How to Grow Carnations in Water? Hydroponic Growing Methods and Precautions

The carnation is a fairly common flowering plant with rich colors; if the growing environment is suitable, it may bloom in all four seasons. Many people grow carnations, but most of them use the method of planting in pots with soil. In fact, it can not only grow in soil, but can also survive in water. Let us learn together about the hydroponic method for carnations.

How to Grow Carnations in Water

1. Prepare a vase or other container, and fill it with an appropriate amount of clean water. To make the fresh flowers last longer, you can also put a little beer in the vase, or add a small amount of white sugar and aspirin to the water.

2. Check the leaves on the bouquet, and cut off all the leaves that might become submerged in the water.

3. Use scissors to make a diagonal cut at the base of each carnation stem in the bouquet; once done, they can be inserted into the water.

4. It is best to spread out the bouquet so that the stems keep good ventilation between them. If you must keep the binding ribbon on the bouquet, it is recommended to loosen it a little; do not tie it too tightly.

5. If you want the carnations to bloom earlier, you can trim the stems and place them in a warm water preservation solution, and the flowers will open a few days earlier.

Carnation Hydroponic Growing Methods and Precautions

1. Cutting the stems

When trimming its stems, cut them short at a place 35 mm below a node; the cut should be flat, without cracks. Remove the leaves below the mouth of the bottle, and leave a certain gap between each flower stem to ensure smooth ventilation. December of each year to February of the following year is its growing period, and it only needs about 30 days to take root.

2. Watering

Before placing it in the bottle, clean it thoroughly. The water should cover half of the roots, and part of the roots should be exposed above the water. If it is a newly grown flower, there are many wounds on the roots, and they rot easily, so the water should be changed frequently, and at the same time the bottle and flower roots should be washed clean.

If it is hot and scorching weather, the amount of oxygen in the water will decrease, its respiration will become faster, the oxygen will quickly be used up, and the water must be changed even more diligently, preferably every day, until white roots grow in the water, after which the frequency of adding water can gradually be reduced.

If the water in the bottle evaporates by 20% to 30%, you can add water; do not add too much water, and still keep part of the roots exposed above the water surface. In spring and autumn, replace the water about once every half a month; in winter, replace it about once every 20 days.

3. Adding fertilizer

Because it is hydroponic, the fertilizer added will all dissolve in the water. Once its ratio exceeds what the flower needs, it will have an adverse effect. It is best to buy a special nutrient solution, whose ratio is formulated according to the needs of the flower and is very scientific.

4. Light

It relatively likes sunlight. If it is the period when seedlings have just emerged or flowers are in full bloom, do not place it under strong light. At other times, there is no need to worry that strong light will harm it.

5. Temperature

It likes cool temperatures. In winter, if the temperature is lower than 9°C, growth will stop; in summer, if the temperature is higher than 35°C, it will be harmed. Therefore, in summer it needs to be cooled down, and in winter it needs to be wrapped in plastic film to keep warm.

The Uses of Carnations

1. Decoration and ornamental viewing

Carnations have diverse and vivid flower colors and are an excellent flower variety. Dwarf varieties can be used for potted ornamental viewing; they are delicate in form, elegantly clean and varied, dignified and generous, with a clear and subtle fragrance, and have great ornamental value. They can be used to decorate the home environment.

2. Spiritual symbolism

Most carnations represent love, health and beauty, charm and respect. The feelings they express are also relatively light and warm, and they are often used to describe the love of family. They are mostly flowers given by children to their parents, and are the symbolic flower of mothers, symbolizing maternal love.

3. Medicinal use

Carnations beautify the heart and can also beautify the face. Carnations have the effects of beautifying the face and nourishing the skin, calming the nerves and quenching thirst, clearing the heart and brightening the eyes, reducing inflammation and relieving irritability, promoting body fluids and moistening the throat, and strengthening the stomach and reducing food stagnation. They have a clear effect on treating headaches and toothaches. Carnations contain various trace elements needed by the human body, can accelerate blood circulation, promote metabolism, clear the heart and remove dryness, detoxify and beautify the face, and regulate endocrine disorders. They also have the effects of strengthening the kidneys and benefiting essence, and treating consumptive disease, cough, and excessive thirst.

The Flower Language of Carnations of Different Colors

1. Rice-red carnation: sorrow.

2. Deep red carnation: passionate love.

3. Peach-red carnation: loving you.

4. Variegated carnation: rejecting your love.

5. Striped carnation: sorry.

6. Purple carnation: willfulness, unpredictable.

7. Mottled carnation: refusal, I cannot be with you.

8. Yellow carnation: expressing gratitude to mother. Others: you disappoint me, abandonment, contempt, long-lasting friendship.

9. Pink carnation: expressing the wish that mother will always be young and beautiful; others: representing that I will never forget you, beauty, youth, passion.

10. Red carnation: expressing the wish that mother will be healthy and long-lived. Others: my heart aches for you, appreciation, worship, infatuation, family affection, enthusiasm.

11. White carnation: representing pure love. Sweet and lovely, innocent. A gift that brings good luck to women, purity, pure friendship, my living love, my love forever, faith, elegant love, true feelings, respect.

Carnations are very famous, and are known as the “flower of mothers”. They not only have high ornamental value, but also hold a very high status in medicinal value. Their growing method is not very difficult, and friends in need can consider it.