Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

The reason why carnation (dianthus) whose English name is "sweet William" no one will remember, but this romantic name is very suitable for its pleasant fragrance and vibrant color. Adult carnation plants can reach a height of 30 cm or more depending on the variety.Carnations are easy to grow and care for, but you may need to replant them after a year or two as they rarely live longer. Luckily, you can harvest the seeds of the first plant or let them sow and enjoy the flower for many years to come.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Growing a carnation plant

1. 

   Find out when the plant will bloom. Because there are many varieties of carnations and different growing methods, you may have heard conflicting information about when and how long they bloom. Two-year varieties will bloom in the second year and then die. Perennials usually bloom for many years, but perennials usually take two years to flower and die before the plant has a second flowering.
   • The correct care for a perennial carnation increases the chances of the plant to propagate, as described in the section “Caring for a carnation”.

2. 

   
   
   Buy a tree if you want to see it blooming during the year. If you want your carnation to bloom during the year, look for seedlings or mature plants to plant in the fall or spring. You need to talk to the seller to make sure the plant will bloom for that year before you take it home, as some seedlings may not flower before year two.
   • A year-round seedling (which blooms and dies a year) may or may not live as expected, depending on the variety and how the plant responds to the climate.

3. 

   
   
   Decide when to plant the tree. Carnation seeds are strong enough to survive winter, can be planted in the fall or late spring and bloom for the next 12 to 18 months. If the tree has begun to grow, or if you are concerned that it won't survive the harsh winter, you can leave it indoors and plant it out in early spring. Seedlings 6-8 weeks old will be easy to plant and less risk of damage.

4. 

   
   
   Find a spot with plenty of sunlight but cool. Carnations grow faster when grown in full sun, but they do best in cool climates. Ideally the plant receives 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, however you should grow the plant in partial shade if you live in hot climates (USDA Zone 8 or higher).

5. 

   Check the soil to plant. Carnation prefers loose, fertile soil with good drainage. Water must drain quickly and not collect on compact hard ground. You can plow the soil and replenish the potted soil to provide additional nutrients. Although it is not necessary to test soil pH when growing carnations, if you have a garden soil pH tester available, you can adjust the pH so that the soil is slightly alkaline (about 6.75).
   • Garden soil pH test kits are available from gardening stores and online. However, this is not a must when growing carnations, as this plant adapts quite well to soil pH.

6. 

   Sow seeds. You should sow your carnation seeds in winter (hot climates only), spring, or summer (cold climates only). Place the seeds on the ground and cover with a layer of soil about 0.6 cm thick. You can also dig a trench of the same depth, lay down the seeds, and cover with soil. Ideally, each seed should be about 15 cm apart to reduce the risk of rot and spreading disease. If the soil is not large enough to plant this spacing, you can plant the seeds in clusters, but be careful not to over water.
   • If you are planting a seedling, simply move the root pot to a hole about twice as large as the root ball, then cover with soil. Remember not to cover any part of the trunk of the seedling with soil; you need to fill the soil as high as the old level.

7. 

   Water the plants after planting. Watering immediately after sowing the seeds or planting carnations will benefit the seeds and plants, but be careful not to water more than the soil is draining. A few days after planting, the seedlings need moist soil but not soaking wet. Once the tree has taken root and recovered, take care of it in the manner described in the section on taking care of it. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Caring for a carnation plant

1. 

   Water the plants lightly. Keep the soil around the seedlings slightly moist to slightly dry. Once they reach maturity and do not grow taller, most carnation varieties do not need watering, unless the weather is hot. As with all plants, you need to water regularly if your carnation appears wilted or the soil is cracked.
   • Carnation plants can rot if exposed to excessively high humidity, so be sure not to over water. Do not let the soil get wet or leave puddles.

2. 

   Fertilize the plants (optional). If you want to boost your plant to grow faster and bloom, use a multipurpose fertilizer every two to four weeks during the growing season (spring and summer, when the plants are budding and blooming). . Carefully follow the instructions for each specific fertilizer to avoid leaf burn or damage to the plant.
   • It is usually a good idea to dilute fertilizer more than what is directed on the package.

3. 

   Use insecticide for seedlings. Spray multipurpose insecticide on seedlings to prevent disease. Carnation is susceptible to nematode infection. If you find tiny nematodes, use the fungicide according to the manufacturer's instructions.
   • Note: If you plan to eat carnations or feed your pets, don't use pesticides on plants.

4. 

   Cut off the dead flowers. Carnations usually flower during spring or early summer, after which flowers fall in the summer heat. When the carnations on your plants dry out, cut them out to stimulate new flowering plants and prevent seeds from falling if you want more careful control of your garden. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Breeding carnation plants

1. 

   Let the growing plant sow its own seeds. If well cared for and the cultivars are suitable for the climate, carnations can plant a new batch of plants into your garden before they die and die. If you want your carnation plant to fill your garden, just let the old flowers fade and sow the seeds yourself.
   • Note that some carnations are hybrids from many different flower varieties and may produce seeds that grow on plants with different characteristics from the parent plant.

2. 

   Harvest the new seeds on the tree. In mid-summer or late summer, the flowers will die and brown, dry seed pods will form. Remove the seeds when the shell ends open to prepare to disperse the seeds. Shake the seed pods into the container to get the disc-shaped black seeds, then plant them in the fall and spring.

3. 

   Cut off the dried flower stalks after the seeds have fallen off. Once the seeds have fallen out or after you've harvested the seeds, remove the seed pods from the tree at the base of the stem. Carnation plants use a lot of energy to go on for another year, but removing the seed pods increases the chances of the plant blooming for another season of flowers.

4. 

   Take the branches from an adult tree. If you are lucky enough to have a carnation plant that lasts longer than a year or two, the plant should grow quite large. In the fall or early spring, before the tree starts to sprout, cut off one of the largest branches near the base with a sharp knife or scissors. These branches can be planted into new trees. You may need to use a support post for the upright branches.
   • Newly planted branches take time to take root. Keep the branches warm and humid, away from direct sunlight, so they don't dry out. You can store the branches for a few days under a clear plastic bag or container to create the necessary moist environment.
   advertisement

Advice

• Carnation is edible, although other parts of the plant can be dangerous if ingested. However, do not eat flowers when plants are sprayed with pesticides, planted near driveways or in public areas.
• Compost or mulch is usually not required for a carnation plant and can retain too much moisture if you over-water it.

Warning

• Carnation plants are susceptible to root rot, so it's better to let the plants dry slightly than over-water unless you see the plants wilt and brown spots appear.
• Carnation leaves can be poisonous, especially for children or pets. If you suspect that a member of the restaurant is eating carnation leaves, call your poison control center or veterinarian right away.