From our perspective, a carnation plant, transplantation is a deeply traumatic event. It is not simply a change of scenery. Our entire world is the soil we inhabit. When you lift us from the ground, you sever our most vital connections. Our root hairs, which are microscopic, delicate extensions responsible for absorbing almost all of our water and nutrients, are sheared off. Our root system, which provides structural anchorage, is drastically reduced. We are suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar environment where the soil texture, temperature, moisture level, and even microbial life are alien to us. This is "transplant shock," a state where our ability to hydrate and feed ourselves is critically compromised, leading to wilting, stunted growth, and in severe cases, our demise.
Your preparation is our best chance for survival. The process begins well before the actual move. Please, water us thoroughly a day or two before the planned transplantation. This ensures our cells are fully hydrated and gives you a solid root ball that holds together, protecting our delicate roots. Do not transplant us on a hot, sunny afternoon. We are already losing water through our leaves (transpiration), and the stress of root loss under such conditions can be fatal. Choose a cool, cloudy day, or transplant us in the early evening. This gives us the entire night, a period of lower stress, to begin the recovery process before facing the sun again.
This is the most critical moment. Be as gentle as possible. Use a sharp spade or trowel to dig a wide circle around our base, ensuring you get as much of the root ball as you can. The goal is to lift our entire root system, with the soil clinging to it, out in one cohesive unit. Avoid yanking us by the stems! This can cause severe damage to our crown, the point where our stems meet the roots. Instead, slide the tool underneath the root ball and gently lift us out. If we are in a pot, gently squeeze the sides and tap the bottom to loosen us, then carefully slide us out, supporting the root ball with your hand.
Our new planting hole is our new universe. Please make it welcoming. It should be twice as wide as our root ball but only as deep. Planting us too deep will suffocate our crown and lead to rot. The soil in the hole should be loosened to allow our new roots to penetrate easily. Before placing us in, water the empty hole. This settles the soil below and provides immediate moisture to our roots upon contact. Some of us would also appreciate a little bone meal or a balanced, slow-release fertilizer mixed into the backfill soil to give us a gentle nutrient boost once we start recovering.
Once we are carefully positioned in the hole and the soil is firmed gently around us (not packed down hard!), the most important step begins: watering. This is not a regular watering. This is a "settling-in" soak. Water us deeply and slowly, allowing the moisture to penetrate the entire root ball and eliminate any large air pockets. For the next few weeks, you must be vigilant. The soil around our reduced root system must be kept consistently moist, but not waterlogged. A layer of mulch around our base (but not touching our stems) is incredibly helpful. It conserves moisture, keeps our roots cool, and suppresses weeds that would compete with us for resources. Please protect us from strong winds and intense direct sun for the first week if possible, as we are at our most vulnerable.
