I took a cutting of mine last year and potted it up after it rooted in water.

Mine do not come back in zone 7b. Too bad...I love them!!

Thanks southern gardening and carolinaflowerlover. I just took cuttings and put them in water on my windowsill.
After they root, how long can I keep them in water? Surely not until Spring. In a few weeks/months, should I plant them in potting soil/pots and keep in the house until Spring?
Many thanks.

I doubt this will be any help. It is just observation. I too love pentas. I have grown them from seed. The problem with them is they don't grow quickly at all until they are in very warm soil. My seedlings were so small when I planted them out that it was July before they started blooming and they never did reach their full glory before cold weather came.

If I ever start them from seed again, I will start them in January and plant out in May. That is a very long time to take care of plants indoors, even with the proper equipment. And, it is nearly impossible without a greenhouse to supply them with the warmth they crave.

I decided this year that I would just splurge and buy large plants and put them in my beds. BUT I had a terrible time finding the large growing ones. The nurseries all have the shorter ones. These stop blooming if you don't deadhead and simply do not have the grace and beauty of the larger ones. (In my opinion)

This thread has made me wonder about this possibility: I wonder if it would work to dig up one plant, bring it into your one sunny warm place for the winter and then take cuttings from it in late winter. I still don't know how I could provide them with the warmth they need, but still....

Anybody?

Not sure about an answer but my mom asked me today if she could let it go dormant and let it over winter in an unheated building. This is the first year she had one. I would say as long as the temperature doesn't get below 32 it should make it and come back when temps warm up. I have decided not to take a cutting of mine this year. We have enough plants inside already and we are out of room.

Does HD, Lowe's, and Walmart guarantee plants for a year in your area?
My HD keeps insisting that Pentas are perennials in my area.
They said that they will live through the winter.
They do honor the warranty, however.