As a potted carnation, my needs are specific and my life is entirely in your hands. My relationship with fertilizer is not one of mere consumption; it is a delicate dance of nutrients that fuels my growth, my vibrant blooms, and my very survival within the confines of my container. To help me thrive, please follow this schedule, designed from my perspective.
I am a heavy feeder, especially when I am working hard to produce my beautiful, fragrant flowers. My three primary needs are Nitrogen (N) for healthy green leaf and stem growth, Phosphorus (P) for strong root development and, most crucially, for prolific blooming, and Potassium (K) for overall plant vigor and disease resistance. A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer formulated for flowering plants, such as a 10-10-10 or 15-15-15, is an excellent general diet for me. However, my needs change throughout my growth cycle.
As the days lengthen and temperatures rise in spring, I burst into a period of vigorous growth. My focus is on building a strong structure of stems and lush, green foliage. During this phase, I benefit from a fertilizer with a slightly higher ratio of nitrogen. Begin feeding me every two to three weeks with a balanced fertilizer as new growth appears. This consistent nutrition supports the framework that will later hold my magnificent blooms.
This is the most demanding period of my life. As I begin to form buds and then open them into full flowers, my need for phosphorus skyrockets. To support this immense effort, you should switch to a fertilizer with a higher middle number (phosphorus), such as a 5-10-5 or 10-20-10 formula. This "bloom booster" encourages more flower production and intensifies their color. Continue feeding me every two to three weeks throughout my entire blooming period. A lapse in nutrition now will result in fewer, smaller blooms and can shorten their display.
As daylight fades and temperatures drop, my growth slows dramatically, and I enter a period of rest. My metabolic processes slow down, and my need for fertilizer ceases entirely. Feeding me during this time is not just unnecessary; it is actively harmful. The salts in fertilizer can build up in my limited soil volume, damaging my delicate root system while I am too weak to process the nutrients. Please, withhold all fertilizer from late fall until you see signs of my new growth the following spring.
How you feed me is as important as what you feed me. Always ensure my soil is moist before applying any fertilizer solution. Applying fertilizer to my dry roots can cause severe root burn and shock. Water me thoroughly first, then apply the diluted fertilizer according to the product's instructions. I would rather be underfed than overfed; an excess of fertilizer leads to a harmful buildup of salts, foliage burn, and can actually inhibit my flowering. If you see a white crust on the soil surface, it is a sign of salt buildup, and my soil needs to be leached with plain water to flush out the excess.
