Features of growing Chinese cloves from seeds. Proper cultivation from seeds of Chinese terry cloves
It's hard to imagine today garden plot where Chinese carnation would not grow. She is a real decoration of any flower bed, rabatka, alpine hill, curb, balcony. And this is not the whole list of applications of this flower.
Chinese carnation was brought to Europe at the beginning of the 18th century from China. That is why it is called "Chinese". However, its original homeland is Korea and Mongolia. Initially, this flower was distinguished by the peculiarity of the petals, on which burgundy strokes. At present, thanks to breeders, new types of Chinese carnations with monophonic petals have appeared. In addition, it has changed life cycle. If in the wild Chinese carnation is a perennial plant, then as an ornamental plant it is grown as a biennial.
Description of Chinese carnation
Chinese carnation - the plant is not tall. It is formed by bushes with a height of 10 cm to half a meter. The stems of the Carnation are thin, green. Small nodules can be seen on the stems of some varieties. The leaves are usually long, narrow, pointed at the ends, but there are leaves slightly twisted, small and wide. It all depends on the type of flower.
The inflorescences of the Chinese Carnation can be simple - five-petalled, serrated at the ends, as well as double and semi-double. The variety of shades of inflorescences is surprising: white, pink, red, purple, burgundy, lilac and even blue. The size of the inflorescences is from 1 cm to 4 cm in diameter.
Agrotechnics of cultivation
Since Chinese carnation is biennial plant, as a rule, it does not bloom in the first year. During this time, it only forms the green part of the bush. True, modern breeders have bred new varieties of the annual Chinese Carnation, the seeds of which have fast germination. Such seedlings grow and develop quickly, the plant manages to bloom in time and delight with its beauty and aroma of flowers right up to the frost.
Growing Carnation Chinese is not particularly difficult, but since it is not only elegant, but also capricious, it is necessary to adhere to some rules.
Firstly, Special attention should be given to the ground. It must have drainage, otherwise excessive moisture will destroy the flower. You can add some lime to the soil.
Secondly, throughout the summer, Carnation bushes must be fed with various fertilizers. This will promote abundant flowering.
Thirdly, it is better to choose a site sunny, protected from drafts, although the plant feels comfortable in partial shade.
Another requirement is to observe a gap between the bushes of about 25 cm. This need is due to the fact that the root system of the Chinese Carnation is powerful, branched, and if the flowers are planted close, they will interfere with each other.
Growing Chinese Carnation Seeds at Home
Chinese carnation can be propagated by seeds at home, by sowing both directly in open ground and seedling way. The second option is more reliable, but if you sow the seeds directly on the garden, you will have to tinker a little. In addition, as a rule, the seeds of the annual Carnation are sown in open ground. In order for the germination to be higher, it is recommended to place them in a solution of succinic acid for 20 minutes.
After that, the seeds are dried a little at home, mixed with agrovermiculite and applied to the soil. The bed by this time should already be prepared: dug up, loosened, freed from weeds, containing lime, slightly moistened, with a drainage system.
The optimum soil temperature for sowing seeds is from +15°С to +18°С, and the air temperature is at least +20°С. It is advisable to cover the bed with a film at night. Shoots will appear in about 20-25 days. When they have 3 leaves, the seedlings should be discharged by transplanting the sprouts to a new place.
Seedling cultivation
To grow Chinese carnation using seedlings, sowing seeds at home should be done in early March, although some flower growers say that seeds can be sown as early as mid-January.
The containers are filled with soil consisting of garden soil along with sand. Before the containers are filled with soil, any drainage is placed on the bottom, for example, crushed stone or expanded clay. Seeds are placed on top of the soil, sprinkled with vermiculite, which will speed up the process of seed germination. Containers are placed on the windowsill, but provided that there are no drafts. The optimum temperature is + 20 ° C, when shoots appear at home, transfer to a cool place with a temperature of + 17 ° C. The grown seedlings will need to dive, transplanted into separate containers. They can be transplanted into open ground only when stable warm days and nights come.
Diseases and pests that threaten Chinese cloves
Surprisingly, the Chinese Carnation is practically not threatened by any diseases, especially if it is properly looked after. The only thing that can be harmful is waterlogging the soil, frequent fertilizing with fertilizers.
Attention! It is impossible to plant Chinese carnations together with tulips, which can infect it with fungal diseases.
On one site, Chinese carnation is grown for no more than 5 years.
Each owner of a private house or suburban area There is flower bed. Growing flowers is one of the favorite activities of any gardener. Each of them has their favorite flowers, but they are all good and beautiful in their own way. Chinese carnation grows in almost every garden, it is very popular. We will talk about its features in care and cultivation in the article.
This type of perennial plant belongs to the clove family, but there are also annual flower species. As the name suggests, cloves were brought to Europe from China in the 18th century. It is a small branched shrub that can grow from 15 to 50 cm, it all depends on the variety of flowers. In total, there are almost 300 types of carnations, but every year there are more and more varieties. They are obtained by selection and hybridization. New varieties obtained in this way are distinguished by a long flowering period.
Chinese carnation almost odorless. Flowers, she has single or collected in bunches of 2-4 pieces. The photo clearly shows that the terry mix carnation has buds consisting of a group of petals. The size of the flower can be from 1 to 4 cm in diameter. lanceolate narrow leaves located opposite. Dwarf species grow low, bushes reach only 15 cm. Other species can grow up to 0.5 meters. Chinese carnation is good because it can be grown not only in the garden, but also on the balcony in a pot.
Chinese carnation blooms from June to August. As you can see in the photo, inflorescences can be of several colors:
- white;
- purple;
- pink;
- burgundy;
- lilac.
A distinctive feature of the Chinese terry carnation is slits and stripes on the petals. The stem of the plant is erect, on it are narrow lanceolate leaves of a deaf green color.
Growing from seeds
Chinese cloves can be grown in several ways:
- buy ready-made seedlings:
- dividing the bush;
- sow seeds in open ground;
- grow seedlings from seeds yourself.
The last method of growing Chinese cloves should be dealt with in more detail. Planting seeds of perennial Chinese cloves is necessary start in March. Seeds are sown in boxes with a drained and nutritious substrate. They should be sprinkled with a light layer of earth. The soil is well moistened and the container must be covered from above.
The optimum temperature for germination is 16-20 ° C. After 7-10 days, the cover can be removed and it is desirable to lower the temperature to 14-15 ° C. The seedling is ready for picking when it has 2-3 true leaves. She is planted in peat pots with nutrient peat mixture. In order to plant seedlings in open ground, it must get stronger. It is best to plant it in pots in a permanent place.
You can also sow seeds in open ground in early May, it is not afraid of light frosts. Seeds are sown in an open nursery and then, when they germinate, they are transplanted to a permanent place in a flower garden.
Landing and care
Most favorable time for planting in open ground considered the end of May. Before planting, a bed must be prepared and seedlings are planted at intervals of 20-30 cm. The distance between seedlings will depend on the type of carnation.
Watering should be done only when the soil dries out. Frequent and abundant watering negatively affects the development of the plant. In extreme heat, the amount of watering should be increased and the soil should not dry out.
Flower care is simple, growing Chinese carnations is within the power of any novice gardener. It is very important to be attentive to the plant and timely water, loosen the soil, and remove weeds. The beautiful and fresh appearance of the flowers is a confirmation proper care. If you pinch the tops of the stems of the carnation, then it will be better to bush. The plant loves partial shade and sun.
The flowers are very respond well to feeding unless you add too many. The quantity and proportions will depend on the fertility of the soil. It is recommended to feed flowers 2-3 times a month. Calcium-based fertilizers cannot be applied in the first year of life.
To extend the flowering period of carnations, it is necessary to cut the stems with buds that have already faded. For propagation by seeds, it is necessary to leave the inflorescences you like and then collect them.
Chinese carnation tolerates winter very well in our regions. Its stems before wintering are cut to 10 cm above the ground in late autumn. Bushes can not be insulated, but sawdust or peat, fallen leaves can be used to protect them from freezing in severe frosts. With the advent of spring, the cover should be removed.
Like all clove plants subject to certain diseases:
- fusarium;
- rust;
- spotting;
- root rot;
- septoria.
If such diseases are found, then the damaged stems must be cut and removed. It is better to fight spider mites and aphids with Bordeaux liquid.
Popularity Secret
The plant is very popular with gardeners, which is understandable. Unlike bulbous and other types of plants, the flowering phase of carnation lasts a very long time. The flower is ideal for many purposes. It is often used in design landscape design . Chinese carnation is always appropriate in city parks, squares, it is planted in the form of borders. The photo clearly shows that it fits perfectly into the alpine hill. Due to its bright coloring, it looks spectacular in island and bouquet planting on lawns.
We each have our favorite flowers. It is a thankless task to say which flower is better, which is worse. All of them are good and all are unique. But the Chinese carnation really has features due to which it can be recommended to everyone. Her bright flowers all colors and shades are able to decorate a flower bed, border, balcony, facade, whatever! She has a long and abundant flowering. She is easy to care for. If you do not yet have Chinese carnations in your garden, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the features of its cultivation and the variety of varieties. Without a doubt, this flower will become one of the most desirable for you.
Name etymology
This plant is called carnation in Russia. In Latin, his name is Dianthus, which means "divine flower." It is believed that Jupiter and Zeus loved cloves. And her appearance in the world is associated with Artemis. The myth tells that scarlet carnations appeared from drops of blood of a shepherd, whom the goddess of hunting, in the heat of her anger, punished for singing. The whole history of the rise of carnations to the Olympus of popularity is somehow connected with wrestling. French revolution, our October, World War II - this proud beautiful flower invariably became their symbol.
Chinese carnation is a more peaceful representative in the clove family. As the name implies, it came to Europe from China, although Korea and Mongolia are also considered its homeland. First hallmark this species had burgundy strokes on the petals, but over 300 years of active breeding, many varieties with solid petals have appeared. There have been changes with its life cycle. At home, it is a perennial. We also grow Chinese cloves as a biennial or annual.
Description
Chinese carnation is a bushes from 10 to 50 cm high, which form thin green stems. Some varieties have characteristic nodules on them. Carnation leaves are elongated, thin, pointed at the ends. There are species with slightly twisted leaves. There are varieties with more small leaves and with wider ones. There is a simple, terry and semi-double Chinese carnation. The photo below shows a Grans Favourite terry carnation.
In an ordinary corolla, it consists of 5 petals, which have a fringe or notches at the ends. In terry species, the entire flower is a group of petals. Their color is white, pink, red, purple, burgundy, lilac and even blue. There are many species with two-color petals (light or, conversely, dark edges or middle). The size of the flowers depends on the variety and varies from 1 to 4 cm in diameter. Chinese clove seeds are slightly elongated and can be damaged by careless handling.
Growing features
Chinese carnation, as mentioned above, was originally a perennial. In the first year after sowing, such plants, as a rule, do not bloom, but only form a healthy strong bush. Breeders have bred many varieties of annuals that bloom in the first year, just a few weeks after germination, and delight in flowering until frost. Growing Chinese cloves is not difficult, but it requires attention. This flower is somewhat capricious in the choice of soil. You can't stick it anywhere.
In order for the plant to please the eye, it needs to provide soil with good drainage, without stagnant water. In addition, regular feeding is required throughout the summer. Without them, the carnation will also bloom, but poor. You can plant it in the sun or in partial shade, it will bloom magnificently there and there. In the shade, the plant will also not die and may even throw out a couple of buds in a season, but it will not have a look. The root of Chinese carnation has time to grow over the summer. Therefore, so that the plants do not interfere with each other, they should be planted at a distance closer than 20 cm. Another scourge of dense plantings is poor air access. Carnations are propagated by seeds (all types) and by dividing the bush (perennials).
Reproduction by seeds in open ground
Chinese carnation care is not too complicated. However, you need to try so that they generally begin to grow on the site. In conditions temperate climate more commonly used are annual Chinese carnations. Grow them from seeds. The complexity of the process lies in the observance temperature regime And proper watering. IN open field this is difficult to achieve, therefore, cloves are rarely sown immediately on the garden bed. If it so happened that there is no other way out, we can recommend the following: before sowing, soak the seeds for 20 minutes in a solution of succinic acid (dilute according to the instructions), let them dry a little, but do not dry completely. You can blot them with a paper towel. In the garden, select all the roots of weeds, loosen, you can add a little lime. Make rows no deeper than 1-2 cm.
Mix prepared seeds with agrovermiculite and carefully sift in rows. Sprinkle a little agrovermiculite on top. Moisturize. The soil should be exactly moist, and not flooded with water. For seed germination, the soil temperature should be +15 ... +18 degrees. The air temperature is about +20. To avoid daily temperature fluctuations, cover the rows at night with a film or build a greenhouse over them. Seedlings should appear in 3 weeks. When they grow a little and get stronger (a couple of true leaves appear), they must be carefully thinned out by picking and planting at the right distance from each other. By the way, in regions with moderately cold winters, self-seeding of cloves is possible, which usually gives good germination.
Chinese carnation. Landing and care. Photo when propagating seedlings
To avoid all these difficulties, it is wiser to grow Chinese cloves from seeds at home, and then plant them in open ground. They do this in March, although some authors advise sowing seeds as early as January. Containers are prepared (ordinary bowls can be used) in this way: any drainage is placed on the bottom and the container is filled with soil (garden soil with sand, vermiculite can be added). Clove seeds are placed on the ground, sprinkled with vermiculite (it promotes seed germination). The bowls are placed on the window, where it is light, but not hot. The air temperature must be maintained up to +20. The soil in the bowls must be moist at all times. In the house, the seeds can not be covered. When sprouts appear, the bowls must be transferred to a room with a temperature of +15 ... +17 degrees, so that the seedlings do not stretch upwards much. The grown seedlings dive into separate containers, where they continue to grow (see photo) and can even throw out the color before planting in open ground. Carnations are planted in a flower bed when there are no more return frosts.
Reproduction by cuttings
If a Chinese perennial carnation fell into your hands, it can be propagated by cuttings. It is very easy. Shoots without buds are used, on which there are from 3 to 4 leaf nodes. The stalk is cut off, stepping back from the lower node to 1 cm, the leaves are removed from it and a couple of longitudinal cuts are made on the node. The remaining leaves are also removed, and the topmost ones are shortened. The prepared stalk is placed in calcined (cooled) sand, watered and covered with a film (you can use a jar). The humidity of the air below it should be constant. Sand also should not dry out. Roots are formed already in the third week. If the carnation is high (50 cm), you can not cut off the cuttings, but bend them to the ground, having previously made cuts on the knot. It is necessary to pin such a layer with something and sprinkle it with earth. Water.
Reproduction by dividing the bush
This easy way makes it possible to obtain a new plant with the preservation of all the properties of the mother (terryness, color of the petals), but is suitable for a small part of the species, since flowers (Chinese carnation reproduces easily, but growing from seeds is still a priority) most often have a taproot that cannot be divided . If the species forms good rhizomes, you can try to get a new plant by dividing the roots. Optimal time for this - spring, before flowering. The plant is carefully dug out of the ground, the rhizome is divided so that at least 3 live buds (sprouts) are obtained on each site and planted in prepared holes.
Further care
Seeds sprouted safely, seedlings are dived into separate containers and grow up. What to do next? What should be in order to become a lush Chinese carnation, planting and care? The photo below shows one of the options for the correct fit.
In order for the carnation bushes to begin to bush, even at the seedling stage, they pinch the tops of the stems. Young plants are planted in the sun or in partial shade. Watering is provided very moderate. Only in extreme heat it is increased, but moisture stagnation is not allowed. Like everyone cultivated plant, the carnation needs weeding. For more lush flowering she needs to be fed. Do this 2-3 times per season (some gardeners recommend up to 3 times a month). Mainly use potash fertilizers or complex for carnations. For long flowering, faded buds are cut from the bushes. By August tall varieties You can prune a little to rejuvenate the bushes. For the winter, biennial and perennial carnations cut off the green part, leaving stems up to 10 cm. severe frosts they need to be covered.
Diseases and pests
Usually, Chinese carnation grows without problems, planting and caring for which are carried out correctly. These flowers have few pests. Waterlogging, dense plantings, overfeeding with fertilizers, potassium deficiency and an excess of nitrogen in the soil contribute to the appearance of diseases. Carnations, together with tulips, are affected by the same fungal diseases, so it is better not to plant them nearby. It is also not recommended to grow carnations for more than 5 years in one place, or the beds should be treated with fungicides in the fall. When red or dry spots appear on the carnations, as well as when the bushes wither, regardless of watering, diseased plants must be destroyed, and the place should be treated with antifungal drugs. spider mite and other pests to destroy insecticides.
landscape design
For its pomp and multicolor, Chinese carnation has become popular. The photo above shows how it looks along the track. Low varieties are often used to decorate such living borders, as well as to border flower beds, to give picturesque facades. They are also grown on alpine hills, but in this case one should not forget about top dressing and soil fertility. Just among the stones or in the sand, the carnation will not grow. This flower is ideal for decorating balconies. Carnations are also planted in flowerpots. This "place of residence" is especially convenient for perennials. In order not to turn a perennial carnation into an annual in climatic zones with harsh winters, it is recommended to cover it in the fall, before frosts. To do this, spruce branches are laid on the stems remaining after trimming, and a film is placed on top. And then the whole structure is covered with earth.
Species diversity
There are about 300 species in the genus of carnations, and in almost each of them there are dozens of varieties. Even just listing them all in one article is impossible. Breeders are actively inventing something new. In relation to the Chinese carnation, there is truly no limit to fantasy! Varieties with simple flowers, and Chinese terry carnation. She is cared for by general rules. Growing it from seeds can upset the production of non-double inflorescences, but in general it does not cause difficulties, and it pleases with flowering a little longer than varieties with simple five-petal corollas.
We each have our favorite flowers. It is a thankless task to say which flower is better, which is worse. All of them are good and all are unique. But the Chinese carnation really has features due to which it can be recommended to everyone. Her bright flowers of all colors and shades are able to decorate a flower bed, border, balcony, facade, whatever! She has a long and abundant flowering. She is easy to care for. If you do not yet have Chinese carnations in your garden, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the features of its cultivation and the variety of varieties. Without a doubt, this flower will become one of the most desirable for you.
Description of Chinese carnation
Chinese carnation - unusual ornamental plant, surpassing the usual counterpart in the brightness of colors and splendor of inflorescences. The use of this plant in garden design quite broad: Chinese carnation you can decorate borders, flower beds, flower beds, rock gardens, balconies, facades: in principle, anything. By the way, this plant is called carnation exclusively in our country. In global practice, it is known as the "divine flower". As the name implies, the birthplace of the plant is China, as well as Mongolia and Korea. In our country, Chinese carnation is grown as an annual or biennial plant, although in its historical homeland it is a perennial. Outwardly, Chinese carnations are compact bushes up to half a meter high. The stems of the plant are thin, sometimes knotty, the leaves are long, thin and sharp at the ends. Simple, semi-double and double varieties of Chinese carnation are known today: they all have a wonderful delicate color of the petals, sometimes defiantly bright. The color of the petals of the Chinese carnation is found in the following variants: white; pink; burgundy; purple; lilac. Currently, breeders have brought out many other interesting shades of the plant: among them are even such unusual ones as black and blue. Except monochromatic version Chinese carnation petals can be dyed in two colors: with a decorative gradient transition. The size of the flower is usually about 3 cm in diameter, sometimes it reaches 4 cm.
Sowing Chinese carnation seeds for seedlings
To enjoy the flowering of plants over a long period of time, you can grow seeds in April. We prepare a suitable container for this and lay drainage on its bottom. After that, we fill in the prepared, moistened mixture, consisting of garden soil, sand and vermiculite. After that, lay out the seeds and lightly sprinkle them with vermiculite. We cover the container with a film and expose it to a bright place, with a temperature of about 20 ° C. After the emergence of seedlings, and this will happen in a few days, the film must be removed. Care consists primarily in maintaining the temperature, it is unacceptable that it, even at night, falls below 17 ° C. The soil must be moistened, only with a spray bottle, in moderation. If the weather is not sunny enough, an additional light source should be used. After the appearance of a pair of true leaves, a pick will be needed. Approximately three weeks after the emergence of seedlings, it is necessary to reduce the ambient temperature. Night temperature, can be brought gradually up to 12 °C. For this, a glazed balcony is quite suitable, where you can slightly open the window at night. To make the bush lush, you should pinch it, above the third pair of leaves. If the picking is done in convenient plastic cups, the process of root formation becomes clearly visible. If a sufficiently powerful earthen ball is formed, it may be necessary to transplant into a larger container. 
Planting seedlings of Chinese carnations in open ground
This flower can be grown as an indoor crop, or can be used as a landscaping decor. Carnation is a photophilous plant, for successful growth which needs light soil with a moderate degree of moisture. The ideal place is the area on which the direct sunlight. Before planting in the ground, it is fertilized, and the seedlings are planted at a distance of 20 cm.
The time when you can plant clove seedlings in open ground is the end of May - the beginning of June. Refined and refined, the Chinese carnation loves areas where it is dry and there is enough sun. The longer the daylight hours (16-18 hours), the faster its flowering will come. With a lack of light, the stem becomes fragile, becomes thinner and droops over time, and the flowers decrease in size. If you plant a carnation in the shade or partial shade, you can not wait for lush flowering. Before planting, the site is dug up and fertilized with humus. If a carnation is planted in a flower bed, then you still need to remove the weeds.
Before planting, a bed is prepared, and seedlings are planted at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. The sprouts are transplanted together with an earthy clod so as not to damage root system. To avoid breaking the stems, when flower stalks appear, a special peg is placed next to each carnation, to which flower stalks are tied. 
Sowing Chinese carnation seeds in open ground
As soon as the snow melts and the earth warms up, it is necessary to start sowing seeds. Sowing in open ground should be in early May. The difficulty in growing lies in maintaining the temperature regime at night. Seeds hurt low temperature, so the landings will have to be covered with a film.
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Before sowing, soak the seed in succinic acid for 20 minutes. The solution must be made in accordance with the instructions. After the time has passed, the seeds should be taken out, put on a napkin so that it draws in water, but it should not be overdried. Before sowing, the bed must be loosened, weeds removed and shallow grooves made. When sowing seeds, do not place them close to each other! To avoid dense plantings in the future, mix the seed with dry sand and sow in the furrows. Top crops sprinkled with a small layer of soil. After that, the beds should be moistened.
Seeds germinate successfully at soil temperature +15 ºC and air temperature +20 ºC. It is clear that it is impossible to ensure the same temperature day and night, so the crops are covered with foil every evening. You can build a mini-greenhouse, so it will be more convenient to cover and hide it. 
After 3 weeks, you can see the first shoots. If planted densely, weak seedlings should be removed, and stronger plants should be planted on optimal distance from each other.
Chinese carnation care
To understand how to grow a plant, special attention should be paid to soil mulching. This will help to achieve a long flowering period. In watering, you should adhere to a very moderate mode. The earth should not be brought to a dried state. It should be barely damp. Increase the doses of watering only during the period of budding and flowering, the rest of the time limit yourself to spraying - so the flowers will be larger. In hot and dry weather, increase watering and do not forget to mulch the soil around the flower. Remove faded buds in time - so new ones will appear faster. Do not use ammonium fertilizers on cloves. The best for her are complexes of the potassium group. From the third week of sowing, you can start using growth regulators (2-3 times a week). It is also necessary to feed the plants when the budding period begins. Chinese carnation is affected by aphids, spider mites, rust. Carefully remove all affected plant segments, treat with Bordeaux liquid. In the last days of July, it is recommended to do pruning of buds. Such an event will help achieve sustainable flowering in August. In order for the plant to overwinter painlessly, cut it off, leaving about 8 cm. on top of the soil and take care of the shelter. Collect seeds for sowing when the boxes turn brown. 
Diseases and pests of Chinese cloves
Usually, Chinese carnation grows without problems, planting and caring for which are carried out correctly. These flowers have few pests. Waterlogging, dense plantings, overfeeding with fertilizers, potassium deficiency and an excess of nitrogen in the soil contribute to the appearance of diseases. Carnations, together with tulips, are affected by the same fungal diseases, so it is better not to plant them nearby. It is also not recommended to grow carnations for more than 5 years in one place, or the beds should be treated with fungicides in the fall. When red or dry spots appear on the carnations, as well as when the bushes wither, regardless of watering, diseased plants must be destroyed, and the place should be treated with antifungal drugs. Spider mites and other pests should be destroyed with insecticides.
Beauty, unpretentiousness, flowering duration - a happy combination of all these qualities makes the Chinese carnation one of the most beloved flower crops of our gardeners.
Each flower is special, but the Chinese carnation has a number of benefits that make it so loved. experienced gardeners. Besides what she has bright color all shades, it is still very easy to care for. It will perfectly decorate any garden, flower bed or balcony.
This plant is called carnation in Russia. Its name in Latin sounds like Dianthus - "divine flower". The legend says that Zeus and Jupiter loved cloves. She was born thanks to Artemis, who punished the shepherdess for singing, and flowers appeared from his drops of blood. The ascent of the carnation to Olympus is associated with struggle, which is why it symbolizes the French and October revolutions, the Second World War.
Chinese carnation is considered a more peaceful plant. It came to Europe from China, but Korea and Mongolia are also recognized as its homeland. Initially, Chinese carnation had burgundy strokes on the petals, but over 300 hundred years, as a result of active selection, many varieties with plain petals have appeared. She also changed her life cycle - initially this flower was considered a perennial plant, but in our side it is grown as a biennial or annual.
The bushes of this plant reach a height of 10 to 50 cm and form thin green stems. In some varieties, nodules form on them. Many species have more large leaves, in others they are smaller, sometimes the leaves are slightly twisted.
This plant forms a corolla of 5 petals with notches or fringe at the tips. The flowers of this plant are red, pink, burgundy, purple, lilac, white, blue. Many species have two-colored petals. Their size reaches up to 4 cm, depending on the type of plant. Chinese clove seeds are elongated, but easily damaged if handled carelessly.
Varieties of this plant include:
- Common carnation;
- Semi-double;
- Carnation terry.
Chinese carnation.
Carnation terry is annual and perennial. The height of her bush is up to 50 cm. It is propagated by seeds that have an oblong shape. Just like ordinary cloves, Chinese terry should be planted in March in garden soil with river sand. Way further care is no different from ordinary Chinese cloves. The only difference between these two types is that the petals of the terry carnation are mixed with teeth, which gives it an unusually attractive look. It has a straight stem, on which narrow lanceolate leaves are formed. Carnation Chinese terry mix has slots and stripes on the petals.
Carnation Chinese Diana is an achievement of modern selection. It is distinguished by a low bush up to 25 cm, unpretentiousness, early flowering, zarnoobrazny color and large flowers. Carnation Diana has single flowers with heavily indented edges of the petals.
Gallery: carnation Chinese diana (25 photos)
Growing features
In order to form a healthy bush of Chinese cloves, you need at least a year. So after sowing perennials they don't bloom right away. Annual carnations, on the contrary, immediately after a few weeks of sunrises bloom and delight the eye until the frost. It is not difficult to take care of this plant, but it must be borne in mind that it is capricious in the choice of soil.
Throughout the summer, it needs to be fed with fertilizers. The soil must have good drainage without standing water. In the sun, the plant produces more flowers than in partial shade. But in partial shade, it also grows and blooms. Since for summer season the roots grow at the carnation, it needs to be planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other. If you are engaged in a clustering of plants, they will not have enough air. All varieties of cloves are propagated by seeds and only perennial variety- dividing the bush.
Planting a plant
It is easiest to grow Chinese cloves at home from seeds and then plant them outdoors. To prepare the container, garden soil with sand and a little vermiculite are added to it. Seeds are placed on the ground and sprinkled with vermiculite, which promotes their growth. Should start in March.
Seedlings are placed on a window in a warm, but not hot place, the air temperature should be up to +20. Be sure to install a drainage system to keep the ground moist at all times. After the appearance of sprouts, the pots are transferred to a room with a temperature of up to +17. When the plant grows up, it is separated from the rest in a separate bowl. It is possible to plant carnations on the ground only after the frost has passed.
This plant can also be grown in open ground, but the difficulty lies in observing the temperature regime. Most suitable for temperate climates annual carnations. To achieve the desired result, before planting, soak the seeds for 20 minutes in succinic acid, then let them dry a little, but not completely. Mix seeds with agrovermiculite and plant no more than 2 cm deep. optimal temperature soil is considered +15 to +18, and air temperature +20. The soil must be moist. At night, the sprouts need to be covered with a film or made small greenhouse. After three weeks, sunrises will appear, which should be thinned out.
Reproduction methods
There are two types of carnation propagation:
- Propagation by cuttings. perennial plants can be easily propagated by cuttings. To do this, use shoots without buds, on which there are 4 leaf nodes. 1 cm recede from the lower node and cut off the stalk. Two longitudinal cuts are made at the node, all leaves are removed, except for the upper ones, which are shortened. Next, the sand is calcined, let it fall behind and the cutting is placed there, covered with a film. In the third week, provided that the humidity under the film is of constant temperature, and the sand is also wet, roots form.
- The division of the bush. This method helps to get a new plant, with petals or doubleness similar to the mother's color. This method is not suitable for everyone, but only for those types of carnations that form a good rhizome. Reproduction should begin in the spring. The plant must be dug out of the ground and divided so that three living buds remain on each site, planted in holes.
Care rules
After the seeds have sprouted and grow safely, the plants will require further care. In order for a carnation bush to grow, you need:
- Provide uniform moderate watering;
- Do not allow the soil to dry out, it should always be wet;
- Plants should be in the sun or in partial shade;
- Regularly weed the flower bed;
- Feed 3 times per season with potash or complex fertilizers;
- Cut faded buds from the plant;
- In August, cut tall varieties to rejuvenate the bushes;
- Cut off the green part of biennial and perennial plants, leaving 10 cm;
- Cover in severe frosts.
Diseases and pests
These plants have few pests and grow well if cared for properly. Diseases can be caused by:
- Waterlogging;
- dense landings;
- Calcium deficiency and an excess of nitrogen;
- Overfeeding with fertilizers.
If this flower grows next to a tulip, then it can become infected with a fungal disease from it. It is not recommended to grow this flower for more than 5 years in the same place. In the event of the appearance of diseased plants, they should be destroyed, and the place should be treated with antifungal agents.
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