I posted this in the Growing from Seed forum, too, but I thought someone here might have some experience with these.

I'm growing two carnation varieties from seed: Can Can Scarlet and Mini Spice White.

I found a culture sheet online for "Can Can" Scarlet which advised not to pinch the seedlings, that they would branch on their own. It's true because I didn't pinch, and they have begun branching at the base and are turning into sturdy little plants.

The info I found on Mini-Spice said they were basal branching as well, but so far they haven't done so. They are getting rather spindly and want to flop over, so today I began pinching them back and firming the soil around their base to keep them upright. I refuse to stake, and it seems silly to stake plants that will only be 6-8 inches tall anyway.

I guess my question is, if you've grown Mini-Spice before, do you feel it necessary to pinch? Because I would have pinched them back weeks ago if I knew.

Thanks