Carnations don't actually need to be pruned particularly hard, but pruning can still make sense. In the article below you will learn when which cut is appropriate and how to cut cuttings.
How to cut carnations correctly?
When cutting carnations, spent shoots should be removed to improve appearance and encourage a second bloom. Cuttings are cut in late summer and used for propagation by planting them in a protected area with a sandy-peaty substrate.
Cut off the faded flowers
It is usually advised to cut back dead shoots. Such pruning makes the mats look neat again, and some types of carnations even replant and produce a second, albeit not as lush, flower. This second flower is common on both Peony carnations and feather carnations after pruning. However, you should avoid this cut if you want to get seeds - the fruits must be allowed to ripen after flowering. In this case, pruning takes place in spring.
Cut cuttings
If you want to grow carnations by variety, you should propagate the plants via cuttings, which are cut in late summer. Proceed as follows when propagating cuttings:
1. In July / August, carefully cut off eight to ten centimeter long, non-flowering side shoots.
2. A bark tongue of the main shoot should remain at the base.
3. Remove the bottom leaves.
4. Dip the bark tongue in rooting powder.
5. Plant the cuttings in a protected corner of the garden.
6. Ideal potting soil is a sand-peat mixture.
7. Only the base of the cutting is covered by substrate.
8. A glass dome placed over the top provides additional protection.
9. After about a month, the cuttings are rooted and are repotted in a light soil mix.
10. This consists of a mixture of compost and peat.
11. The young carnations overwinter in the cold frame.
12. If the temperature drops below 10 °C, they must be kept indoors over the winter.13. In March / April the plants come to their final location.
Tip
When cutting carnations for the vase, do not choose specimens that are already fully bloomed. Instead, choose stems whose flower buds are only slightly open - the longer the bouquet of carnations will last.
