A Comprehensive Analysis of the Latest Growth Habits of Carnations
The carnation, originally named Dianthus caryophyllus (fragrant pink), also known as lion's head pink, musk pink, large-flowered pink, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Dianthus in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is mainly distributed in the temperate regions of Europe and in Fujian, Hubei and other places in mainland China, originated in the Mediterranean region, and is one of the most widely used flowers in the world. Let's take a look at the growth habits of carnations below!
Light Conditions
Carnations are intermediate-day plants that prefer abundant sunlight. Except during the seedling stage and the peak flowering period, there is no need to worry about harm from strong light, and with supplemental light the flower crown diameter and the vividness of flower color can be increased. Light intensity has an obvious positive correlation with cut flower yield per unit area.
Temperature Conditions
Carnations prefer cool conditions, cannot tolerate intense heat, and can endure a certain degree of low temperature. If the summer temperature is above 35°C or the winter temperature is below 9°C, growth becomes very slow or even stops. During periods of high summer heat, corresponding cooling measures should be taken, while in winter plastic film should be used as a cover or the plants should be moved into a greenhouse to maintain an appropriate temperature.
Water Conditions
The carnation root system is a fibrous root system. Long-term waterlogging or excessively high humidity in the soil or growing medium, or prolonged high temperatures on the leaf surface, are all detrimental to its normal growth and development. Therefore, drip irrigation is advocated, and attention should also be paid to the issues of water quality and water salinity.
Soil Conditions
Carnations prefer soil with good fertilizer retention, aeration and drainage performance, with heavy loam being the best. The soil pH suitable for their growth is 5.6~6.4. Some soil analysis experiments show that within the pH range of 5.95~7.9, the soil organic matter content has no obvious effect on flowering; it is mainly determined by soil texture.