Dianthus are a beautiful flower and easy to grow for most gardeners. They are also known as carnations and pinks. People like to use the pretty blooms in creating desserts, vinegars, floral sugars and as a garnish. They also add fragrance, color and texture to cottage garden bouquets.
If you want to keep your dianthus happy and blooming, its planting site is important. They love full sun and require at least 6 hours of sunlight per day during their growing season. You will also want to deadhead your plants so that they continue to spread out and produce more buds and blooms.
Common Reasons Why Dianthus Aren’t Blooming
The main reason why your dianthus are not blooming is that they may be planted in the wrong location in your yard. These plants require full sun with at least six hours of sunshine each day. You also need to remove the spent blooms or “deadhead” your plants to keep them growing and healthy. This will put energy back into producing more flowers and keep your plants thriving. You can also give them a dose of slow-release general fertilizer. The age of your plant may also be a factor, as many smaller or young plants need a year or two to get established.
Pests are another reason you may not have any flowers or buds. Aphids, scales, and spider mites all love to attack young plants. Check your plants for pests. Look under leaves and on the stems. Spray your dianthus with a good antifungal product or insecticidal soap.
Deadheading Dianthus Help It Bloom
Dianthus can benefit from hard pruning multiple times throughout the growing season. Removing spent flowers or “dead heading” them throughout the growing period helps keep your plants looking their best and producing more flowers. Most dianthus plants bloom in the spring and summer, so dead-heading them in the late summer months will help them produce flowers into the fall. After blooming, cut dianthus to the ground to help prepare it for winter.
Fertilizing Dianthus To Help It Bloom
Give your Dianthus plants a dose of general fertilizer every four to six weeks after planting to help keep your plants fed and blooming. Use a general (10-10-10) fertilizer or slow-release formula throughout the growing season.
Get Dianthus To Produce More Blooms
The best way to get more blooms on your plant is proper plant care. Use a general plant food or fertilizer. Feed your plants every four to six weeks after planting. Make sure the planting location has good drainage to help produce a healthy root system. They also love full sun so make sure where they are planted gets at least six hours of full sun each day.
Why Isn’t Dianthus Blooming
- Planted in the wrong location, not enough sunshine
- Spent flower heads not removed
- Not being trimmed or cut back after blooming
- Too much or not enough water
- Pests infestation
- Freezing temperatures or fluctuating temperatures
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Author Janice Cox - Published 06-30-2022 |