but will grow better in fertile soil. 
It is necessary to exclude the landing in the land with a high salt content. Also it is necessary to choose loose earth mixture (sand, foliage and sod land).
Landing
Planting is the distribution of seeds on the surface of a previously prepared substrate, slightly moistened. Powder material on top of the ground is not worth it.
Seedling care
Crops must be covered with foil, leave in a bright place. It is important to provide seedlings with a temperature of + 20-25 ° C. Watering is carried out using a spray gun. After 2-3 weeks, the seeds should germinate: at this stage they are transplanted into flower containers. 
Planting in open ground
As mentioned above, flowers are unpretentious to the soil, but for planting it is better to choose fertile land. As soon as stable, warm weather is established (and this will happen approximately 4-6 weeks after a dive), it is necessary to plant flowers in open ground.
Care features
Every flower needs care, and pentas is no exception. Consider how to properly implement it.
Did you know? The conveyor flowering method distinguishes pentas from some other flowering plants: while flowering occurs on some shoots, buds form on others.
Watering
For irrigation it is recommended to use separated water. Water the bush regularly, but do not over-wet the soil too much. The procedure should be carried out only when the top layer of the earth dries. Excessive watering can cause root rot and death of the plant. 
Top dressing
In order to prolong the beautiful flowering of the plant for a longer period of time, it is necessary to feed the complex fertilizer once every 10-14 days. Choose blends for flowering plants.
Transfer
When growing pentas in the open field, transplantation is not carried out, as the flower is an annual. If you grow it as a houseplant, transplantation should be carried out every year, changing the pot to a larger one.
Important! Do not leave the flower during the day under the scorching sun, if possible - move the pot to the shade. In hot weather, the rays can burn the leaves, and the bush will lose its beautiful appearance.
If the plant is no longer young, transplantation can be carried out once every two years, while slightly trimming its roots. 
Pruning
In order for the flower to have a beautiful appearance, it is necessary to periodically cut it and not allow growth above 45 cm. In order to increase bushiness, crown formation is carried out: it is recommended to pinch the top of young shoots from time to time.
Possible diseases and pests
Most often, the flower suffers from attacks of shield insects and spider mites. If you notice that an infection has occurred, you must spray the hive with chemical preparations as soon as possible. If the area of the lesion is too large, it is most likely that the flower cannot be saved.
Pentas can overtake such a disease as leaf chlorosis. If you began to notice that the foliage turns yellow, you need to feed iron chelates. 
Properly caring for the plant, you will be able for a long time to admire the beautiful, cute flowers that will harmoniously decorate your flower bed.
