Carnation, this flower known for its warmth and romance, is not only a representative flower of Mother's Day, but also the favorite of many flower friends. When you bring home a pot of carnations, have you ever wondered how to care for them? Don't worry, today we are going to share some dry tips on how to care for the carnations you just bought, so that you can easily become a little flower expert!
1. Understand the basic habits of carnations.
Before caring for a carnation, we must first understand its basic habits. Carnation belongs to the genus Caryophyllaceae and is a perennial root-growing herb. It prefers a cool, dry environment in the summer, while it prefers warm, sunny places in the winter. In addition, carnations also have some cold tolerance, but they are not heat tolerant. Knowing this, we can provide a suitable environment for carnations to grow.
2. Prepare suitable potting soil for carnations.
Potting soil is the foundation for the growth of carnations, so it is crucial to formulate the right potting soil. We can choose to use humus soil, garden soil, and river sand in a ratio of 2:1:1, so that the soil is not only loose and breathable, but also rich in organic matter, which is conducive to the growth of carnations. At the same time, don't forget to add the right amount of bone meal to the soil as a base fertilizer to provide sufficient nutrients for carnations.
3. Master the skills of watering.
Carnations are more drought tolerant, so we need to be sparing when watering. During the vigorous growth period, it is necessary to water in time to keep the soil moist, but it is not advisable to water too much at ordinary times to avoid root rot. In general, it is sufficient to keep the soil slightly moist. Also, avoid watering directly on the flowers when watering to avoid causing rot.
Fourth, reasonable fertilization to promote growth.
Carnations love fertilizer, and proper fertilization is essential for their growth. Before planting, we need to apply a sufficient amount of bone meal as a base fertilizer. During the growing season, a thin, well-rotted fertilizer can be applied every 10 days to provide continuous nutrients** for the carnations. After flowering, it should also be topdressed in time to replenish the nutrients consumed and promote the recovery of plant growth.
Fifth, learn breeding skills to make carnations more lush.
To make carnations more lush, we can try to propagate new strains. Carnations are mostly propagated by cuttings, which can be carried out in spring, autumn and winter. Well-developed, robust and disease-free side branches were selected as cuttings, 6 9 cm long, slightly moistened with water and inserted into the substrate 2 3 cm deep. Keep the substrate moist and shaded after cutting, and rooting can take place in about 5 weeks at a temperature of 10 20.
6. Master the topping skills to create a beautiful plant shape.
In order to make the plant shape of carnations more beautiful, we need to master the technique of topping. When the carnation grows to a certain height, the main stem can be topped first to promote the growth of side branches. When the side branches are long enough, top all or half of the side branches to control plant height and plant shape. In addition, after topping the main stem of the plant, if the side branches grow too long, the longer branches can also be cut off to make the plant more symmetrical.
7. Pay attention to pest control to ensure healthy growth.
In the process of caring for carnations, we also pay close attention to the control of pests and diseases. Regularly inspect the leaves and branches of carnations, and take timely measures to prevent and control pests and diseases. You can choose biological control, chemical control and other methods for treatment, and at the same time pay attention to keeping the environment clean and hygienic to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases.
In short, it is not difficult to maintain the carnations that you have just bought, the key is to master the correct maintenance methods. As long as we understand the habits of carnations, prepare suitable potting soil, master the skills of watering and fertilizing, learn how to propagate and top, and pay attention to pest control, we can easily make carnations thrive and bloom. I hope these dry tips can help you and let you go further and further on the road of raising flowers!