Pentas for Indoor and Outdoor Beauty

Pentas, also known as Egyptian star cluster, are a great addition to both the indoor and outdoor garden.

Many of you may know this beauty for its heat and drought tolerance and butterfly appeal. Others may have grown this as a houseplant long before it gained popularity in the garden.

Take 4 inch cuttings from healthy plants. Remove any flowers and buds and the lower most leaves. Stick cuttings in a well-drained potting or similar mix to root. Place in a bright location and keep the rooting mix moist.

Once rooted, grow your Pentas in a sunny window or under artificial light. Water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil just starts to dry. Pinch the tips off leggy stems to encourage compact growth.

And only fertilize actively growing plants with a dilute solution of flowering plant fertilizer.

With proper care and a bit of cooperation from nature you will be rewarded with flowers this winter.

A bit more information: Try growing other common outdoor plants indoors in a sunny window. Coleus, geranium, rose periwinkle (Catharanthus), and begonia are a few you might want to try.