How to Prune Carnations

Carnations are considered to be a low maintenance flower. However, you must still prune your carnation plants to ensure that they bloom, as well as to allow air circulation which prevents disease from forming on your carnations and surrounding foliage. cccc

• Regularly inspect your carnations for signs of disease. You should remove any dead plant matter or any areas that appear to be infected with disease to prevent the entire plant from becoming infected.

• If you have evidence of infection or insect infestation it is a good idea to buy a pesticide or fungicide to treat your carnation plants with. 

• It is best to prune your carnations when the flowers begin to die. You do not want to leave these flowers on your bush. Clip them with a pair of garden sheers so that they will grow back next time it blooms.

• If you cut the flowers that bloom from your carnation bush right away, it will encourage bigger flowers to bloom in their place. You can use your cut flowers inside for a decoration or give them away to family or friends.

• If your carnation plant grows too large you can prune your roots to encourage the bush to grow smaller next time it blooms. It is best to prune the roots of your carnation plant during late spring or fall.

• If you have a large bush with long stems, you should support the longer stems to keep them in an upright position, much as you would a rose bush.

• Be sure that you bush is receiving adequate sunlight and air circulation so that they can grow healthy and bloom regularly as they are meant to.