Garden Pinks

TheGreenMan

Afternoon. 

Do Garden Pinks have a short life? 

I’ve had one for a couple of years and it’s flowered a lot but over the last couple of months it has yellowed and gone crispy (foliage) yet still it flowers. 

Do they just flower themselves to death? 

I’ve not watered it any more or less than I did when it wasn’t yellow and sad looking. 

Any ideas? 

Thanks as always. 

James. 

Palustris

They are not long lived plant, but they usually (for me at least) just flower less and less and die back. I would check that there is not an Ants nest in the roots. They love Dianthus roots, but the acid they produce kills the plant. Take cuttings now of any healthy shoots for the future.

TheGreenMan

Thank you. I have seen ants on the wall in the garden so I will go out later and check. 

I’ve got a new one to replace it. If it IS ants would you suggest putting it in one of my hanging baskets instead? 

Fairygirl

I must say I don't find them short lived, but you can certainly take cuttings. Another way to revive them is to peg the foliage down a bit, and cover with a bit of compost. That revives them if they're a bit manky looking. I think I started a thread a few years ago about it because people were having difficulty with them getting bare in the centres.

You can certainly grow them in containers, but keep them well enough watered. Despite them liking decent drainage, it's easy for them to dry out. Even here, I have to water them in dry spells if they're in pots. 

Pete.8

I was surprised to read they are short-lived perennials too.
My Mrs Sinkins was planted a good 10 years ago -

TheGreenMan

Blimey! That looks lovely @Pete.8

I dug it up and no ants underneath. 

I’ve taken a couple of cuttings and put it somewhere a little more intensely sunny. 

I’ve put the new one in the old one’s place so I shall keep a keen eye on it. 

The reason I asked if they burned themselves out is that the old one has flowered almost non stop since I got it two years ago. Even throughout winter. 

Pete.8

Thanks James - they are lovely and it has the true old fashioned scent of pinks which fills the air.
It's quite an old variety but the main problem is as soon as it rains they all go brown and gunky and it only gets one flush of blooms a year.