Cultivation methods and precautions for carnations

Carnation is a perennial semi-woody herb, generally cultivated for two years, with a flowering period from May to July. Under greenhouse conditions, it can bloom all year round. Many people want to grow this kind of flower plant. Here we will talk about the cultivation methods and precautions of carnations.

1. Temperature

Carnations prefer a warm, humid, well-ventilated environment and cannot tolerate cold and dryness. The most suitable temperature is 15-25℃, the lowest temperature cannot be lower than 5℃, and the highest temperature cannot exceed 35℃.

2. Lighting

Carnations need plenty of sunlight, at least 6-8 hours of direct or diffuse light per day. Avoid direct sunlight during midday hours to prevent yellowing of leaves or fading of flowers.

3. Soil

Carnations prefer fertile, loose, well-drained soil, and are intolerant to alkaline and saline soils. You can add an appropriate amount of decomposed organic fertilizer , eggshell powder, bone meal, etc. to the soil to improve soil quality and increase nutrition.

4. Watering

Carnations should be watered moderately, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Generally water every 2-3 days, and adjust the frequency and amount of watering according to the season and climate. When watering, avoid wetting the leaves and flowers to avoid attracting pests and diseases.

5. Fertilization

Carnations should be fertilized regularly, with liquid compound fertilizer or flower-specific fertilizer applied every 10-15 days. During the growing and flowering periods, the supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements should be increased to promote lush plants and bright flowers.

6. Pruning

Carnations should be pruned in a timely manner to remove yellow, diseased, and overcrowded branches and leaves, and keep the plants well ventilated and well-lit. After flowering, the remaining flower stalks should be cut off in time to avoid nutrient consumption. In winter, you should cut off the overly long branches to promote the germination of new buds.

7. Reproduction

Carnations can be propagated by cuttings or division. When taking cuttings, choose healthy, mature, disease-free branches, cut them into 10-15 cm long, remove the lower leaves, leave the upper 2-3 leaves, insert them into moist sand or perlite, maintain the temperature at 20-25℃, and the humidity at 80-90%. It will take root in about 20-30 days. When dividing, choose plants with vigorous growth and many branches, pull them out of the soil, use a sharp knife to divide them into several small plants, retain 3-5 buds on each plant, replant them in fertile soil, water them thoroughly, and place them in semi-shade for maintenance.

That’s it