The easy-care bearded carnation is a biennial summer flower and is hardy. It blooms from June to September in white or various shades of red. The two-tone flowers are particularly decorative. The bearded carnation blooms particularly profusely in sunny locations.
Are bearded carnations hardy and what is the best way to overwinter?
Carnations are hardy and can easily overwinter outside. For potted plants, we recommend frost protection by wrapping the planter and placing it in a protected location. Young plants in the bed benefit from a layer of leaves, brushwood or bark mulch as protection.
What do you mean by biennial flowers?
Biennial summer flowers usually only bloom in their second year and then usually die. However, some flowers may sprout and bloom again in the third year. This sometimes happens with the bearded carnation.
If the “old” plants aren’t in your way in late summer, just leave them there and wait to see what happens next spring. If the barnacles don't sprout again, then at least their seeds were able to mature and self-seed. There will definitely be new bearded carnations there, as long as you haven't cut off all the withered flowers.
Overwintering potted plants
Bearded carnations should always overwinter outside, even if they are grown in a pot. Wrap the planter with fleece (€34.00 on Amazon), an old blanket or a jute sack. This will protect the roots from freezing. Also place your bearded cloves in a protected place, for example on a house wall. The temperatures there usually don't drop quite as low and the plants are protected from icy winds.
Overwintering bearded carnations in the bed
Carnations in the bed only need winter protection as tender young plants. Cover these with a layer of leaves, brushwood or bark mulch. As these materials rot, your bearded cloves will receive the nutrients they need.
Older plants do not need protection from the cold. To ensure that your young bearded cloves have a good chance of surviving the winter, plant them in October at the latest. This way they can still grow well and form roots.
The best winter tips for bearded carnations:
- Never overwinter carnations indoors
- Protect potted plants and young plants from frost
- Fleece, jute sack or old blanket for potted plants
- Twigs, bark mulch or leaves for bedding plants
Tip
Always overwinter your bearded carnations outside, heat is more damaging to them than frost.
