You can cut the stem back down to the base of the plant. Leave any branches with leaves and foliage intact so the plant can continue photosynthesis.
Depending on what variety you are growing, you may need to deadhead at all times throughout the year. If you are growing the plants in a greenhouse, the plants may bloom all year, which means you will want to deadhead consistently for continuous flowering. Some early blooming dianthus like Sweet William will need to be deadheaded in spring. While other hybrids that bloom in the summer primarily will need to be plucked at that time. The main thing to remember is that if you notice dead looking flowers, pinch those off and the plant will hopefully grow even more flowers to enjoy!
Some mounding dianthus plants can be trimmed back to help maintain the shape of the plant and to promote healthier branching. Any overgrown or leggy stems growing from the plant can be cut back any time during the summer growing season.
Cut the leggy branches near leaf buds to help encourage branching at that spot in the stem. Additionally, dianthus plants like a neutral to slightly alkaline soil pH. If your soil pH is below 7. It's fine to use mulch to keep weeds under control but avoid letting the mulch crowd around the crowns of dianthus to avoid rot. Dianthus flowers need weekly watering. Aim to give plants 1 inch of water per week, but avoid water-logging the soil.
These plants can tolerate a light frost but don't like a deep freeze. If temperatures will be dipping below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, cover plants with a frost blanket to protect them. The flowers can also go dormant in consistently hot summer temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Dianthus plants are light feeders and won't need much in the way of traditional fertilizer.
A shovelful of compost worked into the soil once a year is enough to nourish the plants. There are several perennial dianthus varieties with lovely colorful and fragrant flowers.
Some of the most common include:. Properly pruning your dianthus plants can help increase the chance of repeat blooming and keep the plant tidy throughout the year. Flowers should be deadheaded once spent, especially on varietals known for repeat blooms.
Throughout the year, remove any stems or leaves that look diseased or damaged. Come fall, prune back the plant until there are only 1 to 2 inches of stem remaining above the soil. The plant will go dormant for the season and regrow the following spring. While dianthus plants are more readily started from seed, they can also be propagated using stem cuttings, which will assure that the new plants will have the same characteristics as the "mother plant.
Dianthus plants are easy to grow from seed, but there is no guarantee that the plants that result will mirror that of the "parent" blooms. To grow from seed, plant into a seed tray indoors around 8 weeks before the final frost in your area. Keep the seed tray somewhere warm and sunny until the seedlings germinate, which should happen in approximately eight to 10 days.
Continue to grow the seedlings indoors until they've reached 4 inches tall. They can be then planted outdoors once all risk of frost has passed. One of the biggest issues dianthus plants have is vascular wilt. Garden Advice Dianthus Growing Guide. Dianthus is a highly diverse genus of flowers that all share a range of charming characteristics sure to recommend them to any garden.
Blooming in shades ranging from lilac to deep pink, dianthus is the perfect flower for bringing both early and late splashes of colour to your garden, blooming first in the spring and again in the autumn. Alpine varieties of dianthus are hardy enough to cope with cold and fast-draining soil but do keep in mind that all dianthus require sunlight, not coping terribly well with shade.
A mainstay of British gardens for some time, the popularity of these flowers derives not just from their bewitching scent, but also from their ability to attract butterflies and bees, bringing some palpable life to your garden.
There is a range of myths explaining how they came to be prominent, and it would seem that they have never lost that high reputation. The best time to plant pinks and other varieties of perennial or biennial dianthus is early spring. They work well particularly well in borders as the vertical ascent as they grow can be seriously eye-catching. You can grow from seeds or cuttings started indoors.
Choose a soil with a good amount of well-rotted compost or other organic matter worked in at a depth of around twelve inches. The alpine varieties of dianthus will fare well in wind or fast-draining soil. This makes them perfect for balconies, window ledges, hanging gardens and rockeries. Peek under the leaves and discard any plants infested with garden pests like aphids. Leave the floppy plants at the store, taking home the shorter compact plants.
Dianthus plants suffer from crown and root rot when grown in wet conditions. Share this article.
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