Carnation Trailing Live Plant – Healthy Starter Plant – Cold Hardy – Easy Grow

Bring Vibrant Color to Your Garden with Trailing Carnations

The Carnation Trailing Live Plant is a delightful addition to any garden or home. Known for its vibrant red flowers, this plant symbolizes fascination, love, and distinction, making it a thoughtful gift, especially for Mother’s Day. This cold-hardy plant is easy to grow and perfect for both beginner and experienced gardeners.

These rooted starter plants are ready to be transplanted into your favorite container. If you’re planning to use them in a landscape setting, start them in a 3-4 inch pot before moving them outdoors. The unique trailing habit of these carnations makes them ideal for hanging baskets, where they will mound beautifully and cascade over the sides. Regular pruning during the winter months will encourage a compact and stocky growth, leading to a burst of color in the spring.

Growing Tips: To keep your Carnation Trailing Plants healthy and thriving, feed them with fertilizers at 150-200 ppm N constant liquid feed program, maintaining a pH level between 5.5 and 6.0. While the plant can tolerate higher dosages, it’s best to avoid stringy growth by sticking to the recommended levels. For optimal flowering, keep the plant in a cool environment during the winter (around 45°F) and move it to a warmer location in the spring. This vernalization process encourages compact growth and abundant blooms.

When planting, space the carnations adequately to allow for plenty of light, which helps maintain a short and stocky plant. Pinching is optional but can be used to shape the plant. Avoid using growth regulators; instead, control growth by providing a cool, bright environment. We recommend planting 4 starter plants per 10″ pot, ensuring the top of the ellepot is slightly below the soil level. Each seedling comes in a small plug-size 1″ x 1″ x 1 1/4” container and thrives in perennial zone 7.

Important Considerations: As living plants, they may experience some stress during shipping, resulting in brown leaves or minor damage. This is normal and the plants usually recover quickly with proper care. Water them well and place them in partial shade for a few days. Refer to the included instruction paper for detailed guidance. Please note that the plant you receive may vary slightly from the photos due to natural variations.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How big will the carnation trailing plant get? The plant mounds in the head of the basket but then trails and cascades as they spread out over the side of the pot.
• What type of soil is best for carnation trailing plants? Use a well-draining potting mix with a pH between 5.5 and 6.0.
• How often should I water my carnation trailing plant? Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering.
• Is the carnation trailing plant safe for pets and children? Yes, it is considered child and pet-safe.
• When is the best time to plant my carnation trailing starter plant outdoors? After establishing it in a 3-4 inch pot, transplant outdoors after the last frost.