Carnations & Non-Flowering Shoots

About Carnation Plants

• Carnation plants thrive in full sun with well-draining soil and are not particular as to the type of soil. Drought tolerant and light feeders, carnation plants do not require a lot of watering or fertilizing. Carnations are grown from seeds, plant division and nonflowering, young side shoot cuttings. Plants grow to 18 to 24 inches high, though there are miniature hybrids available.

Promoting Shoots

• New carnation plants are easily propagated by using cuttings of the nonflowering side shoots growing from the plant. To have these healthy nonflowering shoots and to promote your carnation plant to fill out bushier, you must pinch off the main stem before the flower bud develops. This action, though it will delay initial flowering, will force the carnation plant to direct its energy into new stems and foliage, not flower buds. Within two to three weeks you will notice new side shoots growing from the base of the plant.

Propagating Shoots

• When the tender side carnation shoots have grown to 3 to 4 inches and have 5 to 6 leaf sets, clip the stem close to the plant base. Harvesting on overcast days will be less stressful for the shoots. Remove the lower two sets of leaves from the shoot stem. Insert the trimmed shoot into containers filled with clean, moist sand, making certain the bottom leaves do not touch the sand. Place in a sunny location, and keep the sand moist but not soggy. In three to four weeks the carnation cuttings should be rooted and ready to be transplanted.

Disease

• Carnation plants are relatively pest and disease free, but occasionally a disease will inflict the nonflowering shoots. Wilt fungus, like bacterial slow wilt, bacterial wilt and fusarium wilt, are the primary diseases that affect tender shoots on carnation plants. Wilt diseases begin with the lower leaves, usually appearing wilted and turning yellow, but can quickly infect the entire plant. Early detection and removal of infected parts, followed by an appropriate fungicide is advised to treat the disease.