This research investigates the quality of cut carnation flowers that were kept for 10 days in various solutions (daily replaced tap water; tap water that was not replaced at all; 2% sugar solution; and 2% salt solution). The flower mass was investigated in relation to maintenance, water and solution volume, carbon content, hydrogen content, nitrogen content, sulphur content, protein content, bacteriological analysis of water and solutions as well as the damage of carnation flower. All the trials were conducted in accordance with the standard protocols. It was found that carnation mass in the first three days increases because of rehydration and then starts to wilt afterwards. Due to the fact that aerobic mesophilic bacteria grow fastest, the earliest changes occur as soon as the fourth day on the flowers that are kept in 2% sugar solution, while the flowers were best preserved in the daily fresh tap water. The protein content on the first day was lower in relation to the day 10.