Dianthus - looking good now

[mark smyth]

lastly, the Allwoods goody boxes have arrived. Two of us put an order together. They are brilliant plugs with mostly good top growth. Some have flower buds.

[daveyp1970]

Mark i find you can take cuttings as long as you have long enough new growth anytime really while there's warmth,i put my cuttings in a fifty fifty john innes with sharp sand,sometimes i use hormone rooting powder if i remember.
They are some supersize plugs you have there and fantastic quality.

[Graham Catlow]

Mark,
Davey's cutting advice is similar to what I would have suggested but I have never used hormone rooting powder. I don't think it is necessary.

Looking forward to seeing your plugs in flower.

[mark smyth]

I'm out all day tomorrow so it will be a job for Sunday.

Maybe we should do a cuttings swap? I havent checks on what's available but I hope to take cuttings from
Dainty Dame
Tatra Fragrance
Tatra Chost
Tatra Fragrance seedling
Pike's Pink
Constance Finnis / Fair Lady
Whatfield Joy
Fusiler
Warden hybrid

[daveyp1970]

yep fantastic idea,got to go to Margrets garden today so ill sort what i have out to swop when i get back....also i might have a geranium surprise for you.

[Lesley Cox]

Cuttings just about any time except dead of winter but quickest to root on the fresh growth after flowering. There's even material you could use on your new plugs, though I'd wait and get them growing on probably. I agree they don't need a rooting hormone. Keep them damp but well drained and not wet and not shaded too much. For carnations my mother used to split the cut end of the cutting and insert a tiny piece of soil or a miniscule pebble but it's not important and many Dianthus are too thin in the stem anyway.

[John85]

Mark
Is it possible to buy that kind of packing if you need only a few .Would be very handy to send plants to friends.

[Graham Catlow]

For carnations my mother used to split the cut end of the cutting and insert a tiny piece of soil or a miniscule pebble but it's not important and many Dianthus are too thin in the stem anyway.

Lesley that's so interesting because thats exactly what my mother did with the pink Dianthus that I grow. I tried doing it without one year and had success so don't bother now.

Graham

[mark smyth]

I havent taken any cuttings because it's been so dry here. Rain is due this week

[olegKon]

Still another Dianthus with small flowers - Dianthus webbianus

[Lesley Cox]

Are DD. webbianus and erinaceus synonyms?

[Giles]

A few from the garden today:

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Are DD. webbianus and erinaceus synonyms?

Yes they are Lesley !

I found out after buying webbianus and doing some research afterwards... and in the knowledge that I already grow erinaceus (bought some years ago from the same grower !) I was not a happy chappy...   

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Luc. Which is the correct name then? I've had erinaceus as erinaceus since 1966.

Those are lovely Giles. Are they Dianthus as such or more like carnations? They remind me of the old 'Sops in Wine' forms that my mother grew many years ago, with gound colour and streaks of other shades overlaying. Where are they now? Not here, anyway. There was a beauty called 'The Monk' which was truly grey/lavender with cerise markings. I loved it and would love to find it again.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

According to the Kew plantlist, webbianus seems to be the now accepted name Lesley....