Carnation Care Tips & Flower Guide

Any flower is tricky to keep beautiful and perky after they have been cut but with the right information, any cut bouquet can stay looking as beautiful as their rooted counterparts. With cut carnations there are three distinct things that anyone can do to keep them looking great. These tips will help make any cut bouquet stay beautiful longer.

Cut Carnations:

1. Sugar the Water- the first tip is of course to sugar or feed the water that your flowers will be sitting in. This allows for the continuation of feeding in the flowers though they have been cut from their roots. Natural photosynthesis keeps plants green and blooming and without this process, plants begin to wilt, die, and dry out. Adding sugar or feed to the water, the flower mimics the natural photosynthesis process keeping it perky longer.
2. Cut Stems at An Angle- the second tip is of course to keep the cut of the stem at an angle. This allows for more water to enter the stem and remain with the flower. When you cut stems flat and not at an angle, the surface area is greatly reduced and the flower is far less likely to be able to absorb the water that is needed to keep the flower perky.
3. Change Water Frequently- the last tip is of course to change the water frequently. Changing the water at least once every two or three days is best to keep bacteria to a minimum. Bacteria in water as the flower begins to decompose can hasten the decomposition making for a flower that wilts much faster than other flowers.

Rooted Carnations:

With carnations that are still rooted care is much easier. These flowers need plenty of water, ample light, and to be pruned ever so often. Much like other flowers, the carnation needs to have dead leaves and blooms removed so that the focus of growth is not wasted on these dead extremities. Keeping these flowers pruned makes sure that growth is targeted at areas of the plant that need to grow like roots, living blooms, and even living leaves. Another helpful tip is to be sure that the plant is getting the water needed to grow sufficiently. This does not mean drown your plant every day but simply monitor how dry the soil has become and strive to keep it moist to promote healthy growth.