Has anyone grown Pentas from seed? Do you have to start them inside, or can you direct-sow them into the ground?

I started some inside a few years ago. They germinated easily but are really slow growers. I would think in your zone they would grow nicely direct-seeded.

I agree with Ronnie. You might be good from seed direct sown where you are, Evelyn, but to have plants blooming in June, I start seeds in the greenhouse by March.

Ronnie and Alana ~ Thank you both so much. I never seem to get these started early enough. I suppose I could try putting some seeds in cell packs on the back porch, so I could keep an eye on them, and direct sow some as well. They are such wonderful butterfly attractors. Even if they bloom late, I would be grateful.🦋

I followed the directions, but the pentas seeds never came up. I grow a lot from seed and some are slow, but eventually do show up, like pansies. I'm going to try again and not try to exclude light this time. I had trouble with vinca (Catharanthus roseus) too weak without light. Maybe I left them covered too long.

I cannot direct sow them now. It is supposed to snow tomorrow. I will try inside again.

Hi Evelyn. I surface sowed commercial pelleted seeds from 3 different Pentas on February 13. I put them on a heat mat and used a humidity dome. Two of them germinated on 2-18, the straggler germinated today, for comparison of germination times when you try again. I hope you get seedlings.

Alana ~ I will try again I don't like the choices I have here to buy plants. In the local city (Placerville) I have 2 choices, an extremely expensive new nursery (if they have it), and HD which sells plants with cancer warnings on them.
The butterflies really like this plant a lot, so for them, I will try again.

evelyninthegarden said: Alana ~ I will try again I don't like the choices I have here to buy plants. In the local city (Placerville) I have 2 choices, an extremely expensive new nursery (if they have it), and HD which sells plants with cancer warnings on them.
The butterflies really like this plant a lot, so for them, I will try again.

In CA, everything has cancer warnings on it. Its the pots, not the plants. They are made in industrial processes that use chemicals that would be dangerous if you were actually exposed to them - DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. Its meaningless. You can buy plants there without worrying about them giving you cancer.