How to Grow and Care for Spray Carnations: Methods and Precautions

Spray carnations are a perennial herbaceous plant, with a flowering period generally from April to September, divided into two types: garden carnations and florist carnations, so how do you grow spray carnations?

1. Growth Habits of Spray Carnations

Spray carnations originated in the Mediterranean region, were later introduced into our country, and are now widely cultivated across the country, with flower colors including white, pink, yellow, red, and many other colors.

Spray carnations like a dry growing environment, and the environment also needs to maintain sufficient sunlight and good ventilation, so that spray carnations can grow better.

Spray carnations are not tolerant of heat, dryness, or low temperatures, so you should also pay attention to watering frequency at ordinary times. In hot summer, pay attention to heat protection, and when winter temperatures are relatively low, they can be moved indoors for cultivation.

2. How Do You Grow Spray Carnations?

1. Soil: choose a fertile, slightly alkaline clay soil rich in humus and with good drainage;

2. Fertilizing: during the growing season, apply a thin fertilizer solution about once every 10 days;

3. Watering: water more during the peak growing and flowering seasons, and at ordinary times just keep the soil moist;

4. Other: pinch the tips reasonably according to the growth of the carnations and pay attention to pest and disease control.

In order to let spray carnations grow more branches and flowers, starting from the seedling stage, spray carnations need to be pinched. The times for pinching are: when the seedlings grow 8 to 9 pairs of leaves, and when the side branches grow more than 4 pairs of leaves.

It is best for the whole plant to have 12--15 side branches. When budding, keep only one flower bud at the top of each side branch, and promptly remove all small flower buds and side branches sprouting from the leaf axils below the top.

Common pests and diseases of spray carnations are gray mold, bud rot, root rot, calyx rot, rust, and so on. Zineb can be used to control calyx rot; 5 oxycarboxin to prevent rust; and to control other diseases, use zineb, carbendazim, or captan to treat the soil before planting and cuttings. When harmed by red spider mites or aphids, generally use a 40% dimethoate emulsion at 1000 times dilution to kill them.