I planted two dianthus in containers and water very infrequently- one is blooming and flowers look nice but both are turning yellow in center, pics attached Thanks for your help!
Hi @Lilith, I used to have a lot of Dianthus, as the scent is wonderful, 'but' and here is the but, mine all went the way of yours, browning in the middle. Once you see this IMO the roots have already died from root rot. I have heavy clay soil so excessive rain on top of this is a killer for these in my garden. Dianthus originate in a dry climate with good drainage, you have to replicate these conditions for a healthy plant. All is not lost, as you can take cuttings from the healthy parts easily. Just pull a stem out of the leaf joint dust in hormone rooting powder and place in a VERY gritty compost. They root so easily and you can have 'many' lovely scented plants in the future. Hope this is of some help.
Yes - good sun and drainage One normally sees old successful plants in rockeries and old boulder garden walls.
Thank you both! Acerholic, would potting soil for succulents meet the criteria for very gritty compost? I will need to buy hormone rooting powder so can pick up a new soil too but not sure what I would be looking for, the compost available around here is very moist and heavy I just have cedar planter boxes with drainage holes which isn't working out for the dianthus- was thinking of putting the rootings in Terra cotta planters which may help keep them dry
Hi @Lilith, that looks OK for the cuttings. The terracotta pot idea is so much better. I put broken terracotta crocks in the bottom of mine to aid drainage. But remember what @Georgia Strait has just said perfectly 'Good sun and Drainage'. Good luck for many many years of lovel scent.
Last time I looked - succulent soil is sold here as cactus soil (I use it for outdoor containers of hen and chicks aka sempervivum) If you have a bag of perlite — mix w some decent bagged container soil —- that’s a step toward using up items you might have on hand instead of waiting in line or email for curbside. (Covid) There are homemade cactus soil recipes online (basically ratios) Make way more cuttings than you think you want to end up with - some don’t survive sometimes Stim-Root hormone used to be sold in 3 diff numbers .... I have not looked recently — I use #2 for hydrangea cuttings at this time of year. I see there are various brands avail here at locations ranging fr Cdn Tire to Rona to Lee Valley I haven’t used any other than the old Stim Root brand (it’s worth a google look around) Root Stimulator - Lee Valley Tools
PostScript I often have better luck in my overall shaded & wet forest garden with specifically BOWL-shape containers for rockery plants I can’t resist Like this Lewisia - in bloom now in this approx 12 inch diam resin plastic bowl with holes in bottom (made in Canada and bought at Home Depot). I used my own gritty cactus sempervivum mix. I use a really low numbers organic fertilizer and rarely water it (it’s under the overhang of building.) Édit: thé brand of bowl is Algreen and style is Valencia and it comes in various colors at Home Dépôt Canada Algreen Products Valencia 12-inch x 4 1/2-inch H Planter Bowl in Textured Charcoal (2-Pack... | The Home Depot Canada
Yes - it’s native maybe not to our part of BC but we do have a native Lewisia in Okanagan (which is dry side of Coast Mtn Ranges) Named i think after the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition sent by Prèsident Jefferson to what is now Astoria Oregon
This is being discouraged these days. There are a lot of articles on it - I can't remember the one we've been linking to lately, but here is one: No Rocks in Your Pots
@wcutler, thanks Wendy. I started doing this 45 years ago after it was recommended by a Percy Thrower (TV Gardiner) and have never stopped. It always made sense to me tbh. I Just read your link and now I must try and change my thinking. Old habits and all that lol. That's what I like about the UBC forums, so much new good advice. Thanks for putting me straight.
Here is the site I was trying to think of: Linda Chalker-Scott | Washington State University, called Horticultural Myths. The one pertinent to the drainage material in pots is https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/container-drainage.pdf I got there from the Myths page, but now I looked for a long time for the link until I saw it, and now again, I don't see it. I don't know if there are two versions of the page, and this article has been removed from one of them?
@wcutler, Hi Wendy, a myth that has certainly gone around the whole of the gardening world and is still being advised on TV gardening programs. But, I will definitely try this over the next couple of years against my old set up to compare results. Thankyou again
Hi @Lilith, I have tried this before with very little success, but you have nothing to lose tbh. If you can separate the good from the dead then you might stand a chance. All I can say is it's worth a try if you dont want to take cuttings. Good luck whatever you choose.
Thanks Acerholic! I deleted my recent question because I reread your initial answer after I posted...basically that whole root system is likely rotted & I will take your initial advice of trying cuttings. Thank you, again
Once you've struck your cuttings, I suggest raising the ph with lime or dolomite Most potting mixes have a ph of 6 ish (some less) get it up to 7 and they'll grow much stronger
Thanks for the tip on pH Puddleton I don't have lime/dolomite handy but seed starter mix I am using has lime in it and I checked the pH and it seems to be around 7 The flowers are just so lovely and fragrant! I've learned so much! Thank you all
