How to Care for Red Dianthus

The Red Dianthus plant is a colorful sun loving plant that is available in a variety of colors. It produces a bloom that has a spicy scent. It is also drought tolerant, which makes it one of the easiest types of plants to care for, which makes it a popular choice among homeowners.

How to Care for Red Dianthus

• The plant should be planted in an area where it can be exposed to at least 6 hours of sunlight on a daily basis. Planting them in the shade will cause the blooms to be small.


• Only water the plant when the top of the soil gets dry because the plant is drought tolerant. When you do water it make sure you give it enough to fully saturate the roots, and then wait for the top to get dry again before watering again.


• Never apply mulch to a Red Dianthus because it cannot thrive in damp or cool soil.


• Feed the plant every six to eight weeks. It is highly recommended that you use a general purpose liquid garden fertilizer, which can be purchased at your local garden supply store. If you are unfamiliar with the types of fertilizer on the market the salesperson will be able to recommend a fertilizer to you. The fertilizer should be applied according to the instructions on the package.


• Remove the dead or wilted blooms throughout the blooming season. This will encourage the plant to produce more blooms during the season. It is best if your pinch off the wilted bloom down to the stem.