Pentas form beautiful clusters of flowers with their five-petaled pattern. This plant is a beautiful option for your garden, considering its properties. The best part is that you get more than one color with pentas.
The different species of pentas have purple, red, white, and lavender colors. An array of colors to add class to your yard. However, deer feeding can be a significant concern if the animal is available in your area. The question to ask then is: “do deer eat pentas?“
This article answers numerous questions on the threats pentas face from deer and others. You will also enjoy caring tips to grow pentas to maturity and protect them.
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Are Pentas Deer-Resistant?
Pentas are more than just beautiful; they are also deer resistant. This flower makes the list of plants deer won’t eat when there are suitable options. There are several properties or features of this plant that keeps deer away. Pentas have a bitter taste and a strong scent, and mature plants are usually hardy. These three properties are the reasons deer won’t eat pentas.
However, pentas resistance to deer is not failproof. The animal prefers to eat anything rather than go hungry when there is scarcity. Hence, a hungry deer in winter might find your garden pentas palatable. You still need to protect and care for these lovely flowers. With proper care and protection, you can continue to keep your pentas away from deer.
Are Pentas Rabbit-Resistant?
Rabbits, like woody parts of plants and small leaves. They won’t find any of these features on a mature pentas plant. Hence, the plant is also rabbit resistant. This property is another reason this plant is a good option for your garden.
The chances that a hungry rabbit would eat a bed of pentas are lower than for a hungry deer. A rabbit would prefer to search long and hard for suitable foods. So, there is no need to worry if you have rabbits around.
Do Pentas Prefer Sun or Shade?
Pentas are sun-loving plants. They don’t just prefer the sun; they thrive when there is a sufficient supply of daily sunlight. Planting in a garden with taller trees might cast shade on the plant. Shade affects growth patterns, and the stem can become weak.
So if you plan to plant pentas in your yard, it should be areas with no shade. Also, make sure the sunlight supply is up to five hours daily. This tip will keep the plant healthy.
Do Deer Eat Pentas Flowers?
Pentas flowers are not safe from deer consumption. Sometimes, they serve as the point of attraction for the animal. It takes a hungry deer to eat pentas, so they are usually not picky at this stage. Deer would eat pentas flowers while biting down on other parts of plants.
Caring for Pentas
Pentas can be a giant flowering plant or a widespread bed of blooms. It all depends on how you care for this plant from the early stage. So it makes more than just planting the seeds or propagation by stem. You’ll only get the best and desired results from this plant when you invest the right amount of care.
Some care routines are basic and flexible, allowing you to explore different options. One typical example is the type of soil for planting. Other care routines are specific, and you must follow the tips as close as possible.
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Here are the caring tips for pentas:
Light
Pentas thrive when there is a lot of sunshine. The minimum light requirement for this flower is about 6-8 hours of sunlight. The plant thrives where there is abundant sunlight. Hence, it would help if you planted in an open space in the garden. Also, ensure it is not under any big tree that could hinder sunlight exposure. With proper sunlight exposure, pentas bloom in numbers, and their various colors feel up the space.
Soil
You need well-drained, loamy soil to get the best result when growing your favorite pentas species. The good thing about these flowers is that they will grow on various kinds of soil. However, a soil that doesn’t hold too much water after rainfall is the best. This type of soil keeps the proper nutrient in the right proportion. Slightly acidic soil is also advisable.
Water
Watering is an essential part of pentas care. This flowering part does not thrive when there is prolonged drought. The exciting part is that the plant grows well on soil that does not retain too much water.
However, the plant thrives when there is a constant supply of water. So you must continually water the soil, especially during the early stages of the plant and the flowering season.
Pruning
This tip is another essential aspect of caring for your beautiful pentas. Pruning allows you to control the growth and spread of the flower from an early stage.
One amazing fact about pentas is that they can grow up to 2 or 3 feet tall. This height is standard when you provide proper care and adequate nutrient to aid the growth. In addition, pruning helps you decide how tall you want it to be.
The pruning method and type depend on your region. Pruning is straightforward if you are planting in a region where pentas are annual plants. Cutting off the stem a few inches below the flowering level is enough pruning. Another step is to remove the dead flowers to encourage the growth of new ones.
Perennial pentas require a more extensive pruning method. You can cut away new shoots, especially in the middle of the tree, while leaving branching shoots. This step will spread the growth of pentas to the side, forming a vast bed of flowers of short height. You can also cut tall pentas to reduce the height. These are different pruning methods that keep the flower beautiful and in shape.
Fertilizer
Adding fertilizer is essential for the proper growth of a young pentas plant, especially if you are planting during the late spring or winter. The plant needs an additional source of nutrients to grow properly. Regular addition of fertilizer helps during the blooming season. Adding fertilizers once a month is sufficient for pentas.
Will Pentas Come Back After Deer Eat Them?
The action of pruning on pentas shows that these crops have rejuvenating properties. Hence, they will grow back even after deer eat them. A mature pentas plant can survive deer attack depending on the season and region.
The level of feeding also determines the chances of growing back. Sometimes, in extreme cases, deer might pull the plant off the soil. However, when the affected areas are flowers and stems, there is a high chance of pentas returning to total health.
Another factor that contributes to the regrowth of pentas is the region. In areas where pentas are annual plants, it is often difficult for the plant to grow back. However, pentas in the perennial region have enough time to grow back and bloom at the proper time.
If and when deer eat pentas in the garden, the best remedy to care for their surviving plant using the caring tips discussed above. With proper care and nutrients, the plant will grow back in time.
How to Deter Deer From Eating Pentas?
The natural resistance of pentas might not be enough to keep deer away. Hence, there is a need for extra protection. The good news is that there are several methods or options available.
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Here are some of them:
Use Human Scent as Defense
One way to exploit deer’s keen sense of smell is to add scents that the animal avoids in your garden. Despite all their tendency and habit of eating in gardens and yards, deer try to avoid humans as much as possible. Hence leaving human scent in your yard and around the pentas can deter deer from eating pentas. They tend to stay away from the farm altogether.
Add Hairy and Prickly Plants
Deer prefer chewable plants; hence they also avoid hairy and prickly plants because of their texture. Growing plants with prickly or hairy parts in the garden can also discourage deer and keep them away. Plant them as the first line of defense, and the deer would prefer to look elsewhere for food.
Use Repellant
Using a solid scent as a repellant is a trick that works effectively against deer. You can use simple homemade repellant to keep deer away from pentas. As long as the repellant has a strong scent, it works a treat.
A typical example is a garlic-based repellant. You can also hang bar soap around the farm to create a distinct smell. These options are effective repellants.
Install Lights or Scarecrows
Scarecrows can create the impression that there are other figures in the yard. Deer are not comfortable in such situations. They prefer to find other feeding grounds. Installation of lights or bright objects is another effective tool if you are in areas and seasons where there is enough sunlight.
Final Verdict
Pots of petals would add the beauty of various colors to your farm. Depending on your choice and pruning system, it can grow tall or spread wide. It is also a good flower for resisting deer attacks. Whether planting using seed or propagation, it is important to follow simple, caring tips. This tip will aid in proper blooming when the time comes. In summary, here are tips when caring for pentas:
- Proper sunlight exposure of up to 6 hours
- The use of well-drained soil
- Keep the ground wet with consistent watering
- Pruning is essential for growth and spread.
- The application of fertilizer monthly helps growth.
Following these careful tips helps to grow healthy pentas. After care plans, the next step is protection. Implementing several protection tips will guarantee safety. This protection ensures plenty of pentas in your yard.