There are many species and cultivars of Dianthus that do well in pots, but it’s important to know that some will do better than others.
Plants that grow more compactly, like alpine pinks, small border carnations, and so on, are often the best choice.
Dianthus plants that are even bigger may do well in containers as long as they are strong enough and big enough.
Dianthus, commonly known as carnations or Pinks, are beautiful flowering plants that can add a pop of color and texture to any garden. With their ruffled, fringed flowers in shades of white, pink, red, purple and bicolors, dianthus are extremely versatile and make lovely cut flowers too. But did you know that many dianthus varieties can also be successfully grown in pots and containers?
Why Grow Dianthus in Pots?
There are several benefits to growing dianthus in pots:
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Compact varieties Many dianthus cultivars are naturally compact or dwarf in habit, making them well-suited for container growing Alpine and border carnations, for example, are smaller and neater in growth and perfect choices for pots.
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Mobility Potted dianthus can easily be moved around to provide color wherever needed in a patio, balcony or yard Pots can be positioned to capture sunlight or shifted as needed
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Extend bloom time: Starting some dianthus varieties indoors allows you to enjoy their blooms much earlier in the season. Potted dianthus can then be moved outside later.
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Overwinter tender varieties: Less hardy dianthus can be grown in pots through the summer and then brought indoors or protected over winter.
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Creative designs: Dianthus looks fantastic combined with other sun-loving plants in mixed potted plantings. Go creative!
Choosing the Right Pot for Dianthus
When selecting a container for dianthus, consider the following factors:
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Drainage: Excellent drainage is crucial, so choose pots with drainage holes. Dianthus hate sitting in wet soil.
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Size: Pick a pot that’s about 1-2 inches wider than the current nursery pot so the roots have room to grow. Don’t overpot.
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Material: Use porous terracotta, wood or plastic pots to provide good air circulation to the roots.
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Shape: Match taller varieties with tall, narrow pots for best moisture control. Wider pots suit prostrate dianthus.
Make sure to use a good quality, sterile potting mix in your containers and replenish it yearly. A soilless mix amended with sand or perlite provides the drainage dianthus require.
How to Plant Dianthus in Pots
Planting dianthus in pots is easy:
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Fill the container with moistened potting mix, leaving 1-2 inches from the rim.
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Gently remove the dianthus from its nursery pot and loosen any circled roots.
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Place the dianthus in the new pot, positioning it a bit higher than it was growing before.
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Backfill soil around the roots and press down gently but firmly.
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Water well to settle the soil and eliminate any air pockets.
Allow sufficient space between pots if planting multiple dianthus containers together. Good air circulation is key.
Caring for Potted Dianthus
To keep your potted dianthus looking their best:
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Sun: Place containers in full sun – at least 6 hours daily. Morning sun is ideal.
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Water: Check soil daily and water when the top inch becomes dry. Avoid overwatering.
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Fertilizer: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during active growth and blooming.
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Deadheading: Removing spent blooms encourages more flowers. Snip back to a leaf node.
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Grooming: Shear leggy growth back by 1/3 to keep plants compact. Remove old foliage and stems in fall.
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Overwintering: Move pots to a protected spot outdoors or indoors in very cold climates. Avoid wet soil.
With a bit of basic care, dianthus thrives in pots and blooms spring through fall. Enjoy these delightful container plants on your patio, deck, balcony or entryway for nonstop color and texture!
Choosing Dianthus Containers
It’s important to know how big the cultivar or variety you’ve chosen will get before you choose a pot for your Dianthus.
Also, if you want to grow a container garden outside, keep in mind that while most Dianthus can handle the cold, there are some florist’s carnations that bloom all year and can be kept in a greenhouse.
Dianthus can differ in their growing requirements.
Most, though, need full sun and conditions where water can drain away easily. Make sure the container you choose lets water drain away easily from the base.
The Dianthus should not be too constricted, but should also not be given too much room.
In too large a pot, with too much growing medium around the roots, waterlogging can become a problem.
What you use to fill your containers will depend on how big your Dianthus plants are and whether you only want to keep them there for a short time before planting them in the garden or if you want to grow them in containers for a long time.
Just remember that, in general, you should use a peat-free compost mix, and that mix should be free-draining.
But also, the medium should not dry out entirely. Aim to keep it just moist.
Potting Up Dianthus
Dianthus are usually potted up or planted after risk of frost has passed, in the spring.
Though purchased plants can often be potted up throughout the summer and into early autumn too.
Always keep in mind that Dianthus plants that you want to grow outside in your garden do best when they are put somewhere with full sun.
Larger types of Dianthus can be put in their own pots, while smaller types, like alpine pinks, can be planted with other plants in a larger pot or grown in a larger pot with other alpine plants.
When you grow smaller pinks with other alpines, like perennial Salvias, lavender, hyssop, and thyme—all of which like sunny, well-drained soil—you might want to think about growing them.
However, keep in mind that Dianthus doesn’t like it when other plants are too close to it in mixed containers.
An open and uncongested position with reasonably good airflow will see them perform at their best.
How To Grow Dianthus In Pot At Home | Dianthus | Sweet William | Dianthus Potting Mix | Gardening 4u
FAQ
Will dianthus do well in pots?
Do dianthus like sun or shade?
How do you care for dianthus in pots in the winter?
Where does dianthus grow best?
Can Dianthus be grown in pots?
After a few years after planting they become woody at the base and they become straggly. You can grow annuals or biennials from seed, but most perennials are grown from shop-bought, garden-ready plants, Alpine pinks and other pinks can be grown in pots. First, choose a pot that will suit and in dimensions with the Dianthus in question.
What is a Dianthus plant?
Among dianthus’s over 300 species include favorites such as Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) and carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus). Plant Sweet Williams in border plots; this vigorous grower produces clusters of white, pink, rose, red, purple, and multi-colored flowers with rich-green leaves.
How do you propagate Dianthus?
Propagation Methods: Cuttings can be taken in the summer, or established clumps can be divided. Companion Plants: Dianthus are an heirloom, cottage border plant so combine with other similar plants such as False indigo,, Coreopsis,,or other Dianthus varieties.