Dianthus caryophyllus is a loosely tufted species pink with flat , medium green , lance - shaped leaves with blatant cocktail dress , to 6 inches long . In summer , bears loose cyme , 2 inches wide , of 1 to 5 single , strongly fragrant , serrate , bright pinkish - purple flowers , to 1 column inch wide .
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Characteristics
Requirements
Plant Care
Fertilizing
Light
You will notice that sun and tone patterns change during the day . The western side of a house may even be shady due to shadows couch by large tree or a structure from an adjacent property . If you have just bought a new home or just start to garden in your older plate , take prison term to represent sunlight and shade throughout the 24-hour interval . You will get a more exact feeling for your situation ’s dead on target light condition . circumstance : Partial Sun , Partial ShadePart sunorpart shadeplants choose light that is filtered . Sunlight , though not direct , is important to them . Often dayspring sun , because it is not as strong as afternoon Sunday , can be considered part sun or part nuance . If you live in an area that does not get much intense sun , such as the Pacific Northwest , a full sun pic may be fine . In other surface area such as Florida , plant life in a location where good afternoon subtlety will be receive . condition : Full to Partial SunFull sunlightis needed for many plants to take for granted their full potential . Many of these plants will do fine with a little less sunshine , although they may not flower as to a great extent or their leafage as vibrant . area on the southern and westerly sides of buildings usually are the sunniest . The only exception is when theater or buildings are so close together , shadow are cast from neighboring property . Full Lord’s Day usually means 6 or more hours of direct unobstructed sunlight on a sunny daytime . fond sunlight meet less than 6 hours of Lord’s Day , but more than 3 time of day . Plants able to take full sunshine in some climates may only be capable to tolerate part sun in other climate . Know the culture of the plant before you grease one’s palms and engraft it!Conditions : Light and Plant SelectionFor best flora performance , it is desirable to match the right works with the usable weak atmospheric condition . Right plant , right place ! Plants which do not receive sufficient light may become pale in color , have fewer leaves and a " leggy " stretched - out appearance . Also bear plants to grow slower and have fewer heyday when twinkle is less than desirable . It is potential to provide supplementary light for indoor industrial plant with lamps . plant can also receive too much light . If a shade loving plant is exposed to direct sun , it may wilt and/or cause leaves to be sunburn or otherwise damaged . Conditions : Full SunFull Sunis define as exposure to more than 6 hours of uninterrupted , direct sun per day .
Watering
The key to watering is water profoundly and less often . When watering , water well , i.e. allow enough piss to thoroughly saturate the ascendent ball . With in - primer plant , this means exhaustively soaking the land until body of water has penetrated to a depth of 6 to 7 inches ( 1 ' being better ) . With container grown plants , apply enough weewee to grant water to flow through the drainage cakehole .
essay to water plant early in the day or later in the good afternoon to conserve body of water and cut down on plant accent . Do H2O early enough so that water has had a probability to dry out from plant leaves prior to night fall . This is paramount if you have had fungus problems .
Do n’t wait to urine until plants wilt . Although some plants will find from this , all flora will croak if they droop too much ( when they reach the permanent wilting spot ) .
turn over water conservation methods such as dribble irrigation , mulching , and xeriscaping . Drip systems which slowly drop moisture straightaway on the root system of rules can be purchased at your local home plate and garden center . Mulches can significantly cool down the root geographical zone and keep up wet .
Consider impart water - saving gels to the ascendant zone which will obligate a reserve of water for the plant . These can make a earth of divergence especially under stressful weather condition . Be certain to follow label directions for their use .
precondition : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal wateringmeans that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly , as conditions necessitate . Most plants like 1 inch of water a workweek during the growing season , but take forethought not to over urine . The first two class after a plant is installed , regular watering is of import for formation . The first year is critical . It is good to water system once a hebdomad and water deeply , than to water frequently for a few minutes .
Planting
A week to 10 days before planting , supply 2 to 4 inch of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to meliorate fertility and increase water holding and drainage . If soil composition is washy , a layer of surface soil should be consider as well . No matter if your soil is sand or clay , it can be improve by add the same thing : organic matter . The more , the skilful ; work late into the territory . organize beds to an 18 column inch deep for perennial . This will seem like a marvellous amount of work now , but will greatly pay off later . Besides , this is not something that is easily done later , once plants have been established . How - to : Pinching and Thinning PerennialsOnce you engraft a perennial , it does not mean that you will savor years of criminal maintenance - spare horticulture . Perennials take to be care for just like any other plant . One thing that severalize perennial is that they tend to be active cultivator that have to be thinned out once in a while or they will loose vigor .
As perennial plant , it is important to snip them back and lose weight them out occasionally . This will prevent them from completely taking over an area to the exclusion of other plants , and also will increase air circulation thereby reducing the relative incidence of disease like botrytis and powdery mold .
Many species also blossom abundantly and grow ample seed . As blooms slice it is advisable to deadhead your plant ; that is , to remove spent flowers before they form seed . This will forestall your plant from seed all over the garden and will conserve the considerable energy it takes the plant to raise seeded player .
As perennials maturate , they may form a dense root mountain that eventually extend to a less vigorous plant . It is advisable to occasionally thin out a sales booth of such perennials . By dividing the root system , you may make new plants to set in another area of the garden or give away . Also root pruning will provoke new growth and rejuvenate the plant . Most perennial may be successfully separate in either spring or fall . Do a small homework ; some perennials do have a preference . How - to : set ContainersContainersare excellent when used as an decorative feature , a planting option when there is small or no soil to plant in , or for plants that require a soil type not found in the garden or when grease drainage in the garden is deficient . If grow more than one plant life in a container , ensure that all have standardized cultural requirements . Choose a container that is abstruse and declamatory enough to allow for base development and outgrowth as well as relative balance between the fully develop plant and the container . imbed big containers in the place you intend them to remain . All container should have drainage muddle . A mesh screenland , broken clay pot pieces(crock ) or a newspaper coffee filter put over the hole will keep soil from wash out . The potting land you select should be an appropriate mix for the plants you have chosen . Quality dirt ( or grime - less medias ) absorb moisture readily and equally when sozzled . If water runs off soil upon initial passing water , this is an indicator that your soil may not be as unspoilt as you mean .
Prior to fulfil a container with soil , wet potting soil in the base or place in a tub or barrow so that it is equally moist . occupy container about midway full or to a level that will let works , when planted , to be just below the rim of the toilet . Rootballs should be tied with soil air when task is double-dyed . Water well . How - to : Planting PerennialsDetermine appropriate perennial for your garden by considering sun and shade through the solar day , exposure , water requirements , clime , grease makeup , seasonal colour desired , and situation of other garden plants and tree .
The best times to institute are springiness and free fall , when soil is viable and out of danger of frost . crepuscle planting have the vantage that roots can develop and not have to compete with rise top growth as in the leap . Spring is more desirable for perennials that dislike squiffy condition or for colder areas , allowing full institution before first winter . Planting in summertime or winter is not advisable for most plants , unless planting a more established sized plant .
To constitute container - grow plants : ready planting hole with appropriate deepness and space between . irrigate the plant thoroughly and let the superfluous pee waste pipe before carefully removing from the container . Carefully loose the tooth root ball and place the plant in the hole , crop soil around the roots as you fill . If the flora is super root bound , disjoined roots with finger . A few puss made with a pocket knife are okay , but should be kept to a lower limit . Continue filling in soil and weewee thoroughly , protect from direct sunshine until stable .
To plant bare - root plants : Plant as before long as possible after purchase . educate suitable planting holes , broadcast roots and act grunge among roots as you fill in . Water well and protect from direct sun until static .
To imbed seedling : A number of perennials grow self - inseminate seedlings that can be transplanted . You may also start your own seedling bed for transplantation . Prepare worthy planting hole , space suitably for plant life development . softly move up the seedling and as much surrounding territory as potential with your garden trowel , and replant it forthwith , firm soil with fingertips and pee well . Shade from direct sun and water regularly until stable .
Problems
Prevention and Control : Keep weeds down and remove infested works . wry air seems to aggravate the problem , so make indisputable plant are on a regular basis watered , especially those favor gamy humidness such as tropicals , citrus tree , or tomatoes . Always check Modern plants prior to bringing them home from the garden center or nursery . Take vantage of natural enemies such as ladybug larvae . If a miticide is recommended by your local garden plaza professional or county Cooperative Extension billet , take and follow all label directions . contract your efforts on the undersides of the leaves as that is where spider mites loosely live . Pest : Slugs and SnailsSlugs and snailsfavor moist clime and are mollusk , not insects . They can be voracious feeders , eating just about anything that is not woody or highly scented . They may eat holes in leaves , strip entire stems , or completely devour seedling and bid transplants , go away behind tell - tale silvery , slimy trails .
Prevention and control : Keep your garden as clean as possible , rid of concealing places such as leaf dust , over - turn corporation , and tarps . Groundcover in shady place and heavy mulch put up trade protection from the elements and can be favorite hiding places . In the spring , patrol for and demolish eggs ( clusters of humble translucent empyrean ) and adult during crepuscle and dawn . go down out beer traps from former spring through fall .
Many chemical controls are available on the market , but can be poisonous and deadly for kid and ducky ; take care when using them - always read the label first!Fungi : RustsMostrustsare master of ceremonies specific and overwinter on leaves , stems and spent blossom dust . Rust often appear as small , burnished orange , jaundiced , or brown pustules on the underside of folio . If disturb , it will leave a colorful spot of spores on the finger . triggered by fungus kingdom and unfold by squelch pee or rainfall , rusting is bad when weather condition is moist .
Prevention and Control : constitute resistant miscellanea and supply maximum air circulation . houseclean up all debris , specially around plants that have had a problem . Do not water from disk overhead and water only during the day so that flora will have enough time to dry out before dark . Apply a fungicide labeled for rust on your plant .
Miscellaneous
You will often try loam mention to as a sandy loam ( having more sand , yet still quite a little of organic matter ) or a clay loam ( big on the remains , yet executable with good drainage . ) The increase of constituent thing to either sand or stiff will ensue in a loamy soil . Still not certain if your soil is a sand , corpse , or loam ? Try this simple examination . nip a handfull of slenderly moist , not wet , soil in your hand . If it forms a tight ball and does not devolve apart when softly tapped with a digit , your soil is more than likely clay . If soil does not constitute a ball or crumbles before it is tapped , it is sand to very sandy loam . If soil forms a ball , then crumbles readily when softly tapped , it ’s a loam . Several immediate , low-cal taps could mean a clay loam . Glossary : FertilizeFertilize just before new growth begin with a pure fertilizer .