Perpetual Flowering Carnations offer the largest flower size but are less frequently scented than other varieties. This article will focus on Perpetual Flowering Carnations and how to maintain their flowering year after year.

In milder climates you may get by with a polytunnel strung with lights, which may offer enough heat to keep plants alive. You can also bring Carnations inside as house plants.

The height you snap the plant stem off at is the height at which it should start to bush from, meaning you can influence the height of your plant. Stopping will delay the flowering but you will get more flowers from your plant. You can assume good-quality nursery plants have been stopped already but if you grow from seed, do this when the plant stem has about a half dozen leaf pairs or is about 6 inches (15. 2 cm) in height.

Add some lime to the soil to improve the alkalinity, and a fertilizer that isn’t too high in nitrogen. Try to fertilize weekly during the growing season.

You should not let the plant dry out until it is established.

Cut a non-flowering piece of one of your plant’s shoots. Try to do this first thing in the morning if you can. This cutting should be about four inches long. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/c/c4/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/c/c4/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet1. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Cut below a leaf node using a very sharp, clean blade. The shoot should be recent growth from the same year. Remove the lower leaves. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/8f/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/8f/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet2. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Dip the cut into a rooting hormone and then plant it halfway down a planter that has been filled with coarse sand. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b1/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b1/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet3. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Water, then place a clear plastic bag around the plant. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/b/b3/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet4. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet4. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/b/b3/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet4. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet4. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Place this in a bright spot out of direct sunlight, such as a window ledge that does not get full sun. Maintain moisture until the plants are established and you can see growth. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/6/6a/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet5. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet5. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/6/6a/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet5. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-7Bullet5. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Find a healthy side shoot and strip off the lowest leaves. Halfway along the length make a vertical slit in the stem with a sharp knife. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/22/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet1. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/22/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet1. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Bend the stem over and plant the cut midsection into the ground. A good tip is to use a bit of wire or a hairpin to anchor it in the soil. It will eventually root from the cut bit of the stem. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/28/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet2. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/28/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet2. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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<br />\n</p></div>"} Keep the soil moist for about six weeks, then you can cut it from the parent. Leave it for another month before relocating it. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/20/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet3. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/20/Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet3. jpg/aid4912253-v4-728px-Help-Carnations-Make-a-Comeback-Step-8Bullet3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

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Drive a sturdy garden cane into the soil and loosely tie the plant to it with string. Don’t tie it too tightly.

Avoid splashing water onto the plant when watering and don’t mulch the plant as this can impede the air circulation around the plant. Carnations prefer a well drained soil and are prone to root and collar rot in wetter conditions.

Thrips are the biggest cause for concern; white markings on petals usually indicate you have a problem. Use a bug spray to get rid of these pests.