Tender flowering plants can be beautiful when incorporated into the home landscape. Many tropical plants, such as pentas, are used to create lush flower borders. While these lovely blooms can be grown as a summer annual across a wide range of growing zones, the arrival of the first frost marks the end of their growing season.
Overtime, continuous investment in annual tropical plants can become quite costly. It is only logical that many gardeners are left to ask how to overwinter a penta plant indoors.
How to Overwinter a Penta
When growing any plant, first consider the growing zone of each. Native to tropical regions, pentas will perform best in frost free growing zones. In areas which experience cool winter temperatures, penta cold hardiness can be a major obstacle. For this reason, learning how to overwinter penta plants can help gardeners save their favorite varieties for future planting.
Those overwintering pentas have a few options. Due to its evergreen nature, it is best to move pentas in the winter to a bright window indoors. Moving pentas that have been grown in containers will be easiest. However, it is possible to dig existing plants and transplant them into pots. This should be done late in the growing season, before the first frost in fall.
Winter care for pentas which are full sized can be quite difficult. For this reason, taking and rooting penta cuttings is among the most common overwintering techniques. Rooted cuttings are cared for much in the same manner as mature plants but are much easier to maintain indoors throughout the winter.
Winter Care for Pentas
Overwintering pentas will require some attention to detail regarding moisture, light, and temperature. Since cold hardiness is of special concern, plants will need to be placed in a location in which there is no chance of frost or exposure to cold drafts throughout the winter.
Pentas in the winter will require a south facing window, as ample sunlight will be a necessity. For the best results, make certain that plant soil is not allowed to dry completely.
With minimal care, your plants or cuttings will be ready for planting and reintroduction into the garden when summer finally arrives.
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