Can Carnation Cuttings Grow Roots?

When to Take Cuttings

• Carnations are herbaceous plants that typically root fairly easily, and you should use cuttings taken from the current season's growth. Wait until new shoots emerge from the plant, which typically occurs in the summer. Examine the carnation plants thoroughly and use only strong, healthy, disease-free plants. Select several new non-flowering stems that you can take 4- to 6-inch-long cuttings from. The best time of day to take the carnation cuttings is early in the morning.

Collecting Carnation Cuttings

• Use a sterile and sharp cutting instrument, such as a knife or hand pruners, to remove the carnation cuttings with one clean cut. Make the cut at an angle and keep the cuttings wet and cool until planted. Put the cuttings in a plastic bag with wet paper towels. Take the cuttings inside and remove any leaves on the bottom half. Dust this part of the cutting with a rooting hormone to stimulate root development.

Ideal Rooting Environment

• In order for the carnation cuttings to root, they will need a sterile growing medium and humidity. Use several small seed pots to root the cuttings individually or one large pot to root them together. Use only pots with drainage holes. Fill the pots with the growing medium, dampen the mix and make holes 2 to 3 inches deep for each carnation cutting. Place the cuttings in the holes and water them again to firm the soil around them.

Caring for the Cuttings

• Cover the pot with a plastic bag to hold humidity in and place the carnation cuttings in a warm location that has indirect sunlight. Check the cuttings often and mist, if needed, to maintain moist, but not soggy soil. Gently pull on the carnation cuttings after four weeks to check for roots. When the cuttings resist your pull, roots are forming. Repot each cutting into a 4-inch pot to grow larger and stronger before transplanting the carnations into the landscape.