Description of the best varieties of pentasa flower, growing from seeds and rules of care
Growing an Egyptian star, as the pentas flower is also called, is not difficult. The only thing worth paying attention to is that in the middle latitudes it is cultivated only as an annual plant in the open field. But at home, on the windowsill, an exotic guest pleases with bright colors in a cloudy season - from October to February. The homeland of this plant, like the entire genus of Marenovs, is the tropics of Africa and the island of Madagascar.
General description and characteristics of perennial culture
In the open field, the annual plant reaches 0.5 meters. It is characterized by weakly branched erect shoots and leaves of green color and broad-lanceolate shape. The length of the pentasa leaf plates does not exceed 8 cm. Tubular flowers on an exotic plant appear in spring, this process continues until autumn. The buds have different colors, this parameter depends on the variety.
Pentasa varieties
The lanceolate pentas has several varieties:
- New bow F1. The hybrid is characterized by abundant flowering and a height not exceeding 25 cm. The flowers are pink, white, red.
- Starla white. It stretches to a maximum height of 45 cm. It blooms with snow-white five-pointed stars.
- Starla Lavender Shades. A powerful plant, reaching a height of 50 cm. The shade of the inflorescences is delicate lilac.
- Starla mix. The variety blooms continuously for six months with purple, pink and white asterisks.
Pros and cons of a flower
Before planting, they study the pros and cons of an exotic culture.
The advantages of gardeners include:
- An attractive decorative type of plant.
- Variety of shades of colors.
- Long flowering period.
Among the disadvantages are:
- The inability to grow as a perennial plant in our climate.
- Demanding on the composition of the soil and lighting.
- The need for pruning to maintain decorative qualities.
The subtleties of growing an ornamental culture
Typically, the process of growing an Egyptian star begins with sowing seeds for seedlings.
Lighting and placement
Sunlight is a prerequisite for growing pentas. However, it is better to choose a place where there will be light shading in the strong midday sun. A light breeze or small drafts are not terrible for the Egyptian star.
Preparation of planting material
Pentas seeds are purchased from a specialist gardening store. Such material does not need special preparation; some gardeners soak it for several minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. They start sowing in January.
Planting material
Fertile soil is laid out in a plastic container, slightly moistened with water from a spray bottle. Seeds are scattered over its surface - you do not need to cover it with earth. From above, the container is covered with glass or plastic wrap and removed to a warm place. Remember to moisturize the soil regularly. After 3 weeks, seedlings appear, then the seedlings are seated in separate containers.
Landing scheme
5-6 weeks after the dive, young seedlings are transferred to the street. However, it is necessary to wait until stable warm weather is established. Pentas does not have any special requirements for the composition of the soil, the only condition is fertility.
The nuances of flower care
In order for the Egyptian star to please with long and abundant flowering, minimal flower care is organized.
Watering
For irrigation of pentas seedlings, only water that has been settled in advance is used. The soil is moistened regularly, but they try not to flood the flowers. A sign that a plant needs watering is a dried topsoil. If you constantly overdo it with irrigation, this will lead to rotting of the root system and the subsequent death of the flower.
Fertilizer
The gardener will be able to observe long flowering only if he uses fertilizing during the growing season. Fertilization is carried out every 10-14 days. They purchase complex preparations for flowering crops.
Pruning
The decorative qualities of the Egyptian star depend on timely pruning. To preserve the beauty of the plant throughout the season, do not allow the pentas to grow higher than 45 centimeters. And in order to make the bushes more lush, they periodically pinch young shoots at the top of the Egyptian star.
Transfer
If the Egyptian star is grown in a flowerbed outdoors, then a transplant is not needed. Every year, seeds are sown again for seedlings and planted on the site. In the case when the pentas is a houseplant placed in a pot, they are transplanted annually, changing the container to a more voluminous one.
At an older age, the Egyptian star is allowed to be transplanted once every 2 years, while it is recommended to slightly trim the roots.
Diseases, pests and ways to control them
A tropical flower is rarely affected by pests and diseases. Especially if the plant is properly cared for. In rare cases, the gardener is faced with the following problems:
- Chlorosis. This disease occurs due to a lack of iron in the soil. The leaves of the Egyptian star first turn yellow, and then completely die off. To save the plant, fertilizing with iron chelate is introduced.
- Aphid. Small insects secrete a sticky sap that covers the leaf plates of the plant. With a small amount of pest, folk recipes are used - an infusion of marigolds or garlic. In case of severe infection, the use of insectoacaricides is indispensable. The most effective in the fight against the pest are considered "Aktellik", "Aktara".
- Spider mite. The sticky cobweb that enveloped the Egyptian star is the first sign of a pest. Small dots are visible on the inside of the leaf - this is the pest. With a small accumulation of insects, a solution of green soap is used to wipe the leaves of the plant. In case of mass defeat, acaricidal agents are purchased and used according to the instructions on the package.
Breeding methods
Since in our latitudes the tropical flower is grown only as an annual plant, it is bred annually using seeds, sowing them in January for seedlings.
Application in garden design
With a variety of colors and a long flowering period, pentas are ideal for decorating the garden landscape. The Egyptian star is used to decorate borders and flower beds, it is planted in the foreground, and tall evergreen shrubs (thuja, juniper) are placed in the back. The main thing when planting a pentas on a site is to take into account the combination of shades so that the flower beds do not look too pretentious.
