How To Grow Carnations
No garden is complete without carnation flowers. The flowers are known for their beauty, brightness of colors and of course fragrance.Carnations make the ideal bouquets and look lovely even in dried arrangements. The flowers are available all round the year thus increasing their ornamental value. They can be easily grown at home since they don’t require much space. Having colorful carnations can give you abundant supply of the flowers all through the year.
Traditionally carnations are pink in color. But with use of modern technology they are now available in a riot of colors mainly blue, red and white. You can choose any color or a combination of all colors and plant the carnations in well-nutritional compost. Place the pot in a well lit corner so that the plant receives enough heat and light.
As the carnations grow they will require plant supports to hold them upright. Carnations grow tall and slender stems and hence need support. The plants will require to be watered three to four times a week. This is enough to keep the soil moist without wetting it heavily.
Pinch the plants when they grow over 6 inches tall. Pinching the plant helps control its height and fullness. Since carnations are perennials pinching will create shoots from the plant. A flower will emerge from every shoot. The shoots will require regular pinching to space out the flowers.
The flowers will need nutrition at regular intervals. You can feed the flowers the best nutrition using the packaged flower foods available with your local nursery.Regularly trim the plants off the developing buds. Leave only the buds that grow on the ends of the stem.
Take care to give the growing flower an environment of 45 degrees Fahrenheit at least. Temperature is one main reason carnations are grown in greenhouses. Carnations require extra care during winter months when the sun rarely makes an appearance. In harsh winters let the carnations absorb heat and light from a 100 watt bulb. The bulb should be at least 5 feet above the flowers. This will avoid the flowers from burning due to exposure to intense heat.
When you bring the carnations inside remember to keep them away from fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables release ethylene gas which results in the wilting of carnation flowers.
