How to Grow Dianthus From Cuttings of Flowers & Seeds

Dianthus plants have been found in gardens since ancient Greek and Roman times. The genus Dianthus contains about 300 species of beautiful flowers. Dianthus is in the botanical family Caryophyllaceae, the Greek name for clove tree: referring to the Dianthus’ clove scented blooms. In fact the name Dianthus is derived from the Greek words for “flowers of the gods.”  

Dianthus plants will often reseed themselves as long as you keep watering the flower bed after the fall season. However, you can grow Dianthus from cuttings of flowers and seeds. Seeds should be sown in the spring and cuttings should be started in midsummer. Cuttings are taken from the healthy non flowering side shoots. You want to clip a 3-4 inch long  leafy stem with at least 3 leaf nodes or joints. Trim the cuttings straight across the stem, just below a leaf node. Fill a pot with equal parts of peat moss, perlite or coarse sand, or you can buy a commercial seed-starter mixture. Fill the pot to just below the rim. A 4-inch pot should hold six cuttings.

Poke holes in the rooting mixture and insert the cuttings. You can use rooting hormone powders, but its not absolutely necessary. Dusting the bottom of the stems with the powder will help the cutting to take. Firm the mixture around the cuttings and water. You are then ready to cover the cuttings with a plastic bag, forming a tent. Make sure not to let them come in contact with the plastic. You can use stakes of crisscross wires to make a framework. After 5 or 6 weeks, your cutting should have rooted and are ready to plant in the garden.

It’s very easy to grow Dianthus from seed. The best time is early in the spring as the soil as begun to warm.  Sow the seeds directly into your flower garden and cover lightly with soil. The soil needs to be slightly alkaline and well drained. They thrive in rich to average soil. Dianthus need to be in full sun and spaced 10 to 12 inches apart. Water the plants once or twice a week during dry conditions. Once a month, add a general purpose fertilizer. Be sure to deadhead or pick the faded flowers to encourage blooming.