I have approximately. 30 Carnation plants all planted last summer. Since I live in DEEP South Texas this time of year is the right time for blooming. However there are only 2 plants that are blooming. I have been feeding as recommended. They are all the hardy carnation collection. I am afraid that some of the other plants will not bloom. What can I do to help produce some blooms. I live in the Southern most Tip of Texas and there is no one here that can help me with carnations.

* * * *
Cindi

Cindi...nitrogen fertilizers can stimulate green growth and inhibit flowering. Get a bloom formula fertilizer...I think one is called "BR63." I forget if that is the right name, but any high phosphate formula will work.

* * * *

Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

tkhopper.... Wow I didn't know that they only bloom every other year. I purchased these as very small plants and expected them all to bloom this winter and early spring. Darn and i was so looking forward to this.

* * * *
Cindi

Cindi...I'm so glad that tk posted that info...for some reason I was was thinking of marigolds! Carnations are technically biennials, which would typically bloom the second year...the phosphate fertilizer might force the blooms, but often, plants will respond in their own time if the soil is not extremely poor. Biennials bloom the SECOND year, not actually every other year, but many so-called biennials bloom the second year and every year after for several years...if allowed to reseed, there will be some plants blooming every year. I am an advocate of organic gardening, not synthetic fertilizer. You may not need the added fertilizer if the soil is good.

* * * *

Dave
Even my growlights are getting restless!

Dave Thanks for the info. I am still so disappointed that I will not have the blooms I had expected. I bought these online and most of them did not come in until the later part of the summer. I have worked very hard to keep them healthy during the very HOT summer,so I could reap the rewards this winter and spring. Hopefully next year will the garden I had planned. I think the soil is fine cause the miniture plants I had planted are blooming quit e nicely.
Thanks again!!!

* * * *
Cindi

Dodge,
I believe everything that I had researched on carnations said they will grow here in TX and there zoned is 4-9 something like that. My grandmother had a very nice carnation garden in EL Paso, TX which is desert terrain. The blooming season is different however from those grown up north. I planted mostly "Hardy" plants, and expected all of them to be blooming from about Jan to June. The two plants that are blooming are very healthy and the blooms are big and quite beautiful. So we will se what happens. I have to nurse my plants in the summer and ya'll have to nurse yours during the winter.

* * * *
Cindi