Propagate pinks

About dianthus

A cottage garden favourite, pinks are easy to grow and look good at the front of a border or in pots. Like miniature carnations, there are many varieties to choose from in varying shades from pink to white. With a long flowering season and silvery-grey, evergreen foliage, they make good plants for a drought-tolerant planting scheme, or a window box.

What to do

Taking cuttings

• Either cut or gently tug away a non-flowering shoot from the parent plant - it should come away cleanly.
• Trim the shoot neatly, just below a leaf joint and pull away the lower leaves to leave about four sets of leaves at the top of the cutting.
• Dip the base of the cutting into hormone rooting powder.
• Use one which contains a fungicide to prevent rotting.

• Place several cuttings, about 4cm (1.5in) apart, around the edge of a pot filled with compost. A mix of 50 per cent cuttings compost and 50 per cent horticultural grit works well. Water well.
• Water well and if you're making cuttings of several varieties, label so you know what's in each pot.
• If you have space, use a heated propagator or simply tie a bag around the pot and secure with an elastic band and place on a sunny windowsill.

Aftercare

• Keep the compost moist and cuttings should root within four weeks - look for roots emerging through the holes at the base of the pot.
• Gently remove the pot and split the root ball of compost apart, being careful not to damage roots.
• Pot up cuttings in individual pots.
• Overwinter in a sheltered, frost-free spot, potting on as necessary and you will have healthy, vigorous plants to plant out in spring.

Five to try

• Dianthus 'Doris'
• Dianthus 'Dynasty'
• Dianthus 'Mrs Sinkins'
• Dianthus 'Bovey Belle' - fully double, bright magenta flowers
• Dianthus 'Monica Wyatt' - very fragrant, double flowers in blush pink. Very free flowering