This month, we’re featuring Selecta’s Dianthus ‘Pink Kisses,’ a new form of pot carnation that’s easy to grow in any container size. It’s very useful for making 1-pint and 1-quart pots. ‘Pink Kisses’ is a fantastic gift plant with lots of long-lasting blooms and a hint of fragrance, and it’s ideal for a sunny windowsill.
Where does dianthus grow best?
They thrive in soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline. Choose a location that isn’t too crowded or where they won’t compete with other plants. It’s best to plant in an open area with well-drained soil.
Where should I plant Pink Kisses?
Because this perennial is semi-evergreen, parts of its leaves may fall off in the winter. It may lose them all in colder climates or in gardens that are more exposed to the elements, but new growth occurs in the spring.
This small pink blooms profusely and is ideal for pots and sunny borders, but it also works nicely in an alpine bed or rockery. The faintly perfumed flowers have a deep color at first, but as they age, the outer edge of each petal fades to a softer pink (nearly blush), creating a striking two-tone look. This little jewel likes to be in the light, and if you keep deadheading it, it will keep sending up flowers. Plant dianthus in your garden once the show is ended, and they will flower the following year.
The pot shown is not included; however, if you want to pot your own, we have a variety of pots to pick from on our website.
- Garden care: Fill the planting hole with plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost. In the spring, fertilize with a balanced fertilizer and deadhead to extend flowering.
Types of dianthus:
The majority of plants are perennial, however others are biennial or annual. Pink perennials are evergreen or semi-evergreen perennials. The common name comes from the frilly edges of the petals, which resemble pinking shears when cut. Sweet William is a perennial that is usually grown as a biennial or annual. Florists love carnations because of its long stems and long bloom duration.
Color and characteristics:
Flowers with frilly petals are solitary, semi-double, or double. They’re available in almost every color except blue, as well as patterned bicolors. The foliage is strappy and grass-like, with green, blue-green, or silver-green hues.
Toxicity:
Some people may have slight skin irritation from Dianthus foliage, which normally lasts only a few minutes. If swallowed, the plants might be somewhat hazardous to pets.
How do you keep Pink Kisses alive?
Kyle Peterson, Fessler Nursery’s Production Manager, grew Dianthus ‘Pink Kisses’ as a test plant and was happy with the results. It grew in a lovely, full habit and had a lot of flowering force. Growers have a good variety to work with since uniformity was consistent throughout the crop. This year, the nursery is producing more ‘Pink Kisses,’ and they are doing well.
Fertilizer: As a feed program, a balanced fertilizer at a rate of 150 to 200 ppm alternating with clean water appears to perform well.
“We’ve discovered that covering the trays with Remay cloth helps maintain greater humidity levels and boosts success once the cuttings are stuck,” Peterson explains.
Plant Growth Regulators (PGRS) were not required when the plants were grown cold.
Lighting: While a high-light greenhouse is ideal, no additional lighting is required.
Pinching: A single pinch at transplant will result in a well-branched, complete plant.
Growing Media: Use a bark-based mix with ample of drainage, which is necessary because ‘Pink Kisses’ loves dryer growing conditions.
Irrigation is “really the key to success with dianthus,” according to Peterson. “If you use irrigation sparingly, you’ll be considerably happier with the outcomes. Growing in the winter at northern latitudes might be difficult. We water first thing in the morning so that the foliage has as much time to dry as possible.”
Planting/Scheduling: Dianthus have a longer production period because to its preference for being grown cold and dry. They can, however, be programmed for even the darkest winter months due to their daylength neutrality. Crop period varies depending on conditions, but a finished 4-inch crop takes roughly 10 to 12 weeks.
Thrips are the greatest pest pressure on dianthus. The release of Cucumeris predatory mites on a regular basis is an effective way to manage them. The application is simple to use and provides a lot of control.
“Fusarium is the biggest disease pressure we’ve seen with dianthus,” Peterson explains. “While appropriate fungicides can be applied for control, we have discovered that prevention is the best option, which we can achieve by regulating our water management techniques.”
Select a well-drained medium with an EC of 0.75 to 0.80 mmhos and a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 for propagation.
Transplanting: Place rooted cuttings at or slightly above the final container’s soil line. A prophylactic fungicidal soil drench may be beneficial in some settings, particularly outside overwinter production.
Temperatures: 33°F to 50°F at night; 59°F to 76°F during the day; avoid temperatures exceeding 80°F.
Light: The optimal conditions for ‘Pink Kisses’ are moderate to high light levels of 5,000 to 9,000 footcandles (50,000 to 90,000 Lux).
Fertilize at a rate of 200 to 250 ppm nitrogen with a balanced, high-nitrate fertilizer.
Allow the media to dry out between waterings and never allow it to become saturated. Allowing plants to wilt at any point is not a good idea.
Pinching: Once ‘Pink Kisses’ is well established, it can be pinched once to maximize branching and generate a full plant with flowers. Shearing back plants encourages branching and helps to time flowering.
Are Pink Kisses Hardy?
(=’Kledg12163′) In the garden, carnations can be used as annuals or short-lived perennials. Plants grow in a low mound with grassy grey-green leaves and upright stems bearing fully double, florist-type blooms. This variety has totally double pink flowers with deeper pink-red patterns in the center of each petal. It has a wonderful spicy-clove scent. Cutting is a breeze. For winter hardiness, proper drainage is critical. Plants thrive in climates with cool summers. To keep clusters healthy, divide them every other spring or plant fresh ones. Evergreen.
Do you deadhead Pink Kisses?
You may need to deadhead at any time during the year, depending on the type you’re cultivating. If you’re keeping the plants in a greenhouse, they may bloom all year, so you’ll need to deadhead often to keep them blossoming. In the spring, some early flowering dianthus (such as Sweet William) will need to be deadheaded. Other hybrids that bloom mostly in the summer will require plucking at that time. The most important thing to remember is that if you discover any flowers that appear to be dead, pinch them off and the plant will hopefully produce even more blossoms for you to enjoy!
Do slugs eat dianthus Pink Kisses?
DianthusPlanting a mix of annuals and perennials provides your yard a lot of variety, which slugs don’t like. ThymeSlugs dislike the smell of this plant and will avoid it.