How to prune carnations? A full breakdown of the correct method

1. Pinching

Most plants have apical dominance, and the terminal bud grows first, which restricts the growth of lateral buds, so to make plants more lush and at the same time increase the number of flowers, we all choose to pinch off the top. Carnations also belong to this type of plant. The first pinching should be done when the plant has grown 8 to 9 pairs of leaves, and this time only 4 to 6 pairs of leaves need to be kept; the second pinching should be done when the plant's lateral branches have grown more than 4 pairs of leaves, and this time only 3 to 4 pairs of leaves are kept on each lateral branch. In the end, the whole plant only needs 12 to 15 lateral branches.

2. Pruning during the bud stage

When the plant grows flower buds, we only need to keep the flower bud at the very front of each lateral branch, and all the others can be removed. This ensures brightly colored flowers and large flower shapes, improves the quality of flowering, and increases its ornamental value.

3. Pruning after flowering

After the plant's first flowering fades, the pedicels must be cut off immediately. This helps the plant continue to bloom and reduces the loss of nutrients.

If you are a beginner at growing flowers, do not be overflowing with kindness and unable to bear pruning. This plant itself is quite robust in growth, so even if you make a pruning mistake, it can slowly grow back. But if it is not pruned in time, the plant may become thin and elongated, and by then it will have neither a dense plant shape nor the ability to bloom normally, resulting in a complete loss of its ornamental effect.