Pentas will grow in full sun to light, dappled shade and isn’t fussy about soil type as long as it drains OK. When it gets hot it does need a regular drink though.
Deadhead pentas flowers to encourage more blooms. Young pentas plant care should include pinching off the stem ends to force a more compact plant. Fertilize in spring with a slow release granular fertilizer.
In warmer climates you can leave them outside all year round they they will continue to flower but in cooler climates save outdoor plants in winter by digging them up and putting them in a container with a good potting soil. Bring them indoors to a warm room with bright light and no drafts. Reintroduce the plant gradually to the outdoors in spring as soon as ambient temperatures are 18 C. or more.
Pentas prefer irrigation to stay healthy and beautiful; keep the soil moisture about the same as a wrung-out sponge.
In keeping with from tropical and southern African origins, Egyptian star clusters love heat and humidity and thrive in warm climates.
You’ll be rewarded healthy plants and tons of flowers provided they get plenty of water, sunshine, and heat.
In frost-free growing zones, pentas will exhibit their shrubby nature and begin to grow leggy after one growing season. Prune the plants to six inches in January, when bloom production is at its lowest. After several seasons, the stems of the pentas may become so woody that it’s worth replacing them altogether. Although when growing as an annual for one season no pruning is necessary.
