Content
Alpine carnation is an unpretentious plant that takes root well on rocky and poor soil. Abundant flowering begins in early summer. The most common varieties of carnations that produce pink inflorescences.
The flower is perennial, it tolerates unfavorable weather conditions without any problems. Planting and caring for alpine carnations includes a minimum set of activities, including the choice of 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 occurs in the Alps at an altitude of over 1000 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 5 cm in diameter, consist of five petals with jagged edges. Wild plants are scarlet and purple in color, domesticated species are pink.
The pivotal root system ensures the development of the flower in stony soil. Numerous roots absorb moisture and nutrients. The life of the plant is up to 5 years.
After the end of flowering, the fruits ripen on the bushes in the form of a long box. In autumn, the fruits open, and spherical seeds are scattered 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 were bred: Pink Carnation and Pink Lawn.
Pink carnation 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. The petals are jagged, the center of the flower is surrounded by a purple circle, the core is white.
Photo of an alpine pink variety:
The flower grows quickly and fills the free space in the garden. The plant is suitable for single planting as an alternative to the lawn.
At the summer cottage, the carnation 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 are heated in the sun. As a result, the soil warms up better, and the flower feels more comfortable.
Growing from seeds
Alpine carnations 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 for the purpose of obtaining seedlings is performed from January to March. The substrate for plants is prepared in the fall. For him, they take soil from the garden plot, add wood ash and sand.
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, the soil is watered abundantly with warm water.
Boxes or separate containers are prepared for seedlings of alpine carnations. It is convenient to use cassettes with a mesh 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 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 wrap to create a greenhouse effect. When 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 air the plantings.
Seedling care
Alpine carnation seedlings provide a number of conditions:
- moistening the soil as it dries;
- regular airing of the room with plants;
- temperature about 20 ° C;
- lighting for 14 hours.
Seedlings are watered with warm, settled water. It is important to monitor the moisture content of the soil. 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 cloves are dived into separate containers. Before picking, 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 transfer the planting to the balcony. Before planting, the plants should be kept outdoors throughout the day.
Landing in the ground
Alpine carnations are transferred to an open area when the soil and air are well warmed up. This is usually the beginning - mid-May, depending on the growing region.
Alpine carnation prefers lighted areas. When grown in partial shade, flowering is less intense. 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 taken out of 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 planted in open ground in May. The planting material is buried in moist soil by 1 cm.After the emergence of sprouts, it is necessary to thin out the cloves.
Other breeding methods
Perennial alpine carnations are propagated vegetatively. Cuttings are obtained from lateral shoots, which are used for planting. The procedure is carried out in May.
Carnation cuttings:
- Large branches 10 cm long are chosen from the plant.
- Shoots are cut at an angle, an incision is made 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 can be transplanted to a permanent place.
When propagating by layering, a long and strong shoot is taken from the mother bush. In the lower part of the stem, an incision is made 4 cm long. Next to the carnation, a hole is dug 15 cm deep. The cuttings are placed in a depression and covered with earth. The next year, the young plant is planted in a new place.
In early spring, before the beginning 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
A perennial alpine carnation needs minimal maintenance. 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 develops slowly, its frost resistance and lifespan decrease. It is important to avoid stagnation of water and waterlogging of the soil.
Photo of an 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.
For feeding the flower, fresh organic matter is not used: bird droppings or mullein. Moderate dressings are enough for the plant.
A month after planting, the plants are fed with a complex flower fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In the middle of autumn, potassium substances are introduced so that the flower endures the winter better.
Diseases and pests
Subject to the rules of planting and care, alpine carnations rarely get sick and are not very susceptible to pest attacks.
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, and swellings appear on the stems. The affected plants are removed, and the soil is treated with Karbofos.
The most dangerous for a flower is the viral disease phylophorosis. When it spreads, the plants wither, and brown streaks form on the cut of the shoots. Disinfection of soil and planting material helps to avoid 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 prophylaxis, treatment once a month is sufficient.
Wintering
In late autumn, after the end of flowering, the bushes are cut off and left no more than 10 cm above ground level. To make the plant better endure 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 from the roots and burned to avoid the development of diseases.
Conclusion
Perennial carnation is an ideal solution for curbs and alpine slides. The flower is unpretentious in care, needs minimal watering and feeding. For the winter, the bushes are cut off and covered with mulch. Alpine carnations are grown from seeds. Cuttings or cuttings are taken from an adult plant, which quickly take root in a new place.
