How to Grow and Care for Pinks Flowers

About Growing Pinks Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Perennial Pinks plants are members of the Dianthus family, a group of over 300 species of flowers. This group of flowers includes Carnations, Baby’s Breath, and Sweet William. So, the attractive and sweet, spicy-scented Pinks flowers belong to a great family of flowers. This guide on “How to Grow Pinks Flowers” will help you to grow great blooms this year and every year.

Easy to grow, Pinks are an extremely popular garden flower. They are both cold and drought-tolerant. Perennial Pinks plants are short-lived perennial evergreen. They live for three to four years. They are excellent self-seeders. The fragrant blooms grow profusely on thin, upright stems with long, grass-like leaves. Each stem produces three to five blooms. Some varieties include single and double blooms that are up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The plants look their best placed at or near the front of the flower garden. They look great growing in thick groups or beds of plants. And, the plants tolerate crowding.

Their compact size and showy blooms make Pinks good candidates for pots or containers, on your patio or deck. Each stem prudeces

Pinks Flowers Plant Specifications

Flower Colors: In addition to pink, flower colors include bright, cheerful maroon, mauve, rose, light red, and white colors.

Flowers Bloom: May to July in most areas.

Plant height: Short varieties grow just 3 to 6 inches tall. Taller varieties grow one to two feet tall.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5.

Hardiness Zones: 4 – 9

Light Requirements: Full sun.

Is the Plant Toxic? No.

Deer Resistant? Yes. The plants have a strong fragrance and a spicy flavor. As a result, deer, rabbits, and other foraging animals normally avoid it.

Native To: Europe and Asia.

Number of Species: There are 300 varieties of Dianthus flowers. Pinks are one of them.

Plant Type: Perennial.

Botanical Name: Dianthus Plumarius

Is the Pinks Plant Edible?

YES!!

Pinks flowers and other members of the Dianthus family are edible.

They are popular in salads, soups, stews, desserts, beverages, and a wide variety of recipes. a wide.

Add some Pinks to cordials and wine. They add a slightly spicy flavor.

Medicinal Uses for Pinks Plants

Dianthus plant species, which includes Pinks plants, have a wide variety of medicinal applications. The plants contain health-supporting flavonoids, saponins, and triterpenoids. Pinks have antibacterial properties. The flower petals contain anti-inflammatory properties. Here are some of their many medicinal applications:

The plant is used to treat bacterial and fungal infections.
Use it for arthritis.
The plant cures a variety of digestive problems.
It alleviates bloating and constipation.

Pinks Flowers Light Requirements

Grow Pinks flowers in full sunlight. Select a planting location that receives six to eight hours of bright, direct sunlight.

If the plants receive too little sunlight, they can grow lanky. And, their flowers will be fewer and lackluster.

Pinks Plants Propagation

Perennial Pinks plants are grown from seed. They can be directly seeded into your flower garden or started indoors for transplanting later. Start transplants six to eight weeks before the last frost in your area. If planting outdoors, sow them after the soil has begun to warm in the spring.

Sow Cottage Pink seeds early in the season, six to eight weeks before the last frost date for your area. Next, cover the seeds lightly with fine garden soil. The seeds need a little sunlight to germinate. Then, water them lightly. Keep the soil moist during the germination period.

Final Plant Spacing: Space seeds or seedlings 10-12″ apart. However, Pinks flowers tolerate a little crowding.

About Seed Germination

How to Grow Pinks Flower Plants

Pinks plants are very easy to grow. While they are perennials, some people grow them as annuals. Select a growing location where they will receive full sun and well-drained soil. They are excellent re-seeders. So, pick a planting site where they can grow undisturbed for many years.

The plants will do well in average soils but prefer rich soils. Mix in a generous amount of compost at the planting site. Then, add a layer of compost again each spring.

Pinks plants tolerate dry soil conditions. Water them during dry periods, once or twice per week.

Add a general-purpose fertilizer once or twice a season.

Apply a thick layer of organic mulch. This has several benefits. First, the mulch helps to keep weeds down. Also, it helps to retain soil moisture. And, it feeds the plants as the mulch breaks down.

With a little luck and a long enough growing season, the plants will re-bloom. As soon as the flowers have died, deadhead the spent blooms. Cut them off them off where the flower stem meets the plant stem. More on Deadheading Spent Flower Blooms.

Once your Pinks are established, they will grow well and bloom until frost.

How to Grow Pinks Plants in Flowerpots and Containers

Pinks flowers look great in flowerpots and containers on your balcony or deck. They are also good candidates to grow in windowsill plants. In addition to normal plant care, here’s how to grow Pinks flowers in containers:

These flowers look great grown in masse and tolerate a little overcrowding. So, grow them in containers a little closer than the normal recommended spacing.
Select a sunny location on your patio or deck.
It is important to have a drain hole in the container to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
It is okay to allow the soil to mostly dry out for this drought-tolerant plant. However, it grows best in slightly moist soil. Keep an eye on the moisture level. Check the plants every few days, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather.
Keep the soil moist, but not wet. It is okay to let the top of the soil to dry between watering.
When watering the plants, thoroughly wet the soil. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot.
Nutrients in a flowerpot are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer once a month.

Pruning Perennial Pinks Plants

Pinks plants require little if any pruning. Remove any dead or broken stems and leaves. Prune off any diseased stems as soon as you spot them.

You can also trim them a little to maintain a shapely appearance. However, this can affect the flower blooms. So, do this either very early in the season, or in the fall after the blooming period is over for the year.

Remove spent blooms as soon as the flowers have died. this promotes a second blooming period.

If you want to harvest some of the seeds, leave a few spent blooms on the plant.

More on Deadheading Spent Flower Blooms.

Insects and Plant Disease

Insect and disease problems are uncommon.

Bacterial and fungal diseases can occur in wet, humid weather. Thinning the plant increases air circulation and minimizes the risk of plant disease.

If insect or disease problems occur, treat the problem early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.

Also see: Plant Problems – Identify the causes and find the cures.

Overwintering Perennial Pinks Plants

If you are growing Pinks flowers as annuals, simply pull up the plants after the first killing frost in the Fall. Then, toss the plants into your composter or compost pile.

Overwintering Pinks Plants Outdoors

Cut the plant back to about six to eight inches tall. Then, apply a thick, four to six-inch layer of mulch over the root area. In the early spring, rake off the excess mulch.

For Overwintering Pinks Plants in Containers.

Cut the plant back a few inches. Then, bring the container into a cool garage or shed. Bring the containers back onto your patio or deck in mid-spring.