Carnation

Carnation has gained its popularity since ancient times. Carnation helped to cope with diseases, and protected from evil spirits and the evil eye. Different peoples consider this flower a symbol of constancy and goodness. At the moment, there are more than 400 species of this plant. Carnation has both single flowers and inflorescences. She has practically no aroma. The variety of color palette of carnations is also striking. Carnations can be planted in fall, spring and even summer. Planting can be carried out both by seeds and seedlings.

Carnation: flower care

Carnation: flower photo

Carnations prefer to settle in an area where there is a lot of sunlight. This flower is very sensitive to frost and sudden temperature changes. It is best to choose a well-fertilized soil. It should be remembered that waterlogged soil can destroy a flower. Carnation requires special attention and protection in the spring, when temperature drops occur. Therefore, for this period, the plants need to be covered. The shelter can be removed when the frost stops. Clove responds very well to fertilizers, but it is worth remembering that manure is destructive for them. I use complex mineral fertilizers or humus. Flowers that have already faded should be cut off, leaving only 1 cm from the stem. We water the carnations regularly, especially during the flowering period. Once every two weeks, the soil must be loosened. In some varieties, the second flowering may begin in the fall. Therefore, proper care of the shoots should be provided. Carnation is a perennial flower, if the care was correct and thorough, the flower lives for more than 5 years.

Carnation: flower reproduction

                                                Carnation: flower photo

Carnation can be propagated in three ways, by seeds, layers or cuttings. All carnations can be propagated by cuttings without exception. Calcined sand is usually used for this method. It is best to start cuttings in early May, when the shoots are well distinguished from the peduncles. For reproduction, it is best to choose shoots 10 cm long. The cut should be done immediately under the nodule. Remove the bottom sheets under the knots. From the bottom of the shoot, you need to make a cut with a sharp knife or scalpel. Its depth should be approximately 1/3 of the thickness of the stem. We place the prepared cuttings in a substrate and provide them with a suitable humidity. Cover the jar with polyethylene. Rooting will begin in 3 weeks. If the carnation has rather long shoots, then it can be propagated by layering. We make an incision in the internodes, from bottom to top, with a depth of 1/3 of the thickness of the stem. Then we bend the shoot to the ground and fix it. Sprinkle with sand, water constantly. As soon as the roots appear, the plant is separated and transplanted. A very small number of varieties reproduce by division. It is best to divide the bushes in early spring, in which case the plants will bloom in the same season. Seeds are propagated mainly by annuals. Seeds begin to sow in April in pots with sandy soil. The best temperature for the quick emergence of carnations is 20 degrees. Once the carnation has acquired 4 true leaves, it can be transplanted into larger pots, where the carnation continues to grow until the next spring. It is impossible to immediately plant seedlings in open ground, since they have not grown stronger and may die from frost. Seedlings should be planted in May, when temperature drops stop.

Prevention of diseases and pests

Carnation: flower photo

Very often, cloves are infected with infections. Plants begin to lag behind in growth, the stem and leaves are deformed, flowering is very sluggish and poor.Viruses persist on the plant and are transmitted by propagation by cuttings. Viruses are also spread by aphids, bugs and other sucking insects. It is not difficult to fight viruses, choose only healthy planting material, and immediately remove diseased plants so that the number of diseased plants does not increase. The most common and perhaps the most harmful infection is heterosporiasis. This clove disease is fungal in nature. Signs of occurrence: brown - gray spots that appear throughout the plant. With a strong spread of the disease, the plant gradually withers and dies. The fungus hibernates well in plant debris. You need to fight this disease like this: carefully remove plant debris, do not allow very dense plantings. At the first signs of illness, the bushes should be treated with copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid. Feed your cloves only with phosphate fertilizers.

It's important to know!

Carnation: flower photo

Never plant different varieties of carnations next to each other, as they can get dusty.