How to Make Cut Carnations Last

The ornate, ruffled petals and choice of colors make carnations an optimal choice for many bouquets and cut flower arrangements. Florists supply both naturally colored and dyed carnations in nearly every color imaginable. The cut flowers have a long vase life when cared for properly, allowing you to enjoy the display for two weeks or longer. Carnations come in large and small varieties. The small carnations, called sprays, make attractive bouquets on their own or they provide filler for larger arrangements. Large carnations work well as single flowers in a small vase or as part of a larger bouquet.

Vase
Flower preservative
Bowl
Knife

Instructions

- 1
  Fill the vase with 100 to 110 degree Fahrenheit water. Dissolve a cut flower preservative in the water.
- 2
  Place a small bowl filled with 100 F to 110 F water near the vase. Hold the bottom of the carnation stem under the water in the bowl. Cut off 1 to 2 inches from the the end of the stem at a 45 degree angle with a sharp knife. Making the cut underwater prevents air bubbles from entering the stem.
- 3
  Remove the stem from the bowl and immediately place it in the prepared vase. Remove any leaves from the stem that sit beneath the water in the vase. Repeat the process for the remaining carnations, if applicable.
- 4
  Set the vase in a cool location where the carnations receive bright, but indirect sunlight. Temperatures near 65 F during the day and up to 10 degrees cooler at night are preferable.
- 5
  Replace the water and preservative in the vase every two to three days, or more often if it becomes cloudy. Remove the carnation flowers as they begin to wilt.

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