Nothing shouts hard work and dedication to gardening like a thriving Carnation garden! These perennials are sure to command attention and give an edge to your garden when grown well. Although these rare indigenous flowers are among the favorite flowers to grow, they are also susceptible to dying.
Something that is not only discouraging but disheartening to a gardener. Imagine after all the effort you put in to grown these delightfully scented flowers for you to see them wither and die off? The good news is that you can prevent them from dying by learning the reasons as to why these unique flowers die off.
Whether you are about to plant these symbolic love plants and you want to stay safe by ensuring that your flowers don’t die, then this article got you covered. We walk you through 4 common yet sure reasons as to why Carnation plants die!
Diseases
Like everything else, these plants are susceptible to different diseases, and if this issue is not addressed right on time before irreversible damage occurs to your plants, these plants will die off. Below is a list of the most common diseases that affect these perennial flowers;
Basal rot- this is a fungal infection that causes yellowing and wilting of carnations. Excessive use of fertilizers, poor plant sanitation, and overwatering are among the causes that cause basal rot disease to thrive in your flowers.
Armillaria root rot- This is a fungal infection of a carnation root that makes it rot (just as the name suggests). Telltale signs that the Armillaria root rot has infected your flower are; Discolored stems and yellowing of foliage(leaves).
Bacterial soft rot- If you notice that your plants are becoming brown and mushy or they are emitting an odorous smell, then suspect a bacterial soft rot disease is the cause of your carnations dying. Things to avoid to prevent facilitating the growth of this disease in your flower garden include;
- Avoid watering your carnations overhead; instead, water them at the root zone
- Ensure that you plant your flowers in a properly draining soil
- Avoid overwatering these perennials
Overwatering
It is normal to be over-excited about having a blooming carnation garden, and most often, we extend this excitement to these flowers and overwater them. So, hold your �hoses’ and resist the temptation of watering these alluring flowers. Note that they are hardy plants and can do well even during adverse conditions (PS doesn’t mean you shouldn’t water them when necessary).
At least water them thrice a week, most preferably in the morning or late in the evenings. But before watering them, check the moisture content in the soil they are planted in. You can do this by; gently sticking your finger inside the soil (if you feel it’s dry, please do the necessary!).
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Underwatering
As stated before, just because they are hardy plants does not mean that you should deprive them of water. Underwatering these flowers will definitely have dire consequences, which is dying off!
And why let your hard work go to waste? Please observe a regular and strict watering schedule, and let these dazzling red, yellow, white, and pink flowers reward you with a show-stopper aesthetic effect in your home.
Location
Where you plant your carnations is crucial as it will determine whether or not they will thrive or die. Below is a summary of how the location where these plants are grown contributes to their death or success.
Shady locations
Sunlight is essential for the growth of any plant, and carnations are not an exception. With that said, growing these flowers in a shady region will deprive them of the sunlight they need for their growth(photosynthesis); hence they will die off. Pro-tip; Grow them in a place that receives morning sunlight and an evening shade.
Dust
Growing these plants in a dusty location is a sure sentence of death to them! Dust clogs pores that are vital for the plants to carry out their biological reactions which ultimately lead to their death.
Conclusion
The most common reason as to why your carnations are dying despite the effort you put in is bacterial and fungal diseases that are mainly caused by overwatering them. So, avoid overwatering these plants and also don’t underwater them. Instead, supply these flowers with supplemental water and let them accentuate your curb appeal!
