Carnation Cuttings in Water: [Concept, Time, Rooting and Sowing]

What does it mean to plant by cuttings?

Planting by cutting means multiplying a plant from a fragment of it that can be stems, leaves or roots and obtaining a new plant.

This method of planting is very useful to reproduce those plants that do not produce seeds or that produce a limited number of them.

Through sowing by cuttings, a good number of plants can be multiplied from a single specimen: homogeneous and of good commercial quality.

There are many advantages of sowing using cuttings : it is a simple cloning method, easy to perform and if the procedures are followed, success can be achieved. The planting of carnation by cuttings is the main form of reproduction of this species.

What is the best time to plant carnation cuttings in water?

The best time to plant carnation cuttings is spring-summer. Carnation cuttings can be reproduced in water until the roots are strong for planting.

Modern breeding techniques allow the planting of carnation cuttings during any time of the year. Specialists consider that the time of year in which the cutting is practiced is an important aspect for the success of the reproduction of carnation or any plant.

How to get the carnation cuttings in water to root correctly?

To ensure that carnation cuttings root correctly, the use of auxin-type growth regulators is recommended to accelerate their development and increase the quality of their roots.

Carnation cuttings taken from young mother plants root quickly and develop better.

For carnation cuttings to root properly, they must be placed in greenhouse environments, maintaining humidity above 95%.

Horticulturists recommend keeping the cuttings on a sterilized substrate at a temperature of 20º C. In this way the carnation will take root in approximately 3 to 4 weeks.

How should we take the carnation cuttings in water to sow them?

Carnation cuttings should be taken mainly from mother plants that are healthy and robust and do not have flowers .

In order for the carnation cutting to take root strongly in the water, it must be cut from the stem in a special way. First, take the cutting and make a firm and defined cut , using clean and disinfected scissors.

Then make the incision under a knot, since at this point the roots are more easily formed. The node is the part of the stem, somewhat more bulky than the rest, from which the leaves and buds are born.

The length of the carnation cutting to grow it in water should be 12 to 15 cm and with 5 to 6 pairs of leaves. But the consistency of the carnation cutting should be neither extremely woody nor excessively herbaceous.

Experts recommend harvesting carnation cuttings by hand to prevent the spread of disease. The best time to take key cuttings is in the coolest hours of the morning.

How long should we leave the carnation cuttings in water?

When the cultivation of the cutting is done in an aquatic environment, it is recommended to leave it there until the roots emerge.

Once the carnation cutting is obtained, it must be deposited in a container (glasses, pots or vases) with enough water.

If the carnation cutting has lower leaves, they should be removed before putting it in water to prevent them from rotting.

The stem is the only part of the shoot that must remain submerged. Therefore, if the container is wide, it must be covered with aluminum or plastic foil and perforated to introduce the cutting.

It is important to keep the container and the water where the carnation cuttings are grown clean to avoid the spread of bacteria.

It is recommended to clean the container and renew the water every 2 to 3 days. The cutting can be removed from the water only when the roots are firm, strong and robust and then proceed to sow in the pot.

Is it convenient to use compost or compost?

To grow carnation using cuttings in water, it is necessary to add an organic fertilizer rich in vitamins.

It is important to know that the carnation needs to have a balance of nitrogen , phosphorus and potassium .

Phosphorus is very important in the early stages of development, as it enhances the growth of the root system.

For its part, potassium improves the appearance of the carnation and increases the vigor of the plants. But the lack of potassium can lead to the formation of weak stems of little consistency and small flowers.

You have to be very careful with the fertilization of the carnation since an excess of nitrogen translates into a greater sensitivity to diseases and an increase in axillary sprouts.

The carnation supports high levels of salinity, although the optimum degree of salinity is around 2dS / m. Values higher than this have a negative effect on the quality of the flower.