Dianthus flowers are beautiful, but they’re also finicky. They grow slowly and can be hard to care for properly if you don’t know what you’re doing. While your dianthus plants could be dead, if your gut tells you they need a little help, your plant may be looking a little worse for wear.
Dianthus plants may look dead or wilting if they experience root rot, are being over or under-watered, need more nutrients, or need more sunlight. There are also a few diseases and pests that dianthus are susceptible to, so check your plant for signs of infestation or illness.
In the rest of this article, I’ll describe some of the top reasons your dianthus plants may be struggling and what may cause them to appear dead. Then, I’ll wrap up some expert tips on how to help your dianthus thrive. Read on to keep your dianthus in top shape!
Things That Could Be Killing Your Dianthus
Dianthus plants are slow growers depending on what zone you grow them in. They aren’t in the same category as some of the other annuals you might plant, like zinnias and marigolds. In fact, their unique nature makes their annuals, perennials, and biennials, depending on where you live. If you have a dianthus plant, you must be patient and give it time to grow strong roots before expecting it to produce any blooms or other signs of life.
However, a slow growth pattern is different from a dead-looking plant. When your dianthus looks dead, it could be one of many things. It could be a combination of things, or it could just be that your plants need more light, water, a different pH, or because they are infected.
Because there are so many possible causes for the problem, you should diagnose and treat the issue appropriately before doing everything on the list. If you don’t know the problem, it’s okay to go down the list one by one and try to solve each problem (it’ll definitely make your garden healthier!), but you may waste some precious time.
Root Rot and Overwatering Could Be Killing Your Dianthus
Don’t overwater or underwater your dianthus because it can stress the roots. Dianthuses need consistent moisture but not too much or too little–if your soil is getting dry on top but still damp underneath, then this may be why your plant looks dead; try watering from above instead of below (via watering can) so that only the surface gets wet without soaking down into the ground where it may not be needed as much.
Suppose you were trying to grow dianthus in a pot outdoors, and the soil was dry when you transplanted it from your seed tray. It can take a few hours for the water in the soil to reach all parts of the pot before any signs of growth appear on top of the surface–so don’t panic if nothing seems immediately visible! That could be enough reason for your dianthus plant to look like it’s dying.
Dianthus plants are not drought tolerant, yet they can also get root rot if their soil is too wet for too long. If your dianthus has wilted leaves and looks especially tired, check the soil: does it feel like a wet sponge? Does water pool on top of the soil when you check? If so, you’re overwatering! On the other hand, if your dianthus looks a little droopy, it might be because you’re overwatering it.
Drainage Also Affects Plant Moisture
Dianthus plants need good drainage to thrive. The best way to ensure this is by ensuring that whatever container you use has holes in its bottom (like a flower pot) or slits along its sides (like a planter box). This gives water an escape route when it rains or when you water your plant–instead of forcing it into the ground where those roots are trying so hard to stay dry and healthy.
It’s also possible to improve the drainage of your garden bed if your dianthus has been directly planted into the ground. Ensure your soil composition is correct, and try not to overwater!
Low or High pH Balance in Your Soil Could Be Killing Your Dianthus
It’s essential to get the proper nutrients in a balanced diet for dianthus because they need a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium to grow. They also need magnesium and sulfur as well as other nutrients like iron, manganese, and boron.
But what does this have to do with plant pH? Plant pH indicates how many nutrients your plants can soak up. It’s a measure of the acidity or alkaline nature of your soil. Most plants do well right in the middle, where they can soak up the most nutrients. Dianthus is good, with a pH between 5.5-5.8.
Too Much or Too Little Sunlight Affects Dianthus
If your dianthus is getting more than 6 hours of sunlight daily, it may be getting too much sun. This can lead to leaf burn, legginess, and yellowing leaves. If you’re growing your dianthus in a pot, make sure you set it somewhere out of direct light or move it further away from the window. If you’re growing them outside in the garden, try placing them under a tree or a hedge for shade and protection against wind damage.
It Needs More Room To Grow
If you have a dianthus plant in a small pot or a tiny corner of your garden, you may notice it wilting. Your dianthus plant needs more room to grow, as most plants need a few inches on both sides and below to grow their roots.
To fix this, you’ll need to repot your plant into a larger container and give it more room to grow. Make sure that you use quality potting soil to have enough nutrients to thrive while they recover from their root shock.
Watch Out for Illness and Infestation
A fungal infection is one of the most common problems that can cause your dianthus to look dead. If you notice a white substance on the leaves of your dianthus, or if the leaves are curling up or turning yellowish-brown, this could indicate that your plant has been attacked by slugs or snails. This is often caused by overwatering, so be sure you’re only watering your plants once every seven days.
Alternatively, suppose there are clumps of webbing around the base of your dianthus’ stem. In that case, this may indicate that spider mites have gotten into your home and are attacking your plants.
If you have any of these symptoms in your yard, you should look at your plants and see if they seem to be struggling to live their natural lifespan. If your plant still looks sickly, it could be infested with aphids or spider mites. If this is the case, try spraying them with insecticidal soap and get rid of them as soon as possible.
Other Tips for Keeping Your Dianthus Healthy
Dianthus are sensitive, temperamental flowers that need one thing to thrive: you. A little bit of TLC is the key to getting any flower to live long and prosper. But if you want your dianthus plants to look their best, there are some things you can do to keep them healthy. Here are a few tips for keeping your dianthus plants looking great.
Deadheading Your Dianthus
First, deadheading your dianthus plants helps keep them healthy by removing dying flowers. The more flowers you remove, the healthier your plant will be because it won’t have to waste energy on making seeds or fruit.
Composting or Mulching
Second, composting or mulching your dianthus plants helps keep them healthy by providing nutrients to the soil and preventing weeds from sprouting up around them (which can make it harder for your dianthus to get enough sunlight).
Compost or mulch your dianthus plants instead of watering them with plain water or fertilizer every week or two. This will help keep the soil moist and prevent the disease from spreading through your garden beds. It’ll also allow you to connect with nature while creating something valuable at home!
Adding Companion Plants
Grow companion plants around your dianthus to get extra nutrients from the soil, which will help them grow strong and healthy. You can also compost or mulch your dianthus plants to keep them nourished throughout the year.
Conclusion
Your dianthus plants are doing their best to look alive and well, but you may notice that they look a little droopy or like they’re wilting. This can be frustrating and worrying, but there are some simple steps you can take to keep your dianthus healthy.
