From my perspective as a carnation plant, the ideal moment for you to take my cuttings is when I am brimming with vitality but not in my peak flowering phase. This is typically in the late spring or early summer. My stems are strong, my growth is lush, and the energy within me is focused on producing new shoots rather than sustaining heavy blooms. Please choose a healthy, non-flowering stem from my central body, about 4 to 6 inches long. A stem that is too young and soft will wilt easily, while one that is too old and woody will resist rooting. I am at my most resilient now, ready to give life to a new individual.
This is a critical moment. Please use a sharp, sterilized blade or pruning shears. A clean cut minimizes damage to my tissues and reduces the risk of introducing pathogens that could rot both me and my mother plant. Make the cut just below a leaf node—that swollen bump on my stem where my leaves emerge. This node is a hub of meristematic cells, teeming with the potential for new root growth. Immediately after severing me, remove the leaves from the lower third of my stem. This prevents them from being submerged and decaying in the propagation medium, which would spell my end.
While I can be placed directly into a moist, well-draining potting mix, my chances of success are greatly improved with a little encouragement. Many gardeners dip my freshly cut end into a rooting hormone powder. This isn't magic; it contains auxins, which are plant hormones that I naturally produce to stimulate root development. The powder gives me a concentrated boost, sealing my wound and telling my cells to urgently switch their purpose from growing leaves to growing roots. Gently tap off any excess powder—I don't need to be caked in it.
Now, place me into my new, temporary home. A small pot filled with a sterile, low-fertility medium like perlite, vermiculite, or a coarse sand and peat mix is perfect. It provides support, holds moisture, but most importantly, allows oxygen to reach my developing root tissues. Water me thoroughly after planting to settle the medium around my stem and eliminate air pockets. Then, cover me with a clear plastic bag or place me in a propagator. This is not to suffocate me, but to create a humid microclimate around my leaves, drastically reducing water loss through transpiration while I lack the roots to drink more.
Place me in a warm, bright location, but out of direct, harsh sunlight which would scorch me or cook me inside my plastic tent. The warmth at my base is more important than the light on my leaves at this stage, as it encourages cellular division for root formation. Keep my medium consistently moist, but never soggy. In two to four weeks, you can test my progress by giving me a very gentle tug. If I resist, it means my new white, fragile roots have anchored me in the soil. Once I show clear signs of new top growth, you can gradually acclimate me to less humid conditions and eventually transplant me into a larger pot where I can truly thrive.
