How To Deadhead Dianthus?

Deadheading plants is a great way to not only help make your garden more attractive, but it can also help the health of the plant. If you have been wondering how to deadhead dianthus, you should continue to read, as we have all the best hints and tips for you!

How To Deadhead Dianthus

Deadheading most flowers will make the plant look better, and it will also encourage the plant to produce more flowers.

If you remove the spent blossoms, your dianthus will put more energy into its blossoms rather than producing seeds.

Deadheading is also very good for the overall health of the plant, as it allows better air flow and prevents the spent blooms from rotting into the soil.

Deadheading dianthus is pretty simple:

1. Wait until the flowers are starting to wilt and droop before you get your shears out (you can, of course, cut flowers in bloom to use as indoor displays).
2. Use a pair of sharp secateurs or scissors to snip the flower right back to the base, just before the first set of leaves.
3. Try to avoid taking off the leaves, as the plant needs these for photosynthesis in order to survive.
4. Remove the spent blossoms from the plant and place them in a compost bin, to avoid any mold or disease affecting it.
5. Some dianthus only need deadheading once in the growing season, while others will need constant attention as they flower.

This article will tell you all the reasons for deadheading, the benefits of it, and the best ways to do it.

Will Dianthus Rebloom If Deadheaded?

The short answer to this is a very resounding YES! You don’t have to worry about harming the plant by removing spent blooms.

Taking off the flowers once they start to wilt is the best way to encourage them to produce new growth, in fact.

If you leave the spent flowers on the plant, it will put its energy into producing seeds, rather than focusing on new blooms.

Deadheading the dead flowers is the best – some say the only – way to bring on fresh new flower production!

There are some dianthus that continually bloom throughout the flowering season, while others will have a first flush then flower again later in the season.

By deadheading, you are encouraging both of this type of dianthus to flower more.

As long as you deadhead the right way – i.e. removing the blossom just before the first set of leaves – you can help your plant to produce new flowers.

How Do I Keep My Dianthus Blooming?

Some types of dianthus bloom consistently throughout the growing season, while others will flower intermittently.

Obviously, you want your dianthus to keep on flowering for as long as possible, right? Let’s find out how to keep those blooms going!

• Grow it in the right conditions. Well draining soil and a full sun position, without too much watering is what these flowers like.
• They can cope with partial shade, especially if they are grown in warmer places, but the brightest sun is what they like the best.
• Feed them every month. A balanced fertilizer, either slow release or water soluble, during the growing and flowering season, will help your dianthus thrive.
• Give phosphorous. This is the specific nutrient that helps plants to flower, so ensure that any fertilizer you use contains it.
• Deadhead the spent flowers. Removing the old growth of flowers once they start to wilt is a surefire way of getting new flower growth.
• Trim the plant back. Giving dianthus a full haircut ( you can trim it back to around half its height) will encourage the plant to come back with bushy full force.
• Make sure it is not over watered. Too much to drink will kill your dianthus, so only water once a week in the summer – less if it is a wet one!
• Choose alkaline soil. This plant does not like acidic soil, to try to ensure that your soil is the right pH (you can easily buy a soil testing kit from a garden store).

Once you’ve seen this lovely plant bloom, you will want to know the best ways to continue making it do so – those flowers really are stunning!

It looks amazing in your garden, or dotted around your house in pretty little cut flower displays. Make the most of bloom time!

If you like a visual aid, watch this little video for the best ways to make your dianthus bloom brilliantly:

How Long Do Dianthus Blooms Last?

There are a lot of different plants known as dianthus, and a lot of variation in how they grow and flower.

As a general rule however, they will all flower in the late spring to summer period of the year, when the weather is at its warmest.

Some species of plant bloom for the whole summer consistently, while others pop out flowers here and there, or have a second flush after the first flowering.

For the most part, these plants will flower for at least 8 weeks – this is pretty much the whole summer, so your garden will be a beautiful place for a long time!

Enjoy them as growing flowers, or you can cut them and keep them indoors as a cut flower display.

Cut dianthus will last at least a fortnight in your house, as long as you don’t cut them too late.

This being said, if you cut them before the bloom has opened you won’t get the lovely scent – it’s a fine balancing act!

Once you cut them, remember to place the stems immediately into water, to prevent the roots from getting too shocked and the flower wilting.

Final Thoughts

Dianthus blooms are pretty, and a great addition to your garden. But, do you really need to deadhead?

Hopefully we have given you some ideas of how, why and when to deadhead your dianthus, so you can make the most of this gorgeous bloom.