Does carnations come back year after year?

Carnation flowers are available as annuals, biennials or perennials. The choice is up to you and many gardeners have Dianthus beds that contain specimens of all of these varieties. Growing carnations lets you create a spectacular flower garden with a simple to maintain look that effortlessly changes from one year to the next.

There are few flowering plants that are as versatile and hardy as the dependable carnation flower.

You can use them as companion plants or main attractions; use them as the mainstay in a cutting garden, create borders with them, plant them in containers or even use them for colorful beauty in a rock garden setting.

Growing Carnations As Cut Flowers

Many types of carnations will provide you with lovely blooms beginning in the late spring and continuing well into the autumn months. Growing carnation flowers will enable you to always have available some of the most common additions for a fresh flower arrangement. They are a heavy favorite for use in any floral arrangement because of their outstanding beauty and long lived blooms.

With minimal care and water these cut flowers can be enjoyed for several weeks. Other flowers may wither, droop and shed their petals but you can count on the perky carnation to maintain its cheery disposition and appearance.

When planting carnations (or Dianthus) you should remember that they prefer full sunlight to partial shade. A minimum of 4-6 hours of sun is required for healthy blooms and foliage.

The soil should be well drained, fertile and tend toward a slightly alkaline pH level of 6.7-6.9. Do not plant these flowers in soil that is too rich and fertile, or too water absorbent. If the soil is too rich you will end up with lots of green leaves and very few blooms. Wet soil that drains poorly will create yellowed, discoloured leaves and can even kill the plant.

Photo: Valter Jacinto¦Portugal

Maintenance and Care

Once established a carnation can handle drought easily and you should take care not to water them too much which can cause yellowing of the leaves, root rot and blossom drop. A light spray oaf water onto the plant 2-3 times a week should be sufficient to meet the watering needs unless the weather is extremely hot and dry.

When you are trying to sprout carnation seeds remember that they will grow best when the temperatures are about 50-65 degrees F during the day and 40-50 degrees F at night. As these plants mature you will find them easier to do because then they are better able to handle warmer temperatures.

Deadheading spent blossoms and clipping fresh blossoms for use in cut flower arrangements should be done on a regular basis when growing carnations. This will help prevent mildew on the stem and leaves and it also encourages the plant to keep producing new blooms. Carnations are easy to deadhead with a finger pinch just beyond the junction of stem and flower. If you use shears always cut above or below one of the leaf nodes for maximum re-growth and flowering.

Find a colorful selection of Carnations for sale here

Pests and Diseases

Fungus, moulds and mildews can be problems for those gardeners who are busy growing dianthus and carnations. Make sure that you have enough room between each plant for proper air circulation which will help prevent moulds and mildew from attacking your lovely carnation flowers. There are few pests that will ever attack members of the Dianthus family which means that you do not have to worry about applying pesticides.

If you are one who wants to enjoy growing carnations this spring and summer you should keep all of these helpful tips in mind. Then you will be able to create a lovely garden where these flowers can assume a starring role.

Carnations, or Dianthus, are fairly hardy, short-lived perennial flowers. Prized for their intricate flowers, carnations usually come in white, pink or red hues, but there are some varieties that are more lavender or orange. Carnations are sometimes referred to as annuals, but they aren't true annuals as they do not complete their life cycle in a single year when cared for correctly.. Most carnations live for two to three years before they require replacing, so overwintering the plants properly ensures they live to their full life span.

Snip off the dead flowers and any dead or damaged foliage with a sharp set of shears in fall prior to the first frost. Remove all the dead and fallen plant matter from the bed so that diseases do not overwinter in it.

Lay a 4-inch layer of mulch over the carnation bed after the first hard frost in fall. Use straw or pine boughs, as these offer protection from winter cold and help maintain the soil temperature, which prevents frost heave to the roots.

• Carnations, or Dianthus, are fairly hardy, short-lived perennial flowers.
  
• Carnations are sometimes referred to as annuals, but they aren't true annuals as they do not complete their life cycle in a single year when cared for correctly..
  
• Most carnations live for two to three years before they require replacing, so overwintering the plants properly ensures they live to their full life span.

Water the bed as needed to keep it slightly moist throughout winter when the ground is not frozen. In areas with mild winters, carnations may continue to bloom all winter.

Remove the mulch in spring when the carnations begin actively growing again. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 analysis, at the rate recommended on the fertilizer label. This encourages fresh, healthy growth from the flowers.

Dry Carnations

Carnations are beautiful, frilly flowers that come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Carnations are a bit more delicate than some flowers, so rather than hanging them up to dry, you’ll want to dry them using silica gel. Choose the brightest colors of carnations, since the blooms will loose some of their color during drying. Pick carnations that are close to full bloom, or not quite fully open, for drying. Cut the stems short enough to fit in your container. Cut off any leaves or side stems. Cover the carnations with silica gel, working carefully to avoid crushing the blossoms. Place the dish with the silica gel and carnations in the microwave. Place a cup of water (in a microwave safe container) in the back corner of the microwave. Microwave the carnations for about 3 minutes. ( Let the container cool completely.

• Water the bed as needed to keep it slightly moist throughout winter when the ground is not frozen.
  
• Choose the brightest colors of carnations, since the blooms will loose some of their color during drying.

Tip

If rabbits are a problem in your area, pine boughs discourage the pests from eating out of the carnation bed.

Potted carnations can be brought indoors and kept in a sunny window throughout winter. Make sure to place them in a warm room and deadhead them often so they bloom at their best.

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References

• University of Nebraska Extension: Year of Dianthus

Tips

• If rabbits are a problem in your area, pine boughs discourage the pests from eating out of the carnation bed.
• Potted carnations can be brought indoors and kept in a sunny window throughout winter. Make sure to place them in a warm room and deadhead them often so they bloom at their best.

Writer Bio

Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.

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