Should You Deadhead Carnations?

Deadheading carnations encourages flowering plants to rebloom, as the process of removing the bloom frees up the plant's energy to create new foliage and blooms. ... In some areas and climates, deadheading can also improve the chances that the carnation plant will come back the following year.

How do you keep carnations blooming?

Periodically inspect the plant and deadhead spent blooms by hand. Deadheading will allow the plant to force more energy into other blooming buds and will keep the cycle of new blooms continuous. Keep your carnation plant trim and tidy by pruning back leggy plants.

What happens if I don't deadhead my flowers?

Someone then realized that sterile plants, those that do not produce seed, will bloom continuously even when you don't deadhead. These plants keep on trying, unsuccessfully, to produce seed so they keep producing flowers. Rather frustrating for the plant, but easy for the gardener.