Dianthus cuttings

Lancashire Lass

I took several Dianthus Pink Kisses cuttings last Autumn and have managed to get them through the Winter in my unheated greenhouse. I have planted them into oval pots and they have gone out today.
It's an interesting contrast of the cuttings on the top shelf with the parent plants on the shelf below. In fact I have more faith in the new cuttings flowering than the older plants! It makes me consider just taking cuttings every year.

Fairygirl

That's the one I had that died @Lancashire Lass. It just didn't cope at all.
I find it easier to peg down shoots to create new plants. It often works better than cuttings for me. I've done that with one that my sister gave me. It's now been divided and I have two good sized plants. It keeps the middles from getting splayed and woody too. Once the pegged bits 'take', you can add a bit of fresh compost or grit over those bits.

Mind you - your parent plants look a lot better than mine anyway! They always look rough here at this time of year, but they revive once the weather gets better for them, and they produce new shoots. I often give the old plants a shear as well, once they're starting to show signs of new life 

Lancashire Lass

How much do you shear them? I worry about shearing them too low and losing flower power. Are they good at recovering?
And finally why on earth am i asking you when yours died on you! (Only teasing 😄). I'm not sure that mine would survive in a bedding. I prefer to keep them in pots I think.

Thanks for the advice on pegging down the shoots. That is for another day.

Fairygirl

That one didn't even get as far as needing sheared! It never thrived.
I just take off about an inch or so of dead stuff - sometimes less. Hard to explain properly, but I just judge it by the appearance. They have a lot of dead top growth by the end of winter here.
Many of mine are potted, or in raised beds so that I can keep the drainage right. I've put one directly into the gravel, so I'll see how that goes. 

Lancashire Lass

Do let us know.