How to Grow Carnations for Cut Production

Grow Carnations in the Garden

• 1). Sow carnation seeds in the outdoor garden at the beginning of spring or fall.
  
  
• 2). Select an outdoor site that offers full sunlight, rich soil and good drainage. The ideal soil pH for carnations is between 6 and 7. To test your soil pH, obtain a testing kit from a home and garden store.
  
  
• 3). Spread carnation seeds 6 to 8 inches apart to give the flowers plenty of room to root and grow, sowing seeds right on top of the soil.
  
  
• 4). Cover the seeds lightly with topsoil, less than 1/2 inch deep.
  
  
• 5). Water carnations in the garden only during long, dry periods. Otherwise, carnations will flourish well on their own.
  
  

Grow Carnations Indoors

• 1). Plant carnations indoors 9 to 10 weeks before the last frost of the season, or before the time you plan to transplant them to the garden (early spring or fall).
  
  
• 2). Fill any 4-inch or larger container with potting soil, leaving approximately 1 inch of room from the top. Even recycled containers, such as milk cartons, may be used.
  
  
• 3). Provide drainage holes for the carnations, either by using a container that already features them or by making small slits into the container you've chosen.
  
  
• 4). Scatter carnation seeds evenly on top of the soil and cover lightly with a thin layer (less than 1/2 inch) of topsoil.
  
  
• 5). Water the soil lightly.
  
  
• 6). Cover the entire container in a plastic bag or tightly closed sheet of plastic to provide humidity for the seeds.
  
  
• 7). Wait for seedlings to emerge above the soil, until at least 3/4 of the seeds you planted have sprouted.
  
  
• 8). Remove the plastic bag and set the container where the plants will receive direct sunlight.
  
  
• 9). Keep the soil consistently moist until leaves begin to develop on all the plants.
  
  
• 10
  
  Remove seedlings from their communal pot and place them in separate containers to allow for root growth. When the carnations are 4 to 5 inches high, they are ready to be transplanted outdoors to the garden, or they may be left in their permanent pots and allowed to grow as indoor plants.