Content
Alpine carnation is an unpretentious plant that takes root well in rocky and poor soil. Abundant flowering begins in early summer. The most common varieties of carnations are those that produce pink inflorescences.
The flower is perennial and can withstand adverse weather conditions without problems. Planting and caring for alpine carnation involves a minimum set of activities, including choosing a lighted place and periodic watering.
general description
Alpine carnation is a representative of dicotyledonous plants belonging to the genus Carnation. The flower has been known since the 18th century. Under natural conditions it is found in the Alps at an altitude of more than 1000 m, in Austria, Italy and Slovenia. The plant prefers limestone soil.
Dianthus is a 25 cm tall perennial that is cold tolerant. The leaves are glaucous, thin and elongated. The flowers are 5 cm in diameter and consist of five petals with jagged edges. Wild plants are scarlet and purple in color, while cultivated species are pink.
The tap root system ensures the development of the flower on rocky soil. Numerous roots absorb moisture and nutrients. The lifespan of the plant is up to 5 years.
After flowering ends, the fruits in the form of a long box ripen on the bushes. In autumn, the fruits open and spherical seeds scatter around the bushes.
Natural forms of the plant do not tolerate transplantation well; they are demanding in terms of soil composition and care. Unpretentious hybrids have been bred for growing in garden plots: Pink Carnation and Pink Lawn.
Pink variety carnation produces large flowers 4 cm in size. The shade is dark pink, with a dark spot in the center of the flower.
The Pink Lawn variety is characterized by abundant flowering. The petals have jagged edges, the center of the flower is surrounded by a purple circle, and the center is white.
Photo of Alpine carnation variety Pink:
The flower grows quickly and fills the free space in the garden bed. The plant is suitable for single planting as an alternative to a lawn.
At a summer cottage, carnations will decorate alpine slides, rockeries, multi-tiered flower beds, borders, and mixborders. It is planted along fences and walls of buildings, to decorate garden paths and alleys.
The plant grows well among stones that heat up in the sun. As a result, the soil warms up better and the flower feels more comfortable.
Growing from seeds
Alpine carnation is grown from seeds. The most reliable way is to plant them at home. The resulting seedlings are planted in open ground. When using the seedling method, flowering begins in the first year.
Soil and seed preparation
Planting seeds to obtain seedlings is carried out from January to March. The substrate for plants is prepared in the fall. For it, soil is taken from a garden plot, wood ash and sand are added.
The use of purchased land is allowed. The main requirements for the substrate are neutrality, lightness and fertility.
The soil is steamed in a water bath or watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Before planting, water the soil generously with warm water.
Boxes or separate containers are prepared for alpine carnation seedlings. It is convenient to use cassettes with a cell size of 3-5 cm. Then you can do without picking the seedlings.
The substrate is poured into containers or cassettes. Plant seeds are placed in increments of 2 cm. When planting in separate cassettes or cups, 2-3 seeds are placed in each of them. The planting material is deepened by 1 cm. A thin layer of sand is poured on top.
The containers are covered with plastic film to create a greenhouse effect. If you are in a warm place, carnation shoots will appear in 10-14 days. During this time, you need to ensure that the soil remains moist, and also turn the film over to ventilate the plantings.
Seedling care
Alpine carnation seedlings are provided with a number of conditions:
- moistening the soil as it dries;
- regular ventilation of the room with plants;
- temperature about 20°C;
- lighting for 14 hours.
The seedlings are watered with warm, settled water. It is important to monitor soil moisture. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture, which also provokes the development of fungal diseases.
With short daylight hours, seedlings are provided with additional lighting. At a distance of 30 cm from the seedlings, phytolamps are installed, which are turned on as needed.
When 2-3 leaves develop, the cloves are picked into separate containers.Before picking, the plants are watered abundantly.
3 weeks before transferring to the ground, the seedlings are left for several hours in the fresh air. To do this, open the window or move the plantings to the balcony. Before planting, plants should be left outdoors all day.
Landing in the ground
Alpine carnations are transferred to an open area when the soil and air warm up well. This usually starts in mid-May depending on the growing region.
Alpine carnation prefers illuminated areas. When grown in partial shade, less intense flowering is observed. Non-acidic loamy soil is prepared for plants.
Before planting, the soil is dug up and fertilized with humus. The composition of heavy soil is improved by adding coarse river sand.
The seedlings are watered and taken out of the container along with the roots. Plants are placed in planting holes, the roots are covered with soil and warm moisture is added.
Seeds are planted in open ground in May. The planting material is buried 1 cm into the moist soil. After the sprouts appear, the cloves need to be thinned out.
Other methods of reproduction
Perennial alpine carnation is propagated vegetatively. Cuttings are obtained from the side shoots and used for planting. The procedure is carried out in May.
The procedure for cutting carnations:
- Large branches 10 cm long are selected from the plant.
- The shoots are cut at an angle and an incision is made on the lower part. As a result, the stem is divided into 2 parts by no more than 1/3 of the length.
- The cuttings are placed in moist soil.
- After 2 weeks, the cuttings will take root and can be transplanted to a permanent location.
When propagating by layering, a long and strong shoot is taken from the mother bush. A 4 cm long incision is made in the lower part of the stem. A hole 15 cm deep is dug next to the clove. The cutting is placed in the hole and covered with earth. The next year, the young plant is transplanted to a new place.
In early spring, before the beginning of the growing season, carnations are propagated by dividing the bush. The plant is dug up and cut with a knife to obtain the required number of seedlings. You can plant any part that has shoots and roots.
Caring for carnations
Perennial alpine carnation requires minimal care. The flower garden is watered and fed periodically. When grown in cold climates, cloves are covered for the winter. During the growing season, the plant remains resistant to cold weather.
Watering and fertilizing
With abundant watering, Alpine carnation develops slowly, its frost resistance and lifespan decrease. It is important to avoid stagnation of water and waterlogging of the soil.
Photo of alpine carnation variety Pink Lawn:
The plant is watered in drought, and warm water is used. Moisture is applied at the root in the morning or evening.
To feed the flower, do not use fresh organic matter: bird droppings or mullein. The plant needs moderate feeding.
A month after planting, the plants are fed with complex flower fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In mid-autumn, potash is added to help the flower survive the winter better.
Diseases and pests
If you follow the rules of planting and care, alpine carnation rarely gets sick and is little susceptible to attack by pests.
With excess moisture, the flower suffers from fusarium, which is spread by fungal spores. The leaves of the carnation begin to turn yellow and swellings appear on the stems. Affected plants are removed and the soil is treated with Karbofos.
The most dangerous viral disease for flowers is phialophorosis. As it spreads, the plants wither and brown stains form on the cut shoots. Disinfection of soil and planting material helps to avoid the disease.
Alpine dianthus attracts caterpillars, thrips and nematodes. Pests feed on plant sap. To get rid of insects, insecticides Actillik or Aktar are used weekly. For prevention, treatment once a month is sufficient.
Wintering
In late autumn, after flowering has ended, the bushes are pruned and left no more than 10 cm above ground level. In order for the plant to better withstand winter frosts, it is mulched with dry leaves and peat.
In cold regions, beds with cloves are insulated with agrofibre. Plants need to be covered when the temperature drops to zero. In the spring, when the snow melts, the covering material is removed.
If the bush has been growing in one place for more than 5 years, it is recommended to replace it. The flower is dug up with roots and burned to avoid the development of diseases.
Conclusion
Perennial carnations are an ideal solution for decorating borders and alpine slides. The flower is unpretentious in care and requires minimal watering and fertilizing. For the winter, the bushes are pruned and covered with mulch. Alpine carnation is grown from seeds. Cuttings or layering are taken from an adult plant, which quickly take root in a new place.
