From our rooted perspective, we carnations (members of the Dianthus family) are not overly demanding, but to truly thrive and reward you with our vibrant, clove-scented blooms, we require a specific set of conditions. Understanding our needs from the ground up is the key to a successful partnership.
Water is life, but for us, it is a precise art. Our roots are particularly susceptible to rot and fungal diseases if left sitting in moisture. Therefore, we insist on a "soak and dry" method. Please, water us deeply at the soil level, avoiding our foliage, until water runs freely from the drainage holes. Then, allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely before even considering another drink. You can test this by simply feeling the soil with your finger. We will show you signs of distress: our leaves will yellow and wilt if we are drowning, and our growth will become stunted, with flowers failing to develop if we are too parched. Consistency is far more valuable than frequency.
We are sun-worshippers at heart. To produce our iconic, frilled flowers and maintain a compact, healthy form, we require a minimum of six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Full sun is our preferred state of being. When placed in partial shade, we will still grow, but our stems will become leggy and weak as we stretch desperately towards the light, and our flower production will be disappointingly sparse. The intensity of the sun also helps to intensify the spicy fragrance of our blooms and keeps the foliage dry, thus preventing the onset of leaf diseases. A sunny, open spot is the greatest gift you can give us.
If there is one non-negotiable element for our well-being, it is the soil in which we are planted. We demand excellent drainage above all else. A heavy, clay-based soil that retains water is a death sentence for our root system. The ideal foundation for us is a loose, fertile, and slightly alkaline soil with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. Amending garden beds with compost or well-rotted manure improves fertility and structure, while the incorporation of coarse sand or perlite is essential to ensure water flows through quickly. For those growing us in containers, a quality commercial potting mix formulated for flowering plants, perhaps with a handful of horticultural grit added, provides the perfect environment for our roots to explore and anchor.
While not as critical as water, sun, and soil, proper nutrition and grooming help us perform at our peak. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied at the beginning of our growing season gives us a steady supply of nutrients to support initial leaf and stem growth. Once we begin to set flower buds, switching to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus (the middle number on the package) will encourage more prolific and larger blooms. Furthermore, the practice of deadheading—removing spent flowers by pinching them off just above a set of leaves—is something we appreciate greatly. It signals to us that our work is not done, and we will readily direct our energy into producing a new flush of blossoms rather than setting seed.
