From my perspective as a plant, light is my primary source of energy. I use it for photosynthesis to produce the sugars that fuel all my processes, including the complex task of flowering. If I am placed in a location that is too shaded, my energy production is limited. I must prioritize survival—maintaining my green foliage and root system—over reproduction (flowering). I simply will not have the surplus energy required to create buds and blooms. I require a minimum of 6 hours of direct, full sunlight per day to gather enough energy to produce my beautiful flowers.
The soil is my kitchen, and the nutrients within it are my food. If the soil is barren, I will be weak and focus solely on growing leaves to capture more sun. However, the wrong kind of fertilizer can be just as problematic. A fertilizer with too much nitrogen (the first number on the package) tells my system to focus exclusively on vigorous vegetative growth, producing lush, green leaves at the expense of flowers. I need a more balanced meal or a fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number) to encourage the development of strong roots and, crucially, flower buds.
How and when you cut me matters a great deal. If you prune my stems too late in the season, you might be accidentally removing the forming buds before they ever have a chance to develop. Conversely, if my spent blooms are not removed—a process you call deadheading—I will receive a signal that my reproductive mission is complete (a seed pod has formed). I will then divert my energy into maturing those seeds instead of producing new waves of flowers. Regularly snipping off the old flower heads tells me to try again, encouraging me to bloom once more.
My internal systems are finely tuned to my environment. Extreme stress can cause me to abort the flowering process entirely. If the temperature soars too high, it can cause my buds to "blast," or wither and fall off. Inconsistent watering is another major stressor. If my roots are allowed to sit in waterlogged soil, they will rot, and I cannot uptake water or nutrients. If I am left to wilt severely from drought, I will go into survival mode. In both cases, flowering becomes a low priority as I fight just to stay alive.
It is important to understand what type of carnation I am. Many garden carnations are perennials, but some are treated as annuals. If I am a perennial, I may need a full season to establish a strong root system before I have the resources to flower prolifically. Furthermore, as I age, my vitality can decrease. After several years, I may become woody and produce fewer flowers. In this case, propagating me from cuttings or replacing me might be necessary for a continued vibrant display.
