Dark green, lance-shaped, somewhat furry and deeply veined leaves provide a lush backdrop for prolific clusters of never-ending, five-petaled flowers. These may be red, white, lavender, purple, or shades of pink. Some are two-toned. All are extremely attractive to butterflies, and the red and dark pink varieties delight hummingbirds.

Depending on the variety, the habit of growth may be upright to about 3′, or low and mounding. Full sized pentas are often sprawling, as tall stems will topple over. The flowers are held in terminal clusters and self-deadhead. In warm weather the plant grows fast and stays in bloom constantly.

Where winters are not too severe, pentas are perennial. They may always be treated as an annual and replanted after danger of frost for long-lasting summer color.

Location

Africa seems to be the original home of pentas.

Culture

Likes well worked, moderately fertile soil that retains moisture well.

Light: Sun to shade. Blooms better and is more robust in good sun, but will still bloom in shade and look good!

Moisture: Moist to average.

Hardiness: USDA zones 8-11. May be grown as a greenhouse plant or used as an annual in warm weather.

Propagation:Cuttings in spring and summer.

information take from

Red Lace Graffiti , grown from seed

Butterfly Pentas grown from plug

Penta from seed

Butterfly Red Penta

Butterfly Pink Penta

White Penta

It is June 2011 , this is a greenhouse tour here in Iowa of what is left after a growing season.. I hope you enjoy the tour, I love sharing! I continue moving plants thru the summer into the fall months..
I plan on getting this greenhouse clear out by Aug.. I hope I can do it.. the rest of the plants will be moved over in the little greenhouse and perennial yard..

Growing from seed flowers indoor under lights .

One of my fav’s Celosia New Look

Red Shades Dahlia

Transplanting radishes was a trial and error project.. You can grow radishes indoors , it actually work pretty well.. I would suggest not planting so many in a pot or flat as I did so they have room to grow or you could thin them out as they grow to allow room..

In this photo is the radish seedlings.

It works and I wouldn’t be afraid to try it.. I would also suggest planting in more depth of a container.. although this worked the radishes would of probably been bigger if done so.. but really was enough for me and my friend to eat..

After transplanting

Greenhouse update during the months April-May 2011..Getting ready for mothers day which is my best week and weekend . Lots of flowers and veggies coming on nicely..

Love the time right before things get busy a time to really take in all the beauty With all those months of planning, seeding, transplanting , you really start to see that all the hard work has hopefully paid off.. in one way or another..

In this video I talk about the thunbergia vine, also known as black eyed susan vine.

Even thou Black Eyed Susan vines are just annuals in my area zone, they beat out any perennial vine that we can grow here, and here is why. Blooms all season , loves heat, and is down right pretty all season and even into fall!

Thunbergia Blushing Susie was started from seed, and it is lovely and does just as well as all other varieties. The color on this vine is yellow to reddish tones. Very unique and beautiful! I like to put 3-4 plants per basket and from the picture you can see it does fill out and flourish. Once the heat comes on , so does the growth , so look out!

Orange Beauty Thunbergia is also started from seed , however you can also buy this one in plug form, but if I can find the seed I will grow it. I love orange flowers whenever I can get them.

Hardiness weather around 32C degrees. Grows 5-8 ft in length so allow room to grow. Some varieties may vary in size. Blooms all season long making long lasting color .

What is your favorite black eyed susan vine? Those of you thinking about growing this one, I wouldn’t hesitate , you will love it.

I would rate this vine 5 *****

Thunbergia- Lemon Star Black-Eyed Susan Vine is a sunny yet bright black eyed susan vine you definitely want your hands on it you can get it. This one in particular was grown from a plug, which means a already started plant. The flowers I noticed are much bigger on this plant than on the seeded varieties.

Black Eyed Susan Vines love sun, heat and moisture. Work great in baskets, pots or planted directly in the ground, but look out they grow and they grow like a weed, a darn pretty weed.. Just kidding no weed here . I love it’s habit, fast and furious!

Have fun Growing!
Check out my website here and view photos of this beautiful vine.

Just a update in Feb 2011 of all the plants I have grown indoors under lights from seeds. Looks like most are doing well and are continuing to grow .

As you grow from seed do some documenting, taking photos or videos of your progress . Very rewarding to view your hard work and challenge yourself to do more from seed  every year forward.

Dichondra Silver Falls Seedlings

Perennial Echinacea Seedlings

Every spring I clean out my water garden pond , it usually takes a few hours , but the amount of nutrient rich water and sludge that I get from the pond goes on my perennials and shrubs and is very rewarding stuff.

Believe me this is not a fun job but I must do it to get it back to pretty for this season.

I have had this pond in for several years now and it is just big enough really to enjoy the water, plants and the fish that swim and produce new baby goldfish every year.

Growing herbs indoors for winter use is pretty rewarding to use in your everyday cooking needs.

Harvesting and drying herbs in the winter is really a pretty simple process.

I really enjoyed growing herbs this winter I mean what a better way to pass the long cold months indoors. Herbs grow very well indoors  under lights , didn’t really see many problems doing so.

Herbs I  haven’t grown indoors were cinnamon basil, lime basil, lemon basil  , all were  very aromatic and quite pleasing to harvest.

Another way to preserve is to freeze  herbs or make pesto and so on.. This will be for another time..

Cinnamon Basil

Lime Basil

Oregano

Growing vinca from seed can be a challenge, until recently I have had some issues growing, now have discovered that using a fungicide drench when planting can increase your success.

I also will be using a more porous soil mix and watering them from the bottom instead of top watering to keep down the diseases problems.

It is funny how growing can change year to year.. Years ago I never had many growing issues with vinca. So since they have become fussy I will do whatever it takes to figure it out.. After some research here is what they need.

good air circulation
porous soil
water from the bottom
warm growing temps
apply a fungicide drench upon planting seed and as needed

Next year I hope to figure these fussy plants out and I am getting there.. I love vinca for their long lasting blooms and they love the heat. Much less expensive to start a few from seed but if I have many causalities well then again it may not be.

Until next year!

Transplanting Flower Seedlings Indoors

One of my most favorite things to do within growing is transplanting . Transplanting new life into bigger pots or cells to help the roots grow and the plant flourish.
In this video I am transplanting vinca that I like to use in my baskets in the greenhouse. They can be slow to grow and take heat and warm nights to really take off, so I keep them indoors until my days and nights get warmer in the spring.

Baby Tears Plant- Scientific Name: Soleirolia soleirolii (Helxine soleirolii)

Baby Tears plants is a creeping mosslike plant that has dainty leaves along threadlike stems.  Green leaves that spread and mound over the sides of your pot.

Loves humidity but must have good air circulation especially if grown in terrariums. Make sure it is a open terrarium.

Moisture love so keep moist and give baby tears bright light to filtered light .

Here in this photo is a young transplanted baby tears plant just starting to fill the 4 inch pot.

Use a all purpose soil, I used a peat and perlite soil that has worked well. Grow in a house to cool area , also done well in the greenhouse until we had extreme heat.

Easy to divide propagate baby tears houseplant. You can propagate by division or stem cuttings . Just place onto soil and keep moist.

This plant can spread quickly and easy to make more plants out of. I know this from experience , so make more of the mother plant , it is a nice gift too!

Baby Tears plant is a mat forming spreading small leaved plant that I have come to love. I am not sure I would of ever got this plant if not for a friend who wanted for her mom.. Now I am hooked!

The 2nd photo shows the baby tears growing in a 4 in pot for a few months you can see how it is mounding now over the sides of the pot.

Part 1

Creating a plant terrarium is not only fun buy also beautiful . Creating a plant terrarium is not only fun buy also beautiful .

Part 2 Creating Indoor Plant Terrarium

When it comes to keeping plants growing well I like to trim and cut a lot during the first month of growing to promote better bushier plants, plus more blooms.

Nematanthus – Goldfish plant

The goldfish plant has to be in the category of one of my favorite plants. I have read there is over 30 species of the Nematanthus.

I purchased  around 6 cuttings awhile back not knowing anything about this plant, but I love the uniqueness , the  name that to me was enough to draw my interest.

Goldfish plant originates from Brazil, Costa Rica and the southernmost regions of Mexico.

The goldfish plant has beautiful glossy thick leaves and blooms profusely with orange goldfish shape flowers. One of the most beautiful plants I have grown.

When young the plant grows upright. As it ages it will tend to trail. Loves a more pot bound situation, repot  in spring if you feel it has outgrown it’s surroundings.

They like bright indirect  light, and I am growing my under shop lights in my basement.  They also like to remain moist but honestly I water mine ever week but sometimes they do dry slightly between waterings and this appears to work for me.

Stems may grow up to 3 ft (90 cm) long if not pinched back. Moderate to high humidity

You can propagate either from seed or cuttings.  Take cuttings  around 4 inches anytime in the spring and end of summer months. Grow in  peat , perlite  soil mix.

Grow as a hanging basket will definitely show this plant to it’s full potential.  If you have trouble with the plant not blooming try moving in a lighter location.

Planting the this goldfish plant from cuttings was easy and fun. This unique plant is easy to grow and propagate from cuttings. Orange goldfish like flowers making a great conversation plant to share with others.

Seed Starting Planting Wave Petunias- Pansies-Polka Dot Plant. Planting a few more flower seeds indoors.

Wave petunias are a popular petunia because of their spreading and long blooming capabilities, everyone seems to want them in the spring months.

Pansies are a cool weather plant that usually is offered early spring and fall months because they love the cooler weather .

Polka Dot plant is more of a foliage houseplant but can also be used outdoors for color in your flower beds and containers

Polka Dot Plan

Silver Tidal Wave Petunia

Giant Pansies

Transplanting Kalanchoe plantlets . Unique succulents that from little plants along the edges of their leaves.
They are also called Mother of a Thousands. Once you have this succulent you will have plenty of plantlets to regrow new plants every year.

Planting radishes, swisschard and a few flowers seed indoors.

Indoor seedling tour , featuring flower perennial seedling , also included a few vegetables.

My propagation cuttings are also doing well indoors.

Plants Galore in the Greenhouse –Inside my Greenhouse tour March 2011

An inside look at Picket Fence Greenhouse of what is growing early March 2011..

All the plants are recently transplanted and are enjoying the sunshine indoors.

Growing from seed , lemon basil, black beauty dahlia, bleeding hearts, and lupine all indoors.

Planting from seed continues as I look forward to my Spring season in the greenhouse.