Carnation flowers are known to be some of the easiest flowers to propagate. Plant the seeds and you have flowers. Carnation growers, by gaining thorough knowledge of the species, can make these flowers flourish, leading to a prosperous business.

The flowers are evidence of how well carnation growers education and training is understood. With proms and weddings and other special events, and carnations being a top flower choice for corsages, boutonnieres and bouquets, the business for wholesale carnations is out there and awaiting choice flowers. Some steps you will need to take to produce the choicest flowers are:

1. Pinching the shoots of the carnation flowers for full, beautiful single bud stems,

2. Staking the carnation flowers for the straightest stalk,

3. Removing expiring carnation flowers to promote more buds,

4. Trimming back with scissors the carnation flowers if the stalk is woody or begins to fall over.

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Learn carnation information

To better understand your product and be the most knowledgeable in your field, learn all you can about the carnation. Knowing history as well as tidbits of information moves you up in the market as a credible source. Impress customers with little-known information like the fact that carnation petals are edible.

I recommend: At the International Society for Horticultural Science, interested students of the carnation can read a book online about the history of the flower and its spread across America as well as the beginning of carnation associations. VideoJug has a video tutorial on what a carnation is and some of its uses. Carnations are discussed halfway through this video.

Grow carnations

Though they are known to be easy to grow, the process is not fool-proof. Simple mistakes or ignorance when planting can prevent germination. To ensure the best crop yield, know the best planting steps and tips for carnations.

I recommend: The Garden Helper starts with carnation seed and guides you through the planting and germination process, including information on where and when to plant. A home course on carnations is offered through ACS Distance Education. The course teaches planting, crop and business information to carnation growers.

Keep carnation flowers healthy

The carnation has the reputation of being easy to grow for anyone with even the lightest green thumb. Be cautious, though, of diseases and pests that typically plague the species. Even though they are bred to be disease resistant, improper care can cause disease. Carnation growers keep their plants healthy by being educated on Dianthus genus health.

I recommend: Old and Sold Antiques Digest details diseases common to the carnation including symptoms, prevention and solutions. At herbs2000.com, a grower of carnation plants will learn about the pests that commonly cause harm to the carnation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Carnations, commonly known as 'Pinks,' can be started from carnation seed packets if it is an annual variety or from cuttings of the perennial. They can also be propagated by division.

Carnations are one of the most popular flowers in the US, often considered a more cost-effective version of the rose. They are requested for weddings, proms and other events as well as general flower giving, thanks to their wide variety of available colors, their highly fragrant nature and their longevity of beauty. Carnation growers offer carnation seed packets, carnation flowers and wholesale carnations, giving you a range of carnation options for your floral business.

Choose from miniature carnations or full-sized blooms in multiple colors. To find the best carnation growers and purchase the carnation varieties most popular with your customers, you should:

1. Survey your customers about the sizes and colors of carnation they prefer to help you determine which ones to offer in your floral shop.

2. Purchase carnations or carnation seed from a reputable carnation grower that offers quick service and quality guarantees.

3. Ask for wholesale carnation flowers, shipping discounts and other deals to save money and in turn pass the savings on to your customers.

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Decide on the breeds and colors of carnation to offer

Before looking for a carnation grower, you should narrow down the varieties of carnations you want to offer. If you want to leave your options open, find a carnation grower with many varieties and a quick shipping policy to get you custom orders fast. If you have the room or a greenhouse, consider ordering carnation seeds and growing them yourself.

I recommend: Check out the Society of American Florists Annual Convention to find out the latest trends in carnations, including colors, breeds, arrangements and meet carnation growers. Visit the Flower Expert for the most popular varieties of carnations and the meanings of the different colors.

Purchase carnations or carnation seeds from a reputable carnation grower

When looking for a carnation supplier, find one with a large variety of carnations that are fresh cut. You want a grower who has been in the business awhile and can offer solid references. If you are looking for custom carnations, find a company offering genetically modified carnations for decorative purposes only, not edible.

I recommend: Emerald Farms, Inc. offers some of the most beautiful carnation varieties and colors available. They not only ship them directly to you quickly, they also offer advanced standing orders for the next year's available carnations. Florigene Pty Ltd. offers specially engineered carnations that can be customized to meet your customers’ needs.

Ask for wholesale carnation flowers, shipping discounts and other deals to save money

Don't be afraid to ask for discounts or purchase through a wholesale carnation grower. You should be entitled to discounts if the carnations are not fresh cut, if it's the end of the season, if you are purchasing a large quantity or if you offer to pick up the carnations instead of have them delivered.

I recommend: Agrotropical offers a large variety of wholesale carnations in every style and color. You can ensure they are fresh because they are shipped directly from the farm to your business. Roses & Beyond offer discounts on bulk purchases, which is a perfect way to save money on large wedding and event orders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Carnations are a hardy flower, perfect for transport and storing. If you have the space, order extras to feature in your coolers for 'grab-and-go' customers who are in a hurry or for those quick, last minute arrangements. The more colorful your coolers are with these fragrant and happy flowers, the better for you and your business.

Growing carnations can provide lots of fulfillment; they're relatively easy to grow and produce beautiful flowers that look great in arrangements and boutonnieres. Before you start your carnation-growing business, make sure you understand terms you should know when growing carnations. While easy to grow, carnations don't come with guarantees against pests and diseases. Besides the proper name for carnations, this guide explains some of the more common terms associated with carnations like aphids, variegated cutworm, Carnation mottle virus, Carnation etched ring virus and Fusarium Wilt.

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Dianthus

The scientific name for a carnation is Dianthus, and the most commonly used carnation is Dianthus caryophyllus. More than 300 species of Dianthus exist, along with hundreds of hybrid varieties. Dianthus varieties grow as annuals, biennials and perennials. Some carnations can reach 3 feet high, but garden-variety carnations generally range from 10 to 20 inches high. You may also hear carnations referred to as Pinks, Clove Pinks, Gillies and Gilly Flowers.

I recommend: Learn more about Dianthus at Botany.com.

Aphids

Aphids are small green, yellow, brown, red or black insects that pierce stems, leaves and other plant parts to suck out fluids from carnations and many other types of plants, trees and shrubs.

I recommend: Get more information on aphids from the University of California's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Variegated cutworm

Variegated cutworms are caterpillars that clip buds and stems from more mature carnations and other flowers, and they cut younger plants off at the soil surface.

I recommend: The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has descriptions and drawings of a variegated cutworm in all its stages.

Carnation mottle virus (CarMV)

In testing on carnation samples, the virus most frequently discovered is Carnation mottle virus. While it can cause symptomless infections in the larger varieties used for cut flowers, the highly infectious virus can result in mottling and stunting in miniature carnations. Carnation mottle virus spreads by plant-to-plant contact and by propagating infecting plants.

I recommend: Read a scientific description of Carnation mottle virus provided by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.

Carnation etched ring virus (CERV)

Carnation etched ring virus ranks as the second most widespread virus in carnations after the Carnation mottle virus. Symptoms, if they occur, include necrotic rings and flecks and chlorotic (yellowing) line patterns on carnation leaves.

I recommend: Learn more about Carnation etched ring virus from the University of Idaho's Plant Viruses Online.

Fusarium wilt

Fusarium wilt is a soil-borne fungus disease that commonly affects carnations. It attacks at the roots, seeds or wounded cuttings. Once infected, plants first turn a dull green, then wilt and turn the color of straw.

I recommend: For a quick primer on Fusarium wilt, read the online guide on controlling Fusarium wilt in carnations from the Oregon State University Extension Service.

Whether you are a grower of carnation plants or a florist reselling carnation varieties, carnation growers pricing and costs are important to understand for both seeds and stems. If you grow carnations yourself, seeds typically come in either individual packet form or as wholesale seeds, with both priced at just a few dollars for a hundred or so seeds.

Wholesale carnations are also relatively low-cost flowers, with stem prices typically under a dollar for both standard and miniature varieties. Most wholesale carnation flowers comes in bunches of 10 and boxes of 10 bunches, and require an order of at least 100 stems. When you buy carnations wholesale, however, you don't have to choose a single variety, as most wholesalers offer mixed bundles.

When estimating carnation growers pricing and costs, consider the following categories:

1. Find low prices on carnation seed packets for retail;
2. Buy bulk seed for use by carnation growers.
3. Get wholesale carnation flowers in a range of colors for a low price per stem.
   

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Buy carnation seed packets at a low price for specialty retail stores

Carnation seed packets are a popular item for flower and gift shops, and are widely used as favors for weddings and other spring and summer events. Carnation seed packets are easy to find at a low price per individual packet, each of which contains a number of seeds, and may contain single or mixed varieties of carnation flowers.

I recommend: Forever & Always Baby and Seed Empire are two vendors that sell carnation seeds for $1-$5 for an individual packet, depending on the variety and quantity ordered. Standard colors, such as pink and red, are generally less expensive than premium varieties and specialty variegated color options.

Find carnation seed for growers and nurseries at a low price

Carnation seed is also available in bulk for growers to use in their own nurseries. Wholesale carnation seed typically comes in containers of around 100 individual seeds, which are not packaged for resale and instead are planted by the grower to be sold as flower stems or potted plants. Prices for wholesale seed, like seed packets, are low at just a few dollars for 100 seeds.

I recommend: Hirts Gardens and 2BSeeds both sell 80 to 100 carnation seeds for $2 to $3, depending on the variety. Additional savings on shipping and seeds are also available for purchases of greater than 100 seeds.

Pay less per stem for wholesale carnations in any variety

Carnation flowers are known for being a classic and low cost option for flower bouquets and individual stems. While all carnation varieties can be found for a low unit price in orders of 100 or more, standard color options can be found for as little as 50 cents a piece, and miniature carnation varieties are often at the more expensive end of the spectrum at close to $1 per stem.

I recommend: The Flower Exchange sells 10 stems in a bunch for $5-$7 each, with generally 100 stems per box as the minimum order. You can also find low unit prices at Grower's Box, where all orders are priced between 50 cents and $1 per stem, depending on the variety and bulk of the order.