Contents
Alpine carnation is an unpretentious plant that takes root well on stony and poor soil. Abundant flowering begins in early summer. The most common carnation varieties that produce pink inflorescences.
The flower is perennial, tolerates adverse weather conditions without problems. Planting and caring for alpine carnations include a minimum set of activities, including the choice of a lit 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 1000th century. Under natural conditions, it is found in the Alps at an altitude of more than XNUMX m, in Austria, Italy and Slovenia. The plant prefers limestone soil.
Carnation is a 25 cm high perennial, resistant to cold. The leaves are gray, thin and elongated. Flowers with a diameter of 5 cm, consist of five petals with jagged edges. Wild plants are scarlet and purple, cultivated species are pink.
The tap root system ensures the development of the flower on stony soil. Numerous roots absorb moisture and nutrients. The life of the plant is up to 5 years.
After the end of flowering on the bushes, fruits ripen in the form of a long box. In autumn, the fruits open, and spherical seeds scatter around the bushes.
The natural forms of the plant do not tolerate transplanting well, they are demanding on the composition of the soil and care. For cultivation in garden plots, unpretentious hybrids have been bred: Pink Carnation and Pink Lawn.
Carnation varieties Pink produces large flowers 4 cm in size. The shade is dark pink, in the center of the flower there is a dark spot.
The Pink Lawn variety is characterized by abundant flowering. Petals with serrated edges, the center of the flower is surrounded by a purple circle, the core is white.
Photo of alpine carnation variety Pink:
The flower grows quickly and fills the free space in the garden. The plant is suitable for a single planting as an alternative to a lawn.
At their summer cottage, carnations will decorate alpine slides, rockeries, multi-tiered flower beds, borders, mixborders. It is planted along the 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.
Cultivation from seeds
Alpine cloves are 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 in order to obtain seedlings is carried out from January to March. The substrate for plants is prepared in the fall. For him, they take the soil from the garden plot, add wood ash and sand.
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, the soil is abundantly watered with warm water.
Under the seedlings of alpine carnation, boxes or separate containers are prepared. It is convenient to use cassettes with a cell size of 3-5 cm. Then you can do without picking seedlings.
The substrate is poured into containers or cassettes. Plant seeds are placed in 2 cm increments. 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 wrap to create a greenhouse effect. When in a warm place, cloves will sprout in 10-14 days. During this time, you need to make sure that the soil remains moist, and also turn the film over to ventilate the plantings.
Care of seedlings
Alpine carnation seedlings provide a number of conditions:
- moistening the soil as it dries;
- regular airing of the room with plants;
- temperature around 20°C;
- illumination for 14 hours.
Seedlings are watered with warm settled water. It is important to keep the soil moist. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture, which also provokes the development of fungal diseases.
With a short light day, seedlings provide additional illumination. Phytolamps are installed at a distance of 30 cm from the seedlings, which are turned on as needed.
With the development of 2-3 leaves, the carnation is dived into separate containers. Before picking, the plants are watered abundantly.
3 weeks before transfer to the ground, the seedlings are left for several hours in the fresh air. To do this, open the window or transfer the landing to the balcony. Plants should be left outdoors all day before planting.
Landing in the ground
Alpine cloves are transferred to an open area when the soil and air are well warmed up. Usually this beginning is mid-May, depending on the growing region.
Alpine carnation prefers lighted areas. When grown in partial shade, less intense flowering is observed. A 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 introducing coarse river sand.
Seedlings are watered and removed from the container along with the roots. Plants are placed in planting holes, the roots are covered with earth and warm moisture is introduced.
Seeds are sown in open ground in May. Planting material is buried in moist soil by 1 cm. After the appearance of sprouts, you need to thin out the carnation.
Other methods of reproduction
Perennial alpine carnation is propagated vegetatively. From side shoots, cuttings are obtained, which are used for planting. The procedure is carried out in May.
How to cut a carnation:
- Large branches 10 cm long are selected from the plant.
- Cut the shoots at an angle, make an incision on the bottom. As a result, the stem is divided into 2 parts by no more than 1/3 of the length.
- The stalk is placed in moist soil.
- After 2 weeks, the cutting will take root, and it can be transplanted to a permanent place.
When propagated by layering, a long and strong shoot is taken from the mother bush. An incision 4 cm long is made in the lower part of the stem. A hole 15 cm deep is dug next to the carnation. The layer is placed in a recess and covered with earth. The following year, the young plant is planted in a new place.
In early spring, before the start of the growing season, the carnation is 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.
Carnation Care
The perennial alpine carnation needs minimal care. Periodically, the flower garden is watered and fed. When grown in cold climates, cloves are covered for the winter. During the growing season, the plant remains resistant to cold snaps.
Watering and feeding
With abundant watering, the alpine carnation slowly develops, its frost resistance and life span decrease. It is important to prevent stagnant 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 under the root in the morning or evening.
Fresh organics are not used to feed the flower: bird droppings or mullein. The plant needs moderate feeding.
A month after planting, the plants are fed with a complex flower fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In mid-autumn, potash substances are added so that the flower can better endure the winter.
Diseases and pests
Subject to the rules of planting and care, the alpine carnation rarely gets sick and is little susceptible to attack by pests.
With an excess of moisture, the flower suffers from Fusarium, which is spread by fungal spores. The leaves of the carnation begin to turn yellow, swellings appear on the stems. Affected plants are removed, and the soil is treated with Karbofos.
The most dangerous for a flower is a viral disease phyalophorosis. When it spreads, the plants wither, and brown stains form on the cut of the shoots. Disinfection of the soil and planting material helps to avoid the disease.
Alpine carnation attracts caterpillars, thrips and nematodes. Pests feed on plant sap. To get rid of insects, insecticides Aktillik or Aktar are used weekly. For prevention, treatment once a month is enough.
Wintering
In late autumn, after flowering, the bushes are pruned and left no more than 10 cm above ground level. In order for the plant to better endure the winter frosts, it is mulched with dry leaves and peat.
In cold regions, beds with cloves are insulated with agrofibre. You need to cover the plants 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, then it is recommended to replace it. The flower is dug up with roots and burned to avoid the development of diseases.
Conclusion
A perennial carnation is an ideal solution for decorating borders and alpine slides. The flower is unpretentious in care, needs minimal watering and top dressing. For the winter, the bushes are cut and covered with mulch. Alpine cloves are grown from seeds. From an adult plant, cuttings or layering are taken, which quickly take root in a new place.
