Carnation: planting and care
Many people associate cloves with heroic deeds. No wonder it was called the “flower of Zeus” back in Ancient Greece. In our country it is closely associated with the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Even an inexperienced gardener can easily grow carnations.
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Planting carnations
Many varieties of cloves have already been developed. They all prefer well-lit areas, but can also exist in partial shade. If landing site carnations will be brightly lit, the flower will have bright foliage and flowers, but the size of the bush will be compact and the flowering period will be short.
The soil for carnations is light, slightly alkaline or neutral, with a moderate amount of fertilizer. Pay close attention to the soil moisture level. Too much water is bad for the plant.
You can plant cloves seeds or seedlings. To germinate seedlings, take humus, sand and turf soil. Mix equal amounts of each component together. Make grooves in the soil and sow seeds in them. Sprinkle them with a thin layer of soil and moisten them with a spray bottle. Now cover the crops with film or special agro-fabric so that they do not dry out. When the seedlings hatch, remove the film. After the third true leaf appears, pick the seedlings into separate pots, and after another week, feed them with mineral fertilizers.
Varieties of carnations
Quite a large number of carnations have already been bred; they differ in size, shape and color. The following varieties are among the most popular among gardeners:
- Bearded or Turkish carnation grows up to 80 cm in height, but there is also a low-growing variety suitable for indoor cultivation. This carnation differs from other varieties in that its flowers are collected in an umbrella up to 12 cm in diameter. It can be one-color or three-color.
- Chinese carnation is a perennial plant. However, the climate of our country does not allow it to survive the winter months and in Russia it is grown as an annual. This carnation forms small bushes up to half a meter in height.
- The feathery carnation, growing, forms a dense cushion of shoots. Its flowers can be simple or double and have a pleasant aroma. Flower color ranges from pink to white.
- Alpine carnation is a low-growing plant that is popularly used to decorate rock gardens, borders and as a ground cover.
Homemade cloves
Some varieties of carnations feel great in at home. These plants include low-growing compact varieties. For good health, such carnations need a room temperature of up to 15 degrees. At the same time, sudden changes in temperature should not be allowed to avoid the death of the plant.
Carnations need plenty of light, but direct sunlight can burn them. Therefore, at midday, shade the plant a little. In winter, when daylight hours are short, turn on additional lighting for the carnations, otherwise they will stop growing and become lethargic.
Provide the plant with quality watering. Water the carnation especially often during its flowering and active development. Do not allow the soil in the pot to dry out. Water the flower with warm, settled water. To prevent water from stagnating at the roots, do not forget to put a layer of drainage at the bottom of the pot.
During the development period, the plant needs additional feeding. Therefore, apply potassium fertilizer at this time. It is best to spray the soil in the pot with the solution. Replanting indoor carnations is not required, since such flowers are grown as an annual plant.
Carnation propagation
There are two effective ways propagate cloves In the first case, grow a plant using seeds. The second method involves vegetative propagation. The latter method is applicable exclusively to perennial varieties of cloves. Vegetative propagation can be done using layering, cuttings and, in exceptional cases, by dividing the bush. Perennial varieties of carnations need to be renewed every 4 years, otherwise they spread and stop blooming.
Cuttings are cut from shoots that do not have flower stalks. The best time for this is May and June. The length of the finished cuttings should not exceed 9 cm. The main guideline is the presence of three leaves on the cutting. The lower leaves must be removed and placed in a nutrient substrate of sand or vermiculite. Then you need to moisten the soil and cover the cutting with a jar. After three weeks, roots form on the cuttings. After this, the plant can be planted in the ground.
Caring for carnations
For perennial carnation varieties, it is important to keep the soil moist. It is better to water the flowers more often, but little by little. This way you will avoid rotting of the root system. Be sure to weed flower beds with carnations and loosen the soil. This helps the plant to develop better. Please note that weeding is necessary only for young carnations; adult bushes grow and independently inhibit the growth of weeds.
Like other plants, cloves need to be fed from time to time. Fertilizers should be applied during the period of active growth, during the formation of buds and after flowering.
