Carnations of various varieties and species like to grow on their plots gardeners, respecting this flower for its many advantages.
Carnations bloom long and actively, their colorful flowers give a feeling of celebration.
This kind of carnation Chinese has a special charm. It can be grown in pots and in the open field.
Growing Chinese Carnation through Seedlings
Chinese carnation grows in the form of a bush, the height of the stems of which reaches half a meter. The leaves of the plant are narrow, paired, long (sometimes - twisted). Dwarf subspecies can grow only up to 15 cm.
The carnation blooms with white, pink, purple, lilac and maroon flowers from June to August. This species is characterized by slots on the petals, a strip of bright burgundy color and the absence of smell.
Korea and China are considered the homeland of Chinese carnations, where its description was first published.
Did you know? The ancient Greek philosopher Theophrast in the III century BC called the carnation "Dianthus" the divine flower or the flower of Zeus. The first selection works with carnations began in the XYII-XYIII centuries.
Seed preparation before planting
Seedlings do not necessarily buy in the store - it can be grown at home. Annual varieties of carnations are propagated exclusively by seeds, while perennial varieties are also propagated by cutting and dividing the bush.
Planting seeds should begin in spring - in March. In open ground, seeds can be placed in May - the Chinese clove is not afraid of light frosts.
Important! To carnation pleased its flowering throughout the summer, the seeds are planted at different times (from March to April).
Soil for growing seedlings
Before sowing Chinese cloves for seedlings, they prepare the soil in advance.
To do this, take the usual garden land in which it will continue to be grown, and add to it sand and vermiculite.
Can be used for germinating seeds a mixture of earth, peat, humus (ratio - 2: 2: 1) with an acidity of 6-6.5 pH.
Important! The soil for the seedlings should be ignited - so you can avoid infecting young carnations.
How to plant seeds for seedlings
Seeds for seedlings are sown in the prepared soil in early spring. At the bottom of the container you need to lay out a layer of drainage, and the soil itself should be slightly wet. From above, the seedlings are covered with a 2 mm layer of earth and covered with paper or film. After the appearance of the first shoots, the film is removed.
Conditions for germinating seeds
When growing Chinese carnation from seeds, at the very beginning it is necessary to adhere to the temperature regime (+ 16-20 ° C) and regularly moisten the soil. Seedlings will appear in ten days, and then the temperature in the room is limited to + 10-15 ° C (so that the sprouts do not stretch out). The soil should be moist, but not wet, the humidity of the air is regulated within 80-85%.
Temperature and free air exchange (ventilation) during the germination of seeds is very important.
Best of all seedlings will feel in a well-lit window. Of course, in the spring the seedlings may lack light, so the sprouts need additional artificial lighting, especially on cloudy days.
Did you know? In folk medicine, carnation flowers are used to get rid of various diseases (radiculitis, rheumatism). And red flowers were considered a symbol of goodness, constancy, justice, loyalty and served as a talisman from misfortunes and evil spirits.
Caring for seedlings of carnations
After the first shoots appeared, the film for the daytime needs to be removed. So do until such time as the young shoots take root.
In addition, in addition to a clear temperature regime, young seedlings need proper watering. Watering sprouts is necessary after complete drying of the soil, but you should not bring to wilting the leaves - it delays their growth.
As the seedlings develop, the ground is added to the stalks - this helps to strengthen the young stems. For dosed irrigation, you can use the spray.
Pickling seedlings
When the seedlings appear 2-3 leaves, it is time to swoop down the Chinese carnation. Saplings are transplanted into small peat pots (cups) with a nutrient substrate. Before planting seedlings in open ground, it must be well strengthened.
For hardening, containers with seedlings can be taken out on a glazed balcony or loggia in good weather.
If the carnation is grown as an indoor flower, it is better to plant it in pots immediately.
Planting of Chinese carnation seedlings in open ground
This flower can be grown as indoor culture, and can be used as a greenery decoration.
Carnation is a light-loving plant, for the successful growth of which a light soil with a moderate degree of moisture is needed. The ideal place is a plot that gets direct sunlight. Before planting it is fertilized in the ground, and seedlings are planted at a distance of 20 cm.
Dates and choice of place for landing
The time when you can plant carnation seedlings in open ground is the end of May - the beginning of June.
The refined and exquisite Chinese carnation loves areas on which the sun is dry and enough. The longer the light day (16-18 hours), the faster it will bloom. With a lack of light, the stem becomes fragile, becomes thinner and wilts over time, and the flowers decrease in size.
Important! If you plant a carnation in the shade or partial shade, lush flowering can not wait.Before planting, they dig up a plot and fertilize it with humus. If the carnation is planted in a flower bed, then we still need to remove the weeds.
The optimal scheme of planting seedlings
Before planting the bed is prepared, and the seedlings are planted at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other. Sprouts are transplanted along with the earthy ball, so as not to damage the root system.
To avoid stalk breakage, when the flower stalks appear, a special peg is placed next to each carnation, to which the flower stalks are tied.
Growing and caring for Chinese carnation
Carnation loves non-acidic, loamy, fertile soil. Chinese stagnation of water and waterlogging tolerates a carnation badly; therefore, when caring for it, it is necessary to observe the watering regime, as well as regularly loosen the soil and remove weeds.
Did you know? The popular Eastern teachings of Feng Shui argue that the carnation is a symbol of nobility and success and is able to enhance these qualities with their owners.
Pinch the tops
In order for the carnation to be cured and compact, periodically pinching the Chinese carnation seedlings over the 2-3nd pair of leaves.
Important! Pinching should be carried out, carefully tearing off the top, so as not to damage the remaining leaves.
How to conduct watering
Chinese cloves are usually sufficient to be watered once a week. However, although the plant tolerates drought quite well, it needs abundant watering on hot days.
When watering, you need to make sure that the water does not fall on the buds - this will affect flowering and can cause diseases.
Fertilization
Houseplants require additional feeding, and the carnation responds well to fertilizers, responding with long and abundant flowering.
If growing Chinese cloves is carried out in a substrate without soil, then fertilizer should be applied at least once a week. If a mixture of soil and substrate is used for cultivation, cloves can be fertilized every 14 days.
In the open field, the feeding of perennial carnations begins in the second year. To do this, use potassium or complex fertilizers for flowering plants (at the rate of 5 g per shrub).
Important! Top dressing is done carefully so as not to harm the root system. Categorically it is impossible to use fresh manure and chlorinated dressings.
Pruning buds
In order to prolong the flowering time of the carnation, the stems with faded buds are cut (up to 10-15 cm from the ground). After that, the land must be fertilized with mineral fertilizers, loosen and pour. Then, in time, new shoots will appear. Liked bloomed inflorescences can be left on the seeds for reproduction.
Important! Ripening seeds inhibits the further flowering of carnations.
Pest and disease protection
Chinese carnation is very susceptible to pests and diseases. Especially dangerous for her are:
- rust;
- Fusarium;
- spotting;
- root rot;
- septoriosis and other viral diseases.
In order to avoid infection, you should not allow high humidity and thickening in the areas where the cloves are grown.If the plant is still sick, the affected seedlings are isolated and destroyed (burned).
Chinese carnation is attacked by such pests as:
- Bears;
- spider mite;
- thrips;
- nematodes;
- aphid;
- earwigs.
Important! Practice shows that the Chinese carnation trouble comes from the bulbous plants, so this neighborhood should be avoided.
Chinese carnation combination with other plants
Chinese carnation as a bright and spectacular plant can not only decorate a flower garden, but also combine all its elements into a single whole, emphasizing the attractiveness of its neighbors. 
- Since the carnation is a minor plant, it is possible to pick out contrasting, colorful annuals (malcolmia, nemophilia) in the company.
- The bearded iris looks impressively against the background of a carnation. Although it is extremely difficult to find partners for this handsome man, his flowers perfectly match each other with a Chinese carnation.
- Salvia can serve as an excellent carnation neighbor in a flowerbed - it will also feel comfortable in a sunny and dry area.
- A clove will harmoniously look among ground-cover plants (stonecrop, Veronica) against a background of stones.
Wintering cloves chinese
Carnation tolerates cold in any region. To prepare for winter in late autumn, the plant stems are cut to 10 cm above the ground. It is not necessary to warm shrubs - peat, fallen leaves or sawdust can be used to protect against frost. In the spring this shelter needs to be removed.
Ways to breed Chinese carnation
Carnations are not long-lived, and after 3-4 years of flowering, they lose their decorative effect. In order not to lose your favorite plant, you need to multiply it regularly.
Dividing bush
Unpopular way, because it needs a powerful main root. It is best to carry out reproduction by dividing the root in early spring, then new plants will bloom in the very first season.
The bush is dug out and neatly divided into several parts with a sharp blade. At the same time on each part there should be escapes.
Layering
In order to propagate the carnation in this way, an interstitial cut is made to the depth of the stem. After that, cut down the shoot is attached to the ground, fall asleep and moisturize. In this case, the plant first forms the roots, and then a new flower is formed. 
Cuttings
The cuttings can be carried out in spring or autumn - the breeding time in this way does not matter much, although it is easier to find healthy carnations in autumn.
In early September, choose the most beautiful and abundant flowering bushes. They break off (with a part of the main stem) young apical twigs 10 cm long and cut the leaves in half.
For several hours, the cuttings should be dipped in a weak solution of manganese. Then they are planted in a prepared container (with drainage and earth) to a depth of 2 cm, keeping a distance of 5 cm. The earth around the cuttings is gently pressed.
After planting the soil is good to water and put the container with the cuttings in the container. The first week prunes pruneyut and regularly sprayed. Saplings will take root in a month. 
In winter, watering seedlings is not recommended, and to ensure their peace, cover them with a foliage of 15 cm. At a permanent place Chinese carnation can be planted in May.
Spring cutting is carried out from plants brought into a warm room in the fall and long-flowering. After the carnation has faded, watering is gradually stopped, and the pot is moved to a cool place. Bush grafting can be used in February.
Did you know? For more than a decade, carnation has been considered a symbol of well-being all over the world, and in the USSR this plant became popular after World War II and became a symbol of victory and masculinity.Carnation is a noble flower that adorns the garden and delights flower growers with its long flowering. Knowing how to properly sow Chinese carnations for seedlings, how to propagate in other ways, and when to plant sprouts in the open ground and how to care for the plant, will allow you to admire these wonderful flowers all summer.
