How to cultivate carnations? Detailed explanation of planting methods and management key points

Carnation is also called musk carnation, and is also known as kangnaixin (carnation). It originated in southern Europe. It is a perennial herbaceous flower. Its leaves are opposite and linear. The branches are relatively long. The flowers are borne at the tips of the branches. The flowers may be single or double, and are fragrant; the colors include red, white, yellow, purple, and speckled gold, etc.

Carnations can be propagated by cuttings, division, layering, or sowing. Cuttings are generally used, but although this method can preserve the characteristics of the variety, the propagation quantity is relatively small, and because the roots are shallow, lodging often occurs. Therefore, if the purpose is to produce cut flowers in large quantities, sowing is still better.

The sowing time should be between Great Cold and the beginning of spring. Sow plump seeds in a sowing box or pot with sterile plain soil as the substrate, place it in a warm place indoors, and under normal conditions the seedlings can emerge completely in about a week. After the seedlings emerge completely, ventilate properly and lower the temperature, and let them receive sunlight. Watering should be controlled to prevent weak, spindly growth. When the young seedlings grow to 3-4 cm, divide and transplant them into an open-air cold frame for care. After they recover from transplanting and survive, properly "restrict water" (water less or not at all) to promote root development. After Grain Rain, they can be transplanted into open-field beds at a spacing of 30 cm for normal management. From Grain in Ear to Summer Solstice, flowers begin to appear. Around End of Heat, lift the plants flowering in the beds and put them into No. 5 pots, strengthen water and fertilizer management, give them sufficient sunlight, and at the same time remove side buds and keep the main bud, concentrating nutrients to favor seed formation. After potting, let them grow outdoors for a period of time, and after the weather turns cold from Autumn Equinox to Cold Dew, move them indoors. After moving indoors, properly adjust the ambient temperature, keeping it at around 14°C, which is best; when it exceeds 18°C, ventilate to lower the temperature. When the seed coat changes from green to yellow, it indicates that the seeds are already mature (mature seeds are black). Take out the seeds and dry them, and they can be sown. By this time it is already around Great Cold. If a temperature of around 15°C can be maintained regularly, carnations cultivated in the north can bloom continuously. In summer, because there is a lot of rain and high humidity, the flowers easily rot and are not easily pollinated, so pollination and seed setting must wait until after they are moved indoors.

Carnation likes warmth but cannot tolerate high temperatures, and grows best under temperature conditions of around 15°C. It is afraid of waterlogging and also cannot tolerate drought, so the soil is best kept moist. Fertilizer is mainly bone meal, sesame paste residue, etc., and the application amount should be moderate. Light should be sufficient, and about 8 hours per day is needed to meet its growth requirements. Carnations have relatively few pests and diseases. In open-field cultivation, generally only cabbage caterpillars cause damage, which can be caught by hand; after being moved indoors, because ventilation is poor, aphids and sooty mold are likely to occur, and spraying dimethoate and thiophanate-methyl can prevent and control them.