Chinese carnation is a short-lived perennial plant. Most varieties are of hybrid origin and are usually grown as annuals. Popular with gardeners due to its versatility and ease of care. Easy to propagate by seeds.
How to sift seeds
Indoors Chinese clove seeds sow in early February, 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost. Scatter them on a sterile surface soil mixture, well hydrated.
To obtain seedlings you need sterile soil
Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place (with a temperature of at least 15 ° C). Seeds germinate from three days to two weeks, on average 7 days. Constant soil moisture – necessary condition for germination.
The soil mixture should be homogeneous, aerated free from pests, diseases and weed seeds.
Another task that needs to be solved before sowing is to sterilize the containers for planting.
Wash them in a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach and 10 parts water to kill potential pathogens that could weaken the tender young seedlings.
Sterile substrate can be cook it yourself:
This combination also works well: half peat moss and half perlite, vermiculite or sand.
For grown seedlings better growth light and cool conditions are required (temperature about 10 degrees). You can put them on a sunny windowsill or a little lower fluorescent lamps in a well-ventilated area.
The light received on a sunny windowsill is excellent for growing varieties Within 3-4 months after sowing, young plants are ready to be transplanted into the garden.
What is the difference between planting in the garden and at home?
There are no particular advantages to growing Chinese cloves from seeds at home. But since many varieties are tender annuals, direct seeding should not be attempted until after the last frost.
The plant blooms within three months after landing. Biennial varieties, if you plant seeds in the garden, usually do not bloom the first year. Perhaps they will bloom only on next summer, if you sow the seeds indoors. It is advisable to start planting earlier, stimulating flowering in the first year.
Clove seeds are small; indoors they are sown in a small tray. As soon as they germinate, they pick and transplant them into separate containers.
Picking seedlings: what is it, when and how to do it
Picking - plant transplantation from one place to another. The method, which most often takes the form of growing a plant from seed to optimal conditions(indoors or greenhouse), then transplant it into open place at favorable conditions environment.
It is not considered appropriate for all ornamental plants, since it carries a significant risk of damaging the root system. Different types react differently to picking.
In all cases, the main problem is preventing transplant shock- stress received in the process.
Benefits of picking include:
- increase in the growing season;
- protecting young plants from diseases and pests until they are strong enough.
Plants grown in protected conditions usually acclimatization period required(frost resistance). In addition, root disturbance should be minimized.
To do this, plants are grown in peat pots or soil blocks. At the growth stage, when transplantation occurs, weather is another important factor.
In the case of picking Chinese carnation seedlings, as soon as the first leaves appear, they are planted in peat pots(or blocks of compressed soil mixture) and leave in a cool place.
Picking is one of important stages growing seedlings When the time comes, the grown and strengthened seedlings are planted in the garden at a distance of 25-30 centimeters from each other, to the same depth. The upper part of the root system should be level with the soil surface.
Try not to bury any part of the stem to avoid stem rot! Unlike other plants, Chinese cloves are not mulched. The delicate root tip and rear stem require air circulation at all times and must be kept free from waterlogging.
How to sow seeds in open ground
Chinese cloves prefer well-drained, moderately alkaline soil. You may need to feed it with compost and manure. But the plant adapts well to dry, rocky and even clay soils.
Loves the sun, but appreciates partial shade in hot summer weather. For planting, choose a place where the flowers will be in the sun for at least four to five hours a day.
Water the plant about once a week and feed every six to eight weeks with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer stimulating constant flowering.
Disembarkation at open ground more suitable for seedlings than seeds Seeds are sown in open ground after the last spring frost: at a distance of 25-30 centimeters from each other, about 3 centimeters below the surface and sprinkle with sifted compost or vermiculite, slightly compacting the soil.
Before seedlings germinate (this can take from 7 to 14 days), the soil is constantly moistened.
Propagation of Chinese carnation
Cuttings
In mid to late summer, stocky, non-flowering shoots from the most healthy plants. Count three or four pairs of leaves from the tip of the shoot and make a cut very sharp knife or blade razor 5-6 mm below the “heel”.
- Place the cut in plastic bag with a damp paper towel to prevent it from drying out at any stage of the process;
- After as many shoots as needed have been collected, the lower pairs of leaves are peeled off;
- The cuttings are planted in a rooting container at a distance of about 3 centimeters from each other;
Each shoot is coated with a rooting hormone and inserted into thoroughly moistened vermiculite (or a mixture of semi-perlite and vermiculite). Work carefully, without burying the heel and without washing off the hormonal powder (gel).
- Once the container is full, it covered with plastic or glass and placed in a well-lit place, but shaded from direct sun rays(or under fluorescent lights).
The “lid” is removed after two or three days. The rooting mixture must be kept moist at all times. After about three weeks, the cuttings will begin to slightly turn their tips towards the light and grow, which indicates the beginning of rooting.
When the root ball is about 3 centimeters in diameter (this may take several months), the shoots are transplanted into pots (10 centimeters in diameter) filled with well-drained soil, and transferred to a cool place until spring.
Dividing the bush
When dividing the bush, carefully loosen the roots with a hand fork, lift the plant and separate the stems from each other. The strongest stem is selected as the main one for each new bush.
Diseases and pests
Most problems can be avoided by properly watering the plant. In excessively wet soil, the crown of the flower begins to rot.
Sticky layer on leaves - sign of aphid infestation. Thin webbing on plants indicates red infestation. spider mite.
If you notice an aphid infestation, you need to act immediately. Otherwise, neighboring plants are at risk of infection. Slugs can also be a problem, especially in cool climates. Slug traps placed around the plant are usually effective in controlling pests.
Brown, orange or yellowish spots on shoots and back side leaves are very likely caused fungal invasion. The affected parts are removed and a fungicide is used for treatment.
General information about the flower
Description of the flower
Chinese carnation blooms with small pink, red or white flowers (some varieties are bicolor) 3-4 cm in diameter. The fringed flowers, single or several in complex umbels, look as if they have been trimmed with garden shears.
On average a plant reaches a height of 30 centimeters. The leaves are green or grayish-green, linear-lanceolate, 3-5 cm long and 2-4 mm wide, with a prominent midrib, slightly narrowed at the base, entire or serrated along the edge, pointed at the apex.
Height less than half a meter is typical for this variety Stems are erect, with a branched distal part.
How long does it bloom
Flowers appear in late spring (May) or early summer (June); in regions with cool summers the plant blooms later. Chinese carnation blooms for a longer period if regularly remove faded inflorescences.
Flowers are plucked off as soon as they begin to wilt before they can produce seeds, which shorten their life cycle.
The plant can be cut back by a third of its height, it will grow even more magnificently and produce new buds, which will allow it to remain in full bloom in late summer, until September.
Popular with gardeners and flower growers
Chinese carnation is widely cultivated How ornamental plant in various areas of the world with temperate climate. There are many varieties available for decorating gardens.
The plant is easy to care for and looks beautiful, which is why it is very popular among professional gardeners and amateurs. Flowers range across the pink color spectrum.
Gardeners, having practiced selection and hybridization for centuries, developed numerous varieties different shades:
- White
- Cream
- Red
- Scarlet
- Burgundy
- orange flowers
- with a contrasting color on the back of the petals.
The flowers of the Chinese carnation are edible (an excellent garnish for spring salads, and in the 19th century they had a reputation as a mild antidepressant).
Common varieties: Terry Mix, Diana
Chinese carnation flowers are spicy fragrant, but many hybrids are odorless. Moreover, the aroma of cloves (even the most fragrant varieties) can vary depending on the microclimate, season and time of day.
Most commercially available varieties are shrubby, compact plants, usually growing up to 20 centimeters in height, with a fairly long flowering period.
Variety Diana Variety Super Parfait Variety Terry Mix
Among the most common varieties:
Application in landscape design
Chinese carnation is a wonderful tool in landscape design. Ideal for border decoration; find their place on balconies and terraces.
Of the most different options choose varieties that are most suitable for a particular frost resistance zones.
“Diana”, “Terry” are suitable for zones 3-9; "Super Parfight" works in almost all zones.
- Creates a charming environment for roses;
- In the cottage garden it serves as an excellent background for lavender, artemisia, santolina, sage, other Mediterranean and Northern European herbs with foliage gray-green tint; looks picturesque with coreopsis;
- Dwarf varieties are an exceptional warrant for rock gardens; The plant is grown in containers or directly in the ground.
To get seeds, you need to allow the flower to develop seed pods. As they mature, they acquire Brown color, dry out and split at the top. They are shaken over a container, collecting the black tiny round seeds.
Landscape design gives a flight of fancy in terms of choosing varieties for planting We also talked about other varieties of this flower. For example, .
Stored in a cool dry place. You can leave the seeds to fall to the ground and next year wait for new flowers to appear.
The Chinese carnation has rightfully been considered one of the most beautiful decorative garden flowers for more than one century. Its popularity does not fall thanks to the work of breeders, delighting lovers of fragrant garden decoration with new forms and varieties. The variety of colors and sizes allows carnations to be widely used for decorating alpine slides and rockeries, green lawns, flower beds and mixborders. Lush flower caps look good against the background of shrub plantings, as solo plants, and in a variegated collection.
Choosing a planting site and care rules
Active flowering and bush growth Chinese carnation can only be achieved in well-lit areas. Even bright sun in the middle of the day in summer is not for her negative impact. On a well-warmed and sunny hillock, the carnation will feel great. Slight shading on south-eastern and south-western slopes, the shadow of larger plants is not considered a hindrance if total time in the sun is at least half of the daylight hours.
Carnation does not tolerate places that are too wet.
Stagnation of moisture has a detrimental effect on the plant, causing diseases and rotting of the root system.
In regions where there are rainy, cool periods in summer and autumn, it is worth choosing elevated places with good water drainage for Chinese carnations. The most successful solution would be an alpine slide or a flowerbed raised above the general level of the landscape. Carnations can grow and bloom well in a flowerpot, if it is necessary to provide holes for drainage.
Fertilizing may not be necessary in the first year after planting if the soil has been properly prepared. From the 2nd year of life, perennial Chinese carnations need to be fed twice a season with complex fertilizer (always containing potassium). You can pick up mixtures in the store labeled “for flowering plants"and use them according to the instructions. Usually the first feeding is done before flowering begins, when the beginnings of buds appear on the bushes.
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Cloves are very demanding regarding the composition and acidity of the soil. Even an apparently suitable elevated place may have soil with too high acidity, and the owner of the site will be perplexed as to why the carnation does not bloom even with careful care. When preparing the soil for planting, it is necessary to add lime-containing substances to the soil: chalk, ground shells or egg shells, fluff, limestone, gypsum. This is especially true for regions with high rainfall and in areas located in low-lying areas, near forests, and in drained swampy lowlands.
Heavy and clay soils will also not allow you to fully enjoy the carnation blossoms. If there is compacted, difficult-to-dig soil in places where you want to plant carnations, you must first add some sand to the soil to ensure good breathability of the flower bed. Depending on the density of the earth, up to 1 bucket of fine river sand per 1 m² of area may be required. The most the best soil For carnations, dry, light sandy and loamy soils are considered.
Which varieties are preferable for planting?
Choosing varieties for flowerbed decoration or landscape design depends entirely on the wishes of the author of the composition. In border plantings, it is better to prefer low-growing compact bushes of modern varieties “ideal rose”, “perfit strawberry” and the like. These are dwarf hybrids and varieties with a large number of flowers of white and pink shades, up to 20 cm high. They will be appropriate on alpine hills or in stone gardens, as they have non-double corollas, characteristic of wild carnations.
Their flowering usually does not last long, but when grown in suitable conditions, such varieties can bloom again closer to autumn. Promotes an increase in flowering time and provokes the 2nd wave of bud formation and pruning of flower stalks with seed pods. Then new buds begin to form in the leaf axils, and the plant can again delight its caring owners with beautiful flowers.
A variety of Chinese carnation that can be grown as annual crop in the northern regions - carnation "heddeviga". Based on it, many varieties with charming double and semi-double flowers have been created. Many varieties have a white border on the edges of the petals, which gives them additional showiness.
When do field and garden daisies usually bloom?
Quite a few belong to this group compact varieties(20-25 cm tall): “minstrel” with burgundy-white corollas, “Schneeball” - pure white, “Schwarzer Prince” and “Gypsy” (their flowers have almost black petals with a contrasting white border). For those who want to get carnations different color, seed manufacturers produce variety mixtures under the general name “Chinese terry carnation mix.” It contains seeds different varieties. Flowers sown on a Moorish-type lawn will give it the necessary diversity.
A distinctive feature of the Heddevig variety is the absence of the smell characteristic of Chinese carnations. Therefore, for the garden, you should prefer less spectacular, but fragrant varieties with non-double corollas. But in a border or parterre planting, these varieties will be simply irreplaceable due to the compact size of the bush, abundantly covered with large (up to 5-6 cm in diameter) flowers.
All varieties of Chinese carnations are also suitable for potting. IN room conditions This unpretentious plant becomes truly perennial. On balconies, carnations can be planted in small flowerpots and boxes. This becomes possible thanks to the shallow fibrous root system of the plant. And if you provide a warm winter, even varieties labeled “Annual” can bloom for several years in a row.
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Reproduction
Carnation - perennial flower culture, so it can be propagated not only using seeds. Great importance They also have vegetative methods, in which you can get bushes with flowers you like on the mother plant. When propagated by seeds, this possibility is usually absent.
Vegetative
The easiest way to grow many identical bushes is by dividing the queen cell. This way you can reproduce any perennial variety. At the age of 3-5 years at good care Carnation bushes grow quite strongly and can interfere with neighboring plants. In this case, at the beginning of autumn they need to be dug up and divided into several smaller ones. Moreover, each division should have at least 3-5 shoots from the previous season and several renewal buds at the base of the stems.
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The parts of the bush must be planted at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. in the right place. Before planting, the soil should be dug up to the depth of a spade and add chalk (up to 1 kg per m²), sand (up to 10 kg per m²), wood ash(200-300 g). If the soil is not particularly fertile, then it can be enriched with humus or compost at the rate of 5-10 kg per 1 m². Thus prepared soil will give the bush the opportunity to grow green mass and root system and bloom over the next year after transplantation.
Propagation by layering involves bending down and pinning some stems to the soil surface. In this case, roots can form at the nodes of the stem after a season, after which the stem can be separated from the mother plant and transplanted to another place. Planting occurs in the same way as when transplanting divisions.
Vegetative propagation by green cuttings is much more risky, since much of the material does not take root. For cuttings, you need to select young shoots of the current season that have not yet had time to set buds and bloom. Divide the shoot into parts with 2-3 nodes, cut off the lower part so that about 1 cm of the stem remains. Cut the top just above the knot. On the lower part, make shallow notches along the stem, dip it in a root formation stimulator (Heteroauxin, Kornevit, etc.) and plant it in a greenhouse or container with a substrate of moistened sand, leaving 1-2 nodes on top.
Cover the container or greenhouse with glass. Rooting can be considered successful when the cuttings show signs of growth: new shoots form from the leaf axils at the nodes. Until this time, you need to constantly monitor the moisture of the soil, not allowing it to dry out. After rooting, the shelter can be removed and young bushes can be planted on permanent place(The propagation scheme by cuttings is shown in the video).
To sow seeds for seedlings in order to get flowering carnations already in mid-summer, the soil must be prepared in the fall. Sowing dates are very early - in early to mid-March, when there is still snow in many regions. Seeds can be pre-soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate or sown dry. It is not necessary to cover them with soil. To retain the necessary moisture, cover the container with the seeds with glass or film. In a warm (20-25°C) place, the seeds will hatch in 7-10 days.
When the seedlings have 2-4 true leaves, the seedlings can be planted in separate pots. If the plants begin to stretch, you should install a lamp daylight and increase the length of the “day” to 10 hours. Seedlings can be planted when spring frosts stop.
Perennial carnations can also be grown without seedlings. In this case, sowing should be done immediately in the flowerbed in shallow furrows. Sprinkle 0.5 cm of soil on top of the seeds and water it well. Caring for crops comes down to maintaining optimal humidity until seeds germinate, weeding and watering young bushes. Flowers with this method will appear only in the 2nd year after sowing. To ensure that young plants overwinter well, in regions with little snow and low temperatures (from -20°C and below), plantings can be covered with spruce branches, leaves, non-woven material. These measures will help protect the stems from being eaten by mice. After the snow melts, the shelter must be removed so that the cloves do not rot.
A very grateful and responsive plant will definitely delight its loving owners 1-2 times a season. It is only important to follow simple rules and provide the carnations with the necessary care.
Every owner of a private home or summer cottage there is a flower bed. Growing flowers is one of the favorite activities of any gardener. Each of them has their own favorite flowers, but they are all good and beautiful in their own way. Chinese carnation grows in almost every garden and is very popular. We will talk about its features in care and cultivation in the article.
This kind perennial plant belongs to the clove family, but there are also annual species flower. As its name suggests, cloves were introduced to Europe from China in the 18th century. It is a small branched bush that can grow from 15 to 50 cm, it all depends on the type of flower. 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 differ long period flowering.
Chinese carnation almost odorless. Her flowers are single or collected in bouquets of 2-4 pieces. In the photo it is clearly visible that the terry carnation mix has buds consisting of a group of petals. The flower size can be from 1 to 4 cm in diameter. Lanceolate narrow leaves are located opposite. Dwarf species grow short, the bushes reach only 15 cm. Other species can grow up to 0.5 meters. The good thing about Chinese carnation is that 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, the inflorescences can be of several colors:
- white;
- purple;
- pink;
- burgundy;
- lilac.
A distinctive feature of Chinese terry cloves - slits and stripes on the petals. The stem of the plant is erect, with narrow lanceolate leaves of a dull 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 understood in more detail. Planting seeds of perennial Chinese carnation is necessary start in March. Seeds are sown in boxes with drained and nutritious substrate. They should be sprinkled with a light layer of soil. The soil is well moistened and the top of the container must be covered.
The optimal temperature for germination is 16-20 o C. After 7-10 days, the cover can be removed and it is advisable to reduce the temperature to 14-15 o C. The seedlings are ready for picking when they have 2-3 true leaves. It is planted in peat pots with a nutritious peat mixture. In order to plant seedlings in open ground, they must become well established. It is best to plant it in a permanent place in pots.
You can also sow seeds in open ground in early May; it is not afraid of light frosts. The seeds are sown in an open nursery and then, when they germinate, they are transplanted to a permanent place in the flower garden.
Planting and care
The most favorable time for planting in open ground considered to be the end of May. Before planting, be sure to prepare a bed and plant seedlings at intervals of 20-30 cm. The distance between seedlings will depend on the type of carnation.
Watering should only be done when the soil dries out. Frequent and abundant watering negatively affects the development of the plant. In extreme heat, the volume of watering should be increased and the soil should not be allowed to dry out.
Caring for the flower is simple; any novice gardener can grow Chinese carnations. It is very important to pay close attention to the plant and timely water, loosen the soil, and remove weeds. The beautiful and fresh appearance of flowers is a confirmation proper care. If you pinch the tops of the clove stems, it will bush better. The plant loves partial shade and sun.
Flowers are very respond well to feeding, if you don’t add too much of them. 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 trim stems with buds that have already faded. To propagate by seeds, you need to leave the inflorescences you like and then collect them.
Chinese carnation tolerates winter very well in our regions. Before wintering, its stems are cut to 10 cm above the ground in late autumn. You don’t have to insulate the bushes, but use sawdust or peat, fallen leaves to protect them from freezing in very coldy. With the arrival of spring, the cover should be removed.
Like all carnation plants susceptible to certain diseases:
- fusarium;
- rust;
- spotting;
- root rot;
- septoria.
If such diseases are detected, the damaged stems must be cut and removed. It is better to fight spider mites and aphids using Bordeaux mixture.
The secret of popularity
The plant is very popular among gardeners, which is understandable. Unlike bulbs and other types of plants, the flowering phase of carnations lasts a very long time. The flower is ideal for many purposes. It is often used in landscape design. Chinese carnations are always appropriate in city parks and squares; they are planted as borders. The photo clearly shows that it fits perfectly into alpine slide. Thanks to its bright color, it looks impressive when planted in islands and bouquets on lawns.
Almost every private house or cottage has a small flower bed. And every year many gardeners are faced with the question: what to grow on their personal plot? Which flowers will be a great find, will grow well and be attractive to the eye? appearance? AND excellent option I can be different kinds carnations. There are annual and perennial varieties of such flowers, and some of them are completely unpretentious. Today we will clarify in a little more detail what the Chinese terry carnation is, discuss its cultivation from seeds and clarify when it is best to plant cloves.
Chinese double carnation is popular among gardeners due to its unpretentiousness and ability to bloom for a long time. On such a plant very beautiful flowers, which can be painted in white, pink, coral, raspberry and cherry colors. Some varieties combine several colors at once.
In the photo there is a Chinese terry carnation
There are perennial and annual varieties of double Chinese carnations. This plant grows into a rather small, neat or spreading bush; its height ranges from ten to fifty centimeters.
How to grow Chinese double carnation from seeds?
This plant reproduces well by seeds. They have an oblong shape and are colored brown. Sowing seeds can be done in March or even at the end of January - February. You should not plant in ready-made peat soil mixtures; it is better to give preference to garden soil, to which you need to add river sand.
In order for the seeds to germinate well, it is worth soaking them in a solution shortly before sowing. succinic acid and dry a little so that they don’t stick together (but not completely). Afterwards, you need to fill the seedling containers with the prepared soil mixture, spill it and sow. The clove seeds need to be buried a little, or better yet, scattered over the surface of the soil and covered with a small amount of soil. In order to create an optimal environment for germination Greenhouse effect, it is necessary to cover the crops plastic film or glass.
It is best to place the seedling boxes in a room with a stable temperature of eighteen to twenty degrees. The first seedlings should appear after a week and a half. At this stage of growing carnations, it is necessary to remove the covering from the boxes and place them on a windowsill with sufficient lighting. It is worth noting that with a lack of light, seedlings begin to stretch excessively. In such a situation, you need to organize additional lighting for it. Also, after the first seedlings appear, it is advisable to move the seedling box to a cooler room - with a temperature of about fourteen degrees.
Chinese terry carnation seedlings need not only suitable lighting, but also periodic moistening. But it must be remembered that such plants, if there is an excess of moisture, can quickly suffer from fungal disease- black leg. And this disease can destroy young seedlings. That is why watering seedlings is carried out with special care; readers of Popular About Health are strongly recommended to replace this procedure with spraying.
After a couple of full-fledged leaves appear on young plants, it is necessary to pick them into separate containers. Optimal choice For seedlings of double Chinese carnations, use peat pots filled with nutritious soil mixture.
After four to six true leaves appear on the plants, you should pinch them. Thanks to this simple manipulation, the Chinese carnation bushes will be lush and especially attractive.
Before planting seedlings in open ground, they must grow well and become stronger. It is also necessary to organize the hardening of plants - at first you just need to open the window, and then the pots should be taken out onto the balcony or outside, gradually increasing the hardening period.
Planting of seedlings in open ground is carried out closer to mid-to-late May. In this case, the plants are placed in holes dug at intervals equal to the approximate height of the future bushes. So low-growing varieties planted at a distance of twenty centimeters, dwarf ones - ten to fifteen centimeters, and tall ones - thirty centimeters.
Growing from seeds in open ground
Many gardeners grow cloves by sowing seeds directly into open ground. Best time for this – the beginning of May. Seeds are sown in an open nursery, and as the seedlings grow, they are transferred to a permanent growing site.
Before sowing, you need to carefully evaluate the area; if there is a high probability of waterlogging, you should remove twenty-five centimeters of soil from it and lay a layer of drainage, and then cover it with soil. Seeds are sown at centimeter intervals, optimal distance between rows - ten centimeters. They are placed in well-loosened and moistened soil, after which they are sprinkled with fairly loose soil.
There is no need to cover the crops, but after a week, if the threat of night frosts remains, it is still advisable to provide shelter for the first seedlings. After four pairs of leaves appear on young plants, they can be transferred to a flowerbed, pinching them at the same time.
Thus, growing cloves from seeds is not such a difficult task.
454 02/15/2019 7 min.Chinese carnation is wonderful garden flower, which is the carnation we are used to, but in a more decorative version. The plant can be differently colored depending on the species: there are even very rare varieties, including dark burgundy, almost black. Chinese carnation fits perfectly into garden landscape, and has universal application.
So, it can be planted in separate flower beds or used in group plantings: in any case, the flower will fit perfectly into the surrounding space. In the article we will look at the features of growing Chinese carnations from seeds: we will find out exactly how to plant the plant, and what care features should be kept in mind.
Description and features
Chinese carnation is an unusual ornamental plant that surpasses regular analogue bright colors and splendor of inflorescences. The use of this plant, like in garden design, is very wide: Chinese carnation you can decorate borders, flower beds, flower beds, rock gardens, balconies, facades: basically, anything. By the way, this plant is called cloves exclusively in our country. In worldwide practice it is known as the “divine flower”.
As the name implies, the plant’s homeland 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.
Externally, Chinese carnations are compact bushes up to half a meter high. The stems of the plant are thin, sometimes gnarled, the leaves are long, thin and sharp at the ends.
In the video - Chinese carnation:
Simple, semi-double and double varieties of Chinese carnations are known today: all of them are distinguished by 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:
And this is what the seeds look like Turkish cloves, and how to plant them in the ground, this will help you understand
Currently, breeders have developed many other interesting shades of the plant: among them even such unusual ones as black and blue. In addition to the one-color color option, the petals of the Chinese carnation can be painted in two colors: with a decorative gradient transition. The size of the flower is usually about 3 cm in diameter, sometimes reaching 4 cm.
Growing seeds in open ground
Due to the need to comply with certain temperature regime and regular watering, Chinese carnations are rarely grown from seeds in open ground. Usually, healthy and strong seedlings are first prepared at home, which are then moved under open sky: This path is more reliable, although more troublesome.
However, if you nevertheless decide to immediately plant the seeds in open ground, it is recommended to first soak them for 20 minutes in a solution of succinic acid, and then, without completely drying them, plant them in the ground. This procedure will strengthen the seeds and make them more resistant to disease.
This information will help you understand how this happens and how to do it correctly.
But how Dimorphotheca is grown, and what such a flower looks like in the photo, you can find out from this
It will also be interesting to learn about how to plant Matthiola bicornuum with seeds:
After three weeks, on average, the first shoots appear. When two or three leaves appear on them, the seedlings must be picked, planted at the required distance from each other.
Growing using seedlings
To ensure guaranteed germination of Chinese carnations, it is recommended to grow them using the seedling method. In addition, for many cold Russian regions this is generally the only method. Seeds are planted for seedlings already in March, although to speed up the start of flowering you can do this in February and even in January. But the latter options are only suitable for areas with warm climates.
The seeds are placed in prepared containers filled with a mixture of garden soil and sand. You can also add vermiculite to the soil, which will speed up germination. It is necessary to put a layer of drainage at the bottom of the container: the plant cannot tolerate stagnant moisture.
After the seeds are placed in the ground, they are sprinkled with a little vermiculite, after which the containers are put in a sunny, well-lit place (a window sill on the south side is suitable). Compaction of the soil from above is not required. It is advisable to install several fluorescent lamps above the containers with seedlings, which can be very helpful in case of cloudy weather.
For successful germination, it is necessary that the room temperature is about +20 degrees, and the soil constantly remains moderately moist. Additional protection in the form of film or glass in in this case not required. 
After the sprouts appear, the containers with the seedlings need to be moved to a room with a lower temperature - about +15-17 degrees. Such a decrease in temperature is necessary so that the seedlings do not grow too actively upward.
Attention: Chinese carnation also reproduces well by self-sowing. If the seeds fell into the ground in the fall, then, having survived the winter, many of them will sprout safely in the spring: without any worries or hassle on the part of the gardener. The method is good, however, in this case the carnation will grow spontaneously, as necessary. Although for some picturesque garden designs This method is also suitable.
Care
Although in natural conditions the plant is a perennial, however, in our country it is grown mainly as an annual. It must be said that growing this flower is not too difficult and is quite accessible even to inexperienced gardeners. What you need to pay attention to is the choice of soil: only in this respect does the Chinese carnation show some capriciousness. So, the plant requires well-drained soil that is not prone to stagnation of water.
Chinese carnations, in addition, need fertilizing: over the summer you will have to apply fertilizer several times. Without additional nutrition, the plant will bloom more sparingly.
As for choosing a place, the flower will feel best in the sun; partial shade is also suitable. Fully shady places not for Chinese carnations: in such places decorative and lush flowering you won't have to wait.
Video on how to care for flowers:
There is one nuance that gardeners need to know: the roots of Chinese carnations grow and branch greatly. Therefore, to underground root system not mixed up, it is recommended to plant carnation bushes at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. And in order to ensure good lush bushiness, the tops of the stems must be pinched back at the seedling stage.
As for watering, it should be moderate, and in extreme heat more abundant. Overmoistening of the soil and, especially, stagnation of moisture in the soil must be avoided.
The bed with Chinese carnations must be cleared of weeds by weeding regularly. Feeding should be done 2-3 times per season. But some gardeners recommend fertilizing more often, especially if the soil is not fertile. Fertilizers with a potassium composition are used to feed cloves, and are also suitable special compounds for clove varieties.
To ensure longer flowering, dried buds must be removed from the bushes. Closer to August, gardeners recommend pruning tall varieties of Chinese carnations to prolong the flowering period, rejuvenating the bushes.
If the plant is a biennial, then for the winter you need to cut off its green top, leaving 10 cm long stems protruding from the ground. It is advisable to cover these stems with leaves or dry grass so that the plant can safely survive the frosts.
Diseases and pests
A plant that is grown in compliance with the above recommendations and that is properly cared for usually develops without problems and is not susceptible to diseases. There are few pests that attack Chinese carnations.