Carnations, or Dianthus, come in a range of shades between white and red with some green and purple varieties. There are both annual and tender perennial carnations. Both are usually grown outside as annuals as they do not survive frost. Grow carnations indoors for later transplanting into the garden or keep a pot of the tender perennials inside to brighten up a window. They are simple to start and easy to care for, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
Fill a small pot with a quality potting mix. Fill it to within 1 inch of the rim and moisten it evenly throughout.
Scatter two or three seeds per pot on the soil surface. Cover them with 1/8 inch of soil then lightly mist the top of the soil with water to moisten.
Place the pot into a plastic bag and seal closed. Place carnations in a warm, 65 to 75 F room to germinate.
Remove the plastic bag once seedlings sprout. Place in a warm, sunny window and keep the soil moist at all times.
Transplant carnations once they develop their third set of leaves. Transplant into a permanent container filled with the same potting mix or transplant into a well-drained garden bed if frost danger has passed. Dig a hole in the soil large enough for the root ball and soil from the seedling pot. Set the entire root ball into the new soil and lightly firm the soil around it. Water thoroughly after replanting.
Pinch off ½ inch from the tops of each growing stem to encourage fullness once the plant begins forming flower buds. Pinch off any whithered blooms before they form seeds to encourage further blooming.