Detailed Guide to Carnation Cultivation Methods and Precautions

Carnation is a plant that loves warmth and light, and grows best in a warm environment. Today, carnations are a very common household flower, and because of their high ornamental value, they have attracted many people to grow them. Surely many people, before growing them, most want to know about its methods and techniques.

How to Grow Carnations

1. Temperature requirements. Carnation is a plant that prefers cool conditions, and the optimal temperature for growth and development is 19-21°C, with the day-night temperature difference kept within 10°C. If the daytime temperature is too high, carnations will show undesirable signs such as small flowers, narrow leaves and few branches; the temperature between the leaves must not be too high, otherwise abnormal reactions such as weak stems, small flowers and good flower color will occur. If the summer temperature is above 35°C, or the winter temperature is below 9°C, growth will be slow or the plant will grow poorly or even stop growing.

2. Light requirements. Carnations have very high light requirements, and apart from the seedling stage or full bloom period, there is no need to worry about any adverse effects of strong light on carnations. As a long-day plant, the longer the daylight hours, the more it promotes flower bud differentiation, and it can also bring flowering forward. With supplementary light, it not only promotes internode growth of the plant and inhibits side branch growth, but also increases the diameter of the flower crown and the vividness of the flower color.

Carnation Cultivation Methods

1. Soil: It requires a clayey soil that is well drained, rich in humus, good at retaining fertilizer, and slightly alkaline.

2. Watering: Carnations grow vigorously and are relatively drought tolerant. In rainy and overly wet areas, the soil easily becomes compacted, and the root system develops abnormally due to poor aeration, so during the rainy season attention should be paid to loosening the soil and draining water. Apart from timely watering during the peak growing and flowering season, at ordinary times you can water less, just enough to keep the soil moist. The air humidity should be kept at around 75%; appropriately spraying water before flowering to adjust humidity can prevent the buds from splitting open early.

3. Fertilizing: Carnations like fertilizer. Before planting, apply a sufficient amount of baked fertilizer and bone meal, and during the growing period continue to apply liquid fertilizer; generally apply a diluted, well-rotted fertilizer solution once every 10 days or so, and apply one top dressing after harvesting the flowers.

Precautions for Carnations

1. During the vigorous growth periods of spring and autumn, the soil should be kept moist to meet the needs of growth and development. During the high-temperature period in summer, growth is inhibited; at this time watering should be restrained and ventilation increased, keeping the potting soil slightly dry.

2. Generally around “Frost's Descent” move them into the greenhouse, with the temperature regulated to 10-20°C as the most suitable. To force or delay the flowering period, the temperature can be adjusted appropriately higher or lower. Every effort should be made to reduce the humidity in the greenhouse to reduce the occurrence of diseases. In winter, bring them indoors and grow them in a place with ample sunlight and good ventilation. If the temperature is suitable, the flowering period can be extended to March of the following year.

Pest and Disease Control for Carnations

1. Carnation leaf spot

Control method: When planting, select disease-free branches from robust plants to prevent initial infection by pathogens; you can also introduce and plant fine-leaved varieties with strong disease resistance. After removing buds and cutting flowers, you can use Bijunsha 800-1000 times solution, Penkejun 2000-3000 times solution, or 75% chlorothalonil 500 times solution for spraying, and the results are all very good. If disease occurs during the growing period, promptly remove diseased leaves or pull out diseased plants, and spray the above-mentioned agents to prevent the disease from spreading.

2. Rust

Control method: If carnations develop rust, spraying Penkejun 2000-3000 times solution has a very good control effect; you can also use agents such as Bijunsha and triadimefon.

3. Carnation gray mold

Control method: Pay attention to indoor ventilation and light transmission, and reduce humidity. Promptly remove diseased plants when found. Spray Bijunsha 800-1000 times solution once every 15 days or so, for 2-3 consecutive sprays, with a good control effect.

4. Carnations being damaged by aphids, red spiders, etc.

Control method: You can use 40.7% emulsifiable concentrate diluted 1,000-2,000 times for spraying, or 40% dimethoate emulsion 1000 times solution or 80% dichlorvos emulsion 1000 times solution for control.

When growing carnations, you must pay attention to its temperature; if the summer temperature is too high or the winter temperature is too low, it may affect its growth. Carnations are also very susceptible to pests and diseases, so in the later stages of cultivation, pest and disease control needs to be strengthened.