How to care for carnations

Carnation is also called the mother flower and can be found in many flower shops. It has more petals than dianthus, the flowers are larger, the colors are brighter, and it is very beautiful. It is not difficult to cultivate it. Let’s talk about the maintenance methods of carnations.

1. Soil selection

Carnations prefer soil that is well-ventilated, fertile and well-drained, with heavy loam being the best. The suitable soil pH range is 5.6-6.4, but experiments show that within the pH range of 5.95-7.9, the soil organic matter content has no obvious effect on flowering, which is mainly determined by the soil texture.

2. Lighting management

Carnations are medium-day plants and prefer plenty of sunlight. Except for the seedling stage and the flowering period, there is no need to worry about damage from strong light, and proper light can increase the corolla diameter and the brightness of the flower color. In an environment with insufficient light, the growth of carnations will be affected, the color of the leaves will become lighter, and even yellowing will occur. Therefore, carnations should be placed in bright indoor locations, such as windowsills, balconies, etc., to ensure that they have sufficient light.

3. Temperature control

Carnations prefer coolness and are not heat-resistant, but can tolerate low temperatures to a certain extent. The suitable temperature for its growth is 15℃-20℃. During the high temperature period in summer, cooling measures should be taken, such as shading, spraying water, etc.; in winter, it is necessary to keep warm, and the room temperature should not be lower than 10℃, so as not to affect its growth.

4. Moisture Management

Carnations like a humid environment, but are not resistant to water. When watering, you should follow the principle of "better dry than wet", keep the soil slightly moist, and avoid water accumulation. At the same time, the amount of watering should be adjusted according to the changes in climate and seasons. Pay attention to drainage when it rains a lot in summer, and increase the amount of watering appropriately when it is dry in winter.

5. Fertilization tips

Carnations have a long growing period and require constant replenishment of soil fertilizer . The principle of topdressing is to apply small amounts of fertilizer frequently to avoid burning the roots due to excessive fertilizer concentration. For open-field planting, top dressing can be applied once every 25 to 30 days, and for potted plants , top dressing can be applied once every 7 to 10 days. During the peak growth period of the plant, the frequency of top dressing can be increased.

6. Pruning and repotting

Regularly trimming the withered and yellowed leaves and overly long roots of carnations will help keep the plants neat and beautiful and promote the growth of new buds. At the same time, the potting soil used in commercial production is mostly made of materials that do not contain nutrients. After purchasing the potted plants, it is best to immediately change to a larger container and use garden soil. When repotting, bury the entire root ball intact directly into the new soil without shaking off the old soil.

7. Pest and disease control

Carnations are less susceptible to diseases and insect pests, but you need to be careful to prevent pests such as red spider mites and aphids. Once pests and diseases are discovered, timely measures should be taken to treat them, such as spraying pesticides .

That’s it