Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Part 1. Pinch your carnations to help flowers grow. Pinching carnations as they grow encourages the growth of lateral stems, which means more flowers will grow. Pinching is especially important if you want to grow flowers for cutting.
Pinching also helps the plant to grow bushy rather than as a single tall stem, which some gardeners prefer. The height at which you pinch the plant stem off is the height at which it should start to bush from. This allows you to influence the height of your plant. Start pinching carnations after the first half dozen sets of leaf nodes emerge.
Leaf nodes are the swollen bit of stem from which the leaves will later emerge. The leaf nodes usually appear when the plant is about 6 inches Do a second round of pinching about 4 weeks later once the lateral side stems emerge.
Again, you should pinch the lateral stems once they are about 6 inches Nursery plants will often have had their first pinching already if you purchase plants that are at least 6 inches However, you may want to pinch the lateral side stems once they reach 6 inches If you grow carnations yourself from seed, you'll need to do pinch the plants yourself.
Pinch your carnations with your fingers. Once the plant is about 5 or 6 inches The stem should be tender enough to do this with your fingertips. After this first pinching, lateral side shoots should emerge. Repeat the pinching process once these side shoots reach 5—6 inches After you have pinched your plant, it is a good time to stake it. Tie it loosely to a support such as a sturdy garden cane using string or garden wire.
Stop pinching when the leaves start to form. Over pinching can delay blooming, so stop pinching once the leaves start to form. If you want to ensure a long flowering season, pinch only half of the lateral stems.
This way you get two flushes of blooming. Part 2. Make sure to water your plants regularly during dry weather. Perpetual carnations can be encouraged to flower again by making sure they are watered during dry weather.
This means watering them about every days through the summer or perhaps every 3 days in very dry, hot weather. Also give your carnations regular feeds, pinch the stems and remove the withered flower heads. Protect your plants from frost.
It's important to protect perpetual flowering carnations from frost. You can grow them under glass or in a polytunnel, but it's vital to keep them above 45F so you may need a source of heat, even in a greenhouse. Of course, you can also grow them as house plants. Don't use nitrogen manures or fertilizers. Avoid using manure or high-nitrogen fertilizers for carnations, as they won't bloom as well.
Also keep in mind that you should never mulch carnation plants. If allowed to grow along the ground, the stems will take root at their nodes and the plant will spread in that fashion. Because carnations are generally grown for cut flowers, they are usually not allowed to spread. They also produce suckers at the base that can be used to propagate the plant. Carnations come as annual, biennial and perennial varieties.
Carnations can be planted in flowerbeds, borders, rock gardens and even containers like pots. Carnations will flower well into fall if they are guarded against harsh weather. Most carnations live for two to three years before they require replacing, so overwintering the plants properly ensures they live to their full life span.
In areas with mild winters , carnations may continue to bloom all winter. Remove the mulch in spring when the carnations begin actively growing again. Cut back mounding dianthus varieties after the first flush of flowering completes in early summer. Remove up to half the plant's height with clean shears to force the plant to produce bushy growth and more flower buds.
Carnations are the most fragrant flowers we grow here at Floret, and they bloom all summer long from an early sowing. Their long stems and extremely long vase life make them an ideal cut flower. How to Prune Carnations. Prune carnations to promote the overall health of the plant. You'll need to prune carnations twice a year, once in the summer to remove spent flowers, and once at the end of the growing season, cutting the plant almost down to the ground or the "basal growth" area. When planting carnations or Dianthus you should remember that they prefer full sunlight to partial shade.
A minimum of hours of sun is required for healthy blooms and foliage. The soil should be well drained, fertile and tend toward a slightly alkaline pH level of 6. Want more flowers in your garden? Here're 7 tips you should know to keep your plants blooming. Use rich soil. Soil that is light and rich in compost or manure provides plenty of nutrients constantly to the plants. Deadhead often. Fertilize the plants. Provide more sun.
Nurse the roots. Apply mulch. Do moderate watering. If they stop blooming , it may be caused by: Overfeeding: Nitrogen promotes leaf and stem growth, so too much nitrogen results in green plants with no blooms.
Light: The amount of sunlight is crucial to getting plants to bloom. Sun-loving plants won't bloom in shade, and shade-loving plants have trouble in too much sun. Study each flower. Snip off those that are spent or are beginning to turn brown and shriveled around the edges. Look for any seed heads that have begun to form. Cut off any stems that already have most of their leaves removed due to wilting and browning. Snip the stem off above the last set of healthy leaves.
This encourages the carnation to concentrate on putting on a new bloom at that stem instead of growing new leaves. They also thrive in very alkaline and saline soils, tolerating a pH range between 6. Carnations do not like soggy soils and overwatering will cause carnation foliage to yellow. Carnations also need good air circulation around the roots and stems, so do not need mulching.
Symptoms appear as light gray spots on the leaves that later turn brown. Root rot Rhizoctonia solani may also cause stem decay and wilting of carnations.
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