Carnations are perennial, features of cultivation. Proper cultivation of clove herbs from seeds

Many people love flowers like carnations. In nature, there are many varieties of such a flower. Carnation grass is very close to the common carnation. It is quite bright and beautiful, it will be great to decorate any flower bed.

Garden cloves need to be carefully looked after, but grass in close attention does not need. Therefore, I fell in love with most flower growers who are happy to grow it.

There is an opinion that the name of the carnation comes from the word "crown". But really, what do they have in common? Breeders have been working on breeding new varieties for more than one thousand years, so there are a lot of species. Carnation grass is distinguished by such a characteristic:

• The height of the stalk is 20-40 centimeters.
• The root system is branched.
• The leaves are quite small, about 1-3 millimeters wide.
• On the flower there are pedicels about 1-3 centimeters long.
• The color palette is mostly purplish red.
• The duration of flowering is one and a half months.

Mostly herbaceous cloves are grown for ornamental purposes.

It is possible to describe flowers for a long time, but in order to appreciate the beauty and tenderness, they need to be seen.

A huge advantage of carnation is unpretentiousness, both in the area for planting and care. Therefore, cultivation brings only pleasure.

You can grow herbaceous cloves in any front garden. It will make a great addition to any yard. Reproduction of flowers is carried out in several ways:

• Seminal.
• Vegetative.

The seed method is used in the case of growing one-year or two-year-old carnations. It is no secret that flowers planted from seeds can have different shade. To prevent this from happening, you should follow simple rules for reproduction:

• In the middle of spring (possibly in early May), the soil is prepared for planting seeds, it is disinfected.
• Initially, the seeds are planted in pots with sandy soil (sand should prevail).
• For 14 days, containers with sowing should be indoors, the temperature of the food fluctuates between 15-20 ° C.
• Sowing is carried out in several stages, the duration of flowering depends on this.
• When the carnations have 4 pairs of leaves, you can start transplanting into open ground.
• Sometimes seedlings grow quite weak, in which case they are kept a little longer in greenhouse conditions.

• If the sowing is too dense, the flowers will die.
• Shoots hatch slowly enough, and if the sowing is rare, they will be lost or overgrown with weeds.

At the same time, many are sure that sowing should be carried out in the ground in June.

Vegetative propagation can be carried out in several ways:

• cuttings.
• layering.

Cuttings are suitable only for perennial cloves. The stalk is picked up about 9 centimeters, during the period of late spring and early summer:

• The cut is done neatly under the knot.
• Tools are clean and sharp.
• The leaves are cut off at the bottom.
• Ready cuttings are placed in prepared soil, which must be sufficiently moist. If desired, create a greenhouse effect using a film or can.
• After 14-20 days, the first roots will appear.

Reproduction by layering is practically not used, since long stems are needed. If you decide to propagate in exactly the same way, the procedure is carried out as follows:

• On the underside, a small incision is made between the nodes.
• Cut down, the shoot is pinned to the soil.
• The treated part is sprinkled with earth.
• The soil is well moistened.

When the roots appear, the new plant is separated from the "mother", and transplanted into a new place where there is more space.

Also, carnation grass can be propagated by dividing the bush. The procedure is carried out in the spring (March), then flowering can be observed in the same year.

Like any garden flowers, carnation grass needs care. The main thing is to follow 2 basic rules:

• Application of fertilizers.
• Timely watering.

Too much moisture can kill the flowers, so be careful not to let the water stagnate.

When the bush is fully formed, its shoots are strong and powerful, and the flowers are not afraid of winter frosts. Therefore, it is not necessary to cover them for the winter.

Diseases and pests

Carnation grass is unpretentious, laborious care is not required. However, the plant can be susceptible to disease and pest attack. More vulnerable are those flowers that grow in greenhouses.

The first place where the disease can appear is from the neighbors. For example, carnations cannot be planted near tulips, otherwise it will absorb all their diseases. Another fact that prohibits the joint planting of such flowers, drugs to fight one plant will heal, another will be destroyed.

Diseases that are most common in carnation grass, their description:

• Fusarium. fungal disease that affects the vessels of flowers. It manifests itself in the yellowing of the foliage, but at the same time it does not crumble. In the initial stages, the buds open poorly, then they do not bloom at all. The root system and stems begin to rot. At high humidity, fungal spores appear on the stems, they are very small, and have pink shade. The cause of the disease is poor care. Fungal bacteria live in acidic soil. Therefore, it is so important to disinfect the soil before planting carnations. As a preventive measure, fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus are applied to the soil. At the first sign of a problem, the affected plant is removed from the site, and the soil and neighboring flowers are treated with fungicides.
• Alternariosis. It is also a fungal disease. Alternariosis appears on the foliage as olive spots near the veins. brown spots stems are affected, putrefactive processes begin. The disease arises from the soil in which there are diseased plants or their remains. The disease actively develops in hot and rainy weather. To avoid the disease, you need to provide the flowers with proper care: mulching, making potash and phosphate fertilizers, periodic transplantation. Before planting seeds, they are treated with fungicides.

Also, rust can occur from fungal diseases. It appears as brown swollen spots on the foliage.

In nature, there are no pests that would attack only carnation grass. Earwigs and bears are not averse to feasting on the roots and shoots of flowers. To avoid this, you should:

• In autumn, the soil is dug up well; due to the low temperature, almost all pests die.
• AT winter time set traps for bears.
• Dig a hole away from the flowers and fill it with manure. Insects gather in it for the winter. In the spring, the pit is dug up, and the pests are destroyed.
• If the above measures did not save your carnations from the invasion of the bear, it is worth preparing a concentrated soap solution and pouring them over the minks.

On a note! Soap solution is prepared from laundry soap.

Earwigs can be caught in a simple way: lay out wet grass on the boards. It is in such a place that pests hide from the scorching sun and heat.

Carnation grass is a close relative of garden carnation, but it is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to growth conditions. This is a ground cover perennial from the extensive genus of cloves. In horticultural cultivation, it is popular as a groundcover. In the wild, it captures a vast European range - from the Atlantic Ocean to the Urals. Found in India. Prefers to settle along the banks of reservoirs, in the steppes and on forest edges. Grass is classified as a wild-growing representatives, but due to its decorative effect, it is widely used in landscape design.

Description and popular varieties

cultivated varieties and wild species differ in the shape of flowers and leaves, color and growth. Carnation grass lives about 5-9 years. The bushes are small, 20–40 cm tall. The roots are superficial, grow on the sides. Stems creeping, tend to root during the growing season. Therefore, the plant is used for landscaping the territory, as a ground cover. The carnation is endowed with separate stems-peduncles and completely leafy.

The leaves are small, oblong-oval, ash-green color scheme. The flowers are five-petalled and, depending on the cultivar, vary in color: white, pink, scarlet, two-tone. Quite small, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, collected in group inflorescences. The petals expand from the base, at the ends - jagged. In the center of the flowers, seed pods with numerous fillings are formed.

Thanks to tireless breeding work there are more than 100 ornamental varieties. Like the wild ones, they are perennials. Their main advantages include the following:

• One bush gives numerous flowering.
• Plants have a dense deciduous composition.
• Don't need shelter winter period because they are frost resistant.
• Breeding representatives are resistant to viral and fungal diseases.
• Long flowering period - more than 45 days.

The most common varieties of carnation grass are shown in the table:

Variety name	Description
Diamond	Herbaceous perennials with small rich red flowers, about 1.5 cm in diameter. The foliage is dark green, densely covers the stem. A bluish coating is visible on the stems and leaves. Seeds planted in May germinate quickly. Blooms from July to autumn
Toronto	Petals of flowers of an unusual configuration - narrowed at the base, expanding upwards, with a serrated edge. The color is white on the sides, in the center - pink, with a dark cherry edging. The foliage is dense, emerald color. When densely planted, the plants form a continuous lawn. Flowering period: late June - early September
motley lawn	It is a plant assortment of multi-colored inflorescences: pink, purple, white, red, on one bush. The petals are tightly placed on top of each other, creating volume. Blooms profusely, up to three months
Splendens (Splendens)	Pretty hardy variety of grass carnation, profusely blooming with pale pink flowers
Albus	A snow-white variety, forms an airy meadow with an alternating pink inclusion. Used in mixborders
Arctic Fire (Arctic Fire)	The flowers are large, fragrant, snow-white, with a pink blur. In group plantings look spectacular
Flashing Light (Flashing Light)	They are used in contrasting compositions, as bright red carnations stand out favorably in any color neighborhood. Exquisite look, decorated with stones and fine gravel
sparkle	It has multiple pink carnations with a dark border along the radius of the center part. Pleases with an amazing aroma throughout the summer. Unpretentious in care
Maiden Pinks (Maiden Pinks)	Flowers are medium sized and fiery red.
Canta Libra	Hardy perennial about 15 cm high with numerous big flowers. Stems are straight. Propagated by self-seeding
Confetti	Dense branched bushes no more than 15 cm high. Studded with red small flowers with serrated-pinnate petals. Flowering is undulating, from May to October. They need little protection for the winter. Suitable for growing in rock gardens, along ponds, as a groundcover
White Red (White Red)	In mass planting, a solid pink-white carpet is created. Sods of small stature, 15–17 cm. The flowers are small, white, with a pink or raspberry core. Blooms from June to August. Use this dwarf variety as a groundcover or tapeworm, on rocky hills
Samos	Carnations of bright saturated tone, with dense narrow foliage of green color. Can be cultivated at home, in regular pots
Shrimp (Shrimp)	Spreading bushes of strong branching, 17–20 cm high. The leaves are green, with a blue veil and light pubescence. Flowers shrimp color, with a dark pink border. Petals serrated along the edge. Blooms brightly from early to late summer

All representatives are harmoniously combined in compositions with other flower cultures. A variety of colors allows you to create amazingly beautiful lawns. Due to the unpretentiousness in care and ease of propagation, carnation grass is valued in garden decoration.

Growing from seed

Usually annual and biennial specimens are grown from seeds. Can be planted immediately in open ground or for seedlings. In the first case, they wait for the onset of warm weather, without return night frosts. Approximately from mid-April to the end of May. The plant is frost-resistant, so it is possible to sow before winter. Seeds undergo natural stratification by cold and quickly germinate in spring.

Carnations are guaranteed to take root only in loose and nutritious soil with a slightly alkaline or neutral environment. It is better to select a site for landing on a small elevation so that there is no stagnant water. Dampness leads to root rot. Drainage is required, which is necessary for abundant flowering further. Coarse-grained sand or pebbles are suitable. soil with hyperacidity diluted with lime. The high content of organic matter in the composition is not welcome.

Flowers love light, so they are planted in an open area. Seeds are deepened by 1-2 cm, observing the interval between plantings of 10 cm.

Landing directly on the garden bed has a number of disadvantages:

• Clove seeds are very small and it is impossible to maintain uniformity.
• Seedlings have to be thinned out, which leads to more consumption. seed material compared to seedlings.
• Unstable temperature in spring period promotes the rapid growth of weeds that can crush young shoots.

Greenhouse germination saves seeds and prevents weeds from ruining the work at the very beginning. Seedlings begin to be engaged in March. The soil is used, the following composition: turf land, peat and some sand. You can purchase ready-made soil mixture with all the necessary nutrients. Agrotechnics for growing from seeds looks like this:

1. 1. Substrate is poured into specially prepared containers. Moisturize abundantly, spread the seeds over the surface, sprinkle with a layer of sand and cover with a film or glass.
2. 2. Until sprouts appear, adhere to temperature regime not lower than 17–18 °С. After the appearance of the shoots, they are moved to a cooler room, where the approximate temperature is 12–13 ° C.
3. 3. Watered two to three times a week under low light conditions. In general, moisturize as needed.
4. 4. Dense shoots appear in 10-15 days. When they reach a height of 2–3 cm, they dive. Approximate time for the procedure is the end of April.
5. 5. Before planting in open ground, prepare the soil. Make all the necessary additives: ash, sand, mineral and organic fertilizers. Given the long-term stay of grass in one place, a flower bed is immediately created in a sunny place.
6. 6. Pre-harden seedlings. They take it out into the air every day. Start with 5-10 minutes, gradually increasing the residence time. It is convenient to use the greenhouse.

Seedlings are planted on permanent place growing in groups of 6-8 pieces. This allows you to form beautiful bushes. It is recommended not to adhere to a specific landing pattern. Randomness will give naturalness to the flower bed. Make holes or long grooves, fill with water and distribute the seedlings. Optimal distance between them - 15–30 cm. After backfilling with earth, the bottom is mulched with grass. This reduces moisture evaporation.

To protect against gnawing pests, the garden bed around the perimeter is covered with spruce branches. When the plants get stronger, everything is removed.

Water as the top soil layer dries up. Regularly loosen and remove weeds.

Care

Both wild and cultivated grass is unpretentious and hardy. Adult landings in special care do not need, but the young are picky. They can be harmed by midday heat, dampness and abundant growth of weeds. Therefore, the first time after planting the seedlings are thoroughly controlled. Regularly water, weed and loosen.

For generous flowering from the second year of life, they start feeding with complex mineral compositions. They resort to pruning at the end of summer, after flowering. The spent flower stalks are shortened. For the winter, there is no particular need for shelter. Some gardeners, in order not to take risks, spud bushes before a cold snap and throw light material on top. This will help keep the snow out. With the first heat, the plant is opened and the root space is plowed.

reproduction

Carnation is well propagated by seeds. To grow a new plant identical to the parent, resort to vegetative way: layering or dividing the bush.

Since the herb quickly takes root through nodes on creeping shoots, reproduction by division is used more often. Adults actively grow on the sides, exposing the center. right time for the event - early spring. They choose a strong bush, dig it out along with the roots, and divide it into several components. They are seated in their places, mulched and looked after, as usual.

When layering rooting, in May - June, at the mother bush, several low-lying shoots are placed in earthen tubules. Fixed in one position, sprinkled with earth. Mulch to retain moisture. After the appearance of independent roots, they are separated from the source and deposited separately.

Another method of reproduction, no less effective, is cuttings. Held in late May or early June. The shoots are cut in such a way that a few leaves and two or three internodes remain on the surface. Planted in a mixture of perlite and sand, pre-moistened. Create greenhouse conditions by covering with a film.

Diseases and pests

Carnation grass is one of the disease-resistant plants. However, young plantings grown in greenhouse conditions are often affected by Alternaria and rust. Mature bushes in open field susceptible to attacks by harmful insects: aphids, spider mite, nematodes, caterpillars and slugs, earwigs, bear.

Inherent fungal pathologies, symptoms and methods of control are shown in the table:

Regular inspection of the vegetation will allow you to diagnose the lesion at an early stage. Then the flowers can be saved. caterpillars cabbage scoop, slugs and wood lice are removed manually. For spraying, prepare a garlic or onion solution. A decoction of wormwood helps. Watering with insecticidal solutions eliminates nematodes. Every year in the fall, they dig up the planting site, which kills all pests.

Carnation grass in gardening is used in different ways. It is good both in a separate flower bed design and in combined groups. Looks organically in Japanese-style gardens with rocky soil and on Alpine rollercoaster. It is used as a ground cover for long-term flowering. Multi-level compositions with carnations look original. Every year, breeders bring out new, more advanced varieties. Adapted to harsh weather conditions Russian climate it is the most sought after flowering perennial.

Growing from seed is the most common way to grow carnation grass. This plant can also be propagated by layering and root division.

The wild-growing carnation grass occupies a large area - the whole of Europe, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Urals, the eastern border of this plant is the valleys of the Yenisei, Angara and the coast of Lake Baikal. The flower can be found along the banks of rivers, in the steppes and in semi-dry forest glades. Grass feels great in some parts of India. This flower belongs to a large family of carnation plants of the genus Carnation.

European, Siberian and Indian wild varieties differ from each other in the size and shape of the flowers, their color, the height of the bushes and the shape of the leaves. But they all have common features.

1. Carnation grass, both wild and selective - perennial. A bush grown from a seed lives up to 5-9 years.
2. Wild-growing species easily tolerate low winter temperatures (in Siberia and in mountainous regions - up to minus 40 degrees).
3. Wild species grow on sandy and sandy loamy soils, in which there can be a lot of pebbles, on stony soils, in rock crevices. Flowers can grow in open steppe spaces and forest glades with low grass.
4. The height of a wild-growing grass is 20-40 cm.
5. Herb flowers have a characteristic appearance for carnation plants - the petals expand from the bed, their outer edges have a jagged, jagged shape. The color of the petals is pink, pale pink, red, hot pink, raspberry or carmine red. Flowers are collected in inflorescences.
6. Flowers have five petals.
7. The narrow oblong leaves are dark green, emerald green or bluish green and covered with a whitish bloom.
8. The plant produces a large number of small seeds, which are formed in a box in the center of the flower.
9. The wild carnation grass is propagated by seeds and layering.
10. The roots of the carnation grow to the sides, thanks to which the flower can also be strengthened on a thin soil layer on the rocks.
11. The plant has flower-bearing stems and stems that are covered with nothing but leaves.
12. The plant is resistant to fungal and viral diseases, only young shoots suffer from insect pests.

Carnation grass - cultivation and care

Comparison of wild and breeding varieties

Breeding varieties of cloves appeared a very long time ago. This undersized flower used in landscape design gardens and parks for more than one century. Amateur gardeners year after year selected and bred plants with an unusual color or shape of petals, abundantly flowering or large bushes.

Currently, breeders have bred hundreds of ornamental varieties of carnation grass. Breeding varieties are perennials in the same way as wild ones. cultivars have the following features.

1. Each bush produces many flowers.
2. Plants have denser foliage, some varieties have tall stems.
3. Landings do not require shelter in the winter, they are all frost-resistant.
4. Breeding varieties are resistant to viruses and fungi.
5. Cultivars are propagated by seeds, layering and root division.

Important! In Russia and the CIS countries, the most famous varieties are Brilliant, Allegory, Toronto, Flashing Light, Motley Lawn, Kanta Libra, Sparkle, Arctic Fire, Dark Red, Fresh Wind, Pink Diamond, Cupid, Venus, Mountain Dawn, Dolly Dolly. They differ in original coloring and are perfectly combined with others. flower plants and shrubs.

This perennial plant has small (up to 1.5 cm in diameter) flowers of deep red and carmine red. The central part of the flower has the same color.

The plant blooms profusely, inflorescences densely cover dark green foliage. Leaves and stems have a whitish or bluish coating. Seeds planted in the soil in late May or early summer quickly sprout. Brilliant blooms from July to mid-autumn.

Toronto grass carnation flowers have an unusual appearance. The five white feathery petals of the flower first widen and then taper slightly at the outer part, with a thin cherry red edging on the outer edges. A dark red stripe runs across each petal, the central part of the flower, from the strip to its center, is painted in a light cherry or pink color.

The foliage of the plant is dense and emerald green. This carnation feels great even in dense planting, blooms profusely and can create a continuous flower lawn. The flowering period begins at the end of June and lasts up to 40-48 days.

motley lawn

Each carnation bush of this variety is densely covered with dark red, burgundy, pink and white flowers. Flowering of plants is very plentiful, which creates a high decorative effect.

The flowers have five feathery petals, which are slightly superimposed on each other, which gives volume to the corolla. The lanceolate leaves and stems of the plant have a bright, saturated green coloring. A lawn with a carnation of this variety can bloom for up to 3 months.

Preparing the soil for carnation grass

Plants need a calcareous soil with a weak alkaline or neutral reaction. Water should not stagnate in the soil - this will lead to the formation of mold on the roots, and the bush may die. An abundance of water will lead to the growth of leaves and stems with poor flowering.

Slightly alkaline soil has an acidity (pH) of 8 to 8.5, this indicator can be determined in an agrotechnical laboratory (or independently using litmus paper). The calcareous content of the soil is determined using vinegar. On a lump of earth you need to drop a little diluted vinegar essence. If the earth foams and hisses, then lime is present in the composition. Soils with a neutral reaction have a pH of 5.6-6.

Important! Neutral and slightly alkaline soils are considered heavy. Most garden flowers do not grow well on such soils, but for grass grass they are the best, provided that water is well filtered through the soil.

For drainage, coarse sand, pebbles are added to the soil. The beds can also be raised, grooves can be dug around them, into which excess water will drain during rains or heavy watering. The soil should not be a large number organic fertilizers. If the earth has a strong alkaline reaction, then crushed gypsum is added. The alkalinity of the soil can be slightly reduced by deep plowing or digging with a full shovel bayonet.

How to grow carnation grass from seeds

Seeds can be sown in a prepared bed when the air temperature reaches +15 degrees. Planting seeds directly in the flower bed has a number of disadvantages.

1. Carnation grass seeds are very small (less than 1 mm), and it is difficult to sow them evenly in the furrows.
2. When sprouts appear on the bed, they will need to be thinned out. Thus, much will be spent large quantity seeds than when growing seedlings.
3. Seeds in the garden, due to the spring fluctuations in day and night temperatures, sprout more slowly than weeds. The latter may not allow the seeds to sprout.

Carnation grass Brilliant - seeds

On a note! Greenhouse conditions help the seeds to germinate quickly and strengthen in the ground. Planting seeds in containers with subsequent planting in the ground will not allow weeds to destroy the flowers. This saves seed.

For seedlings, fertilized garden soil is needed, to which peat and sand are added. Growing clove grass involves the following steps.

Step 1. Soil is poured into a box or container. It can be pre-calcined in the oven to destroy the bivostok and other insects, as well as kill the fungus.

Step 2 The soil is watered so that it is moist throughout the volume of the box.

Step 3 Seeds are sown in two ways. You can cut off the edge of the bag and sprinkle the seeds evenly over the surface of the earth. The second method is preferable: the seeds are poured onto a small sheet of paper and sown, shaking the sheet slightly over the planting box.

Step 4 Seeds are sprinkled with a layer of earth. The thickness of the soil should be from 1.5 to 3 mm, but no more. After that, the ground is well sprayed with water.

Step 5 The box is closed with a transparent lid (or tightened plastic wrap) and put on the windowsill.

Step 6 Watering seedlings is done as needed.

Step 7 Seeds of carnation grass sprout densely, so the sprouts, stretched 2-3 cm, are thinned out, leaving right amount seedlings. Sprouts appear in 9-14 days.

Step 8 In the garden, a sunny place is chosen in advance, in which water will not stagnate, and the soil is prepared. When choosing a place for flower beds, you need to consider that the grass is a perennial plant and will stay in one place for 5-9 years.

Step 9 As needed, sand, ash, mineral fertilizers or natural organic matter. The flower grower needs to achieve a slightly alkaline or neutral composition of the soil.

Step 10 The earth is deeply dug up and flower beds are formed.

Step 11 Holes or grooves are made in the flower beds, water is poured into them and sprouts are planted from the container. The distance between seedlings depends on the variety of carnation grass. Seed producers indicate on the pack at what distance plants should be planted (15-40 cm).

Step 12 The flower bed is carefully watered. If worth hot weather, the space between the sprouts can be covered with grass to retain moisture (make mulching).

Step 13 So that young juicy seedlings are not destroyed by rodents, flower beds around the perimeter can be protected with spruce branches or any thorny shrub. The spruce branches can be removed when the flowers grow up.

Step 14 In the following days, the flower beds are moderately watered as the earth dries.

Step 15 Carnation grass creates a continuous lawn, the bushes do not need to be formed. The flower bed is weeded as weeds grow.

Step 16 For the winter, flower beds and beds are not covered; breeding varieties winter well.

Important! Carnation - strong plant, which is not afraid of sunlight, wind and cold weather, but tender seedlings are best planted in the evening or on a cloudy day. Seeds in the ground can be sown in any weather. Seeds covered with a layer of earth are not afraid of frost and sudden spring snow.

Fertilizers can be added to the soil before flowering. They are necessary for the normal development and flowering of carnations.

Table. Fertilizers for slightly alkaline and neutral soils (for growing carnation grass).

How to collect seeds

The gardener who cares for the flower beds from time to time cleans the flower garden from dried, yellowed leaves, wilted petals, and leaves the right amount of flowers to collect seeds. In order to collect the seeds of the grass clove variety you like, you need to select large and healthy flowers in advance. The flower box by the time the seeds are collected should become yellowish, beige or brown (the color depends on the variety of grass). The petals should be completely dry by now.

Getting quality seeds is easy. But you need to remember that if the boxes are collected early, then the seeds will not ripen and will not sprout next year. If the grower does not collect the boxes on time, then the seeds will fall into the ground, where they are simply not visible (if the winter is warm enough, then they next spring will sprout "self-sowing").

Important! It must be remembered that if there are long autumn rains, then the ripened seeds must be removed in time. From the abundance of water, the flowers can begin to rot.

The boxes are cut with scissors, substituting a cup or container. Then the crop is dried for several weeks, the seeds are removed from the boxes, put them in paper bag and store in a dark place. Seeds should not be stored at negative temperatures. Temperatures above + 10-12 degrees can lead to drying and death of the seed. The room should not be too humid - in this case, mold or fungus may appear on the seeds.

This is unpretentious plant can be grown not only summer cottages but also in city parks. Grass goes well with many flowers and shrubs and is used in creating landscape compositions. In artificial landscapes, carnation grass looks organically and naturally in Japanese garden stones, on plant islands of rockeries and on alpine slides.

Carnation grass - undersized plant, it is also planted on complex, multi-level flower beds. This flower can be grown in place of lawn grass (some landscapers alternate lawn grass with low-growing perennial flowers).

Undersized carnations perfectly set off the harsh appearance of fences and pillars made of "wild" stone. Flowers can be planted along garden paths, among flat stone slabs, carnation bushes will serve as a natural border for paths from decorative tiles. Every year, planting grass carnations look better and more natural, since almost all varieties are perennials.

Once every few years, breeders offer flower growers new varieties of flowering plants, and undersized carnations are no exception. This plant is well adapted to the weather conditions of Russia and CIS countries. Planting carnation grass seeds is simple and subject to simple requirements agricultural technology allows you to grow wonderful flowers.

Video - Carnation grass (Dianthus deltoids) white

Carnation grass is a cousin of the common garden carnation. Catchy flowers with a light border of petals will decorate any flower bed. Grass, unlike its relative, is unpretentious. The plant can fully develop in a completely different places without special conditions, caring care.

The life of the flower is 4-7 years, while transplantation is not required. The stems stretch upwards, reach a length of 20 cm. Inflorescences, in accordance with the variety, can vary from rich red to pale white. The rhizomes are rather short. The plant feels equally good in the forest, field, highlands. Since the grass is easily adaptable, planting it will bring a minimum of problems associated with care and bring maximum joy from the appearance of a well-groomed flower bed, vegetable garden. The flowering period lasts about 45 days, followed by propagation by self-sowing.

View features

perennial herbaceous plant Carnation grass (Dianthus deltoides) is a typical European species that is easy to meet on forest edges, clearings and outskirts of forest lawns. Willingly grows on sandy soils, prefers hills, hillsides and river banks.

Loose bushes swaying in the wind are formed by graceful vegetative and flowering shoots up to 40 cm high, with slight pubescence. The leaves are small, elongated, in the spring with a distinct bluish bloom, later becoming more and more green. Thin roots form loose sods, stems tend to take root at the nodes.

The flowers are small, 1.5–2 cm in diameter, five-petalled, corrugated or smooth, with a serrated edge. The color is varied - white, pink, crimson, red, two-tone. Showy flowers are given by an expressive inner border in the form of a ring at the base of the petals. Flowering is plentiful, lasts from June to early September. Seeds begin to ripen in July, plants give self-sowing.

A remarkable advantage of the species is frost resistance, strong young bushes tolerate temperature drops to -35–40 ° C.

A lovely unpretentious perennial carnation, over the centuries of cultivation in culture, it has gained many loyal fans. Its outstanding decorative qualities and durability attracted breeders, wonderful original varieties, including evergreen forms that are especially good for rockeries.

Varieties and types of carnation grass

Carnation is a perennial pinnate - a terry variety of a plant. Her dense low bushes play bright colors, giving the flower bed an unusual look. The flowering of this variety lasts for several months, which will allow you to enjoy the aroma of cloves throughout the summer. A variety of colors and a compact form allows the plant to be used to create an alpine slide.

Perennial Dutch carnation (garden) is distinguished by its continuous flowering, which begins in June and continues until frost. Obtained by crossing various kinds carnation.

Perennial carnation Shabo - a variety with large flowers of various shades. Terry inflorescences are very diverse, the petals are stacked in fancy buds that have wavy or corrugated edges. The plant has a captivating aroma.

Turkish carnation is a type of perennial carnation, quite unpretentious variety. large flowers combine several colors - this is the main difference Turkish cloves from other species.

Growing carnation herbs from seeds

Grass seeds are planted in the ground, waiting for good weather, when the cold passes. Sow from mid-April until the end of May. In addition, the plant is not afraid of cold weather and negative temperatures, so it is quite acceptable to sow before winter: the seeds will undergo natural stratification during the winter and seedlings will appear very quickly in early spring.

The optimal distance between rows when planting is about 10 cm, the embedment depth is 1-2 cm.

The distance in the row is also left at least 10 cm.

The soil should be light, with low acidity, well loosened. Ensuring soil drainage is the key to full-fledged flowering of carnations. Stagnation of water can destroy the plant, cause root rot, stem damage, and fungal infections. In winter, grass grass does not need shelter, as it is frost-resistant.

How to collect seeds

The gardener who cares for the flower beds from time to time cleans the flower garden from dried, yellowed leaves, wilted petals, and leaves the right amount of flowers to collect seeds. In order to collect the seeds of the grass clove variety you like, you need to select large and healthy flowers in advance. The flower box by the time the seeds are collected should become yellowish, beige or brown (the color depends on the variety of grass). The petals should be completely dry by now. Getting quality seeds is easy. But you need to remember that if the boxes are collected early, then the seeds will not ripen and will not sprout next year.

If the grower does not collect the boxes on time, then the seeds will fall into the ground, where they are simply not visible (if the winter is warm enough, they will sprout “self-sowing” next spring). Collecting clove seeds Important! It must be remembered that if there are long autumn rains, then the ripened seeds must be removed in time. From the abundance of water, the flowers can begin to rot. The boxes are cut with scissors, substituting a cup or container. Then the crop is dried for several weeks, the seeds are removed from the boxes, put in a paper bag and stored in a dark place. Seeds should not be stored at negative temperatures. Temperatures above + 10-12 degrees can lead to drying and death of the seed. The room should not be too humid - in this case, mold or fungus may appear on the seeds.

Carnation grass in landscape design

This unpretentious plant can be grown not only in summer cottages, but also in city parks. Grass goes well with many flowers and shrubs and is used in creating landscape compositions. In artificial landscapes, carnation grass organically and naturally looks in a Japanese rock garden, on plant islands of rockeries and on alpine slides. In landscape design, carnation is widely used in landscaping, it is an essential component in gardens. continuous flowering, flowerbeds, mixborders, rabatka Carnation grass is a low-growing plant, it is also planted in multi-level flowerbeds that are complex in design. This flower can be grown in place of lawn grass (some landscapers alternate lawn grass with low growing perennials).

Undersized carnations perfectly set off the harsh appearance of fences and pillars made of "wild" stone. Flowers can be planted along garden paths, among flat stone slabs, carnation bushes will serve as a natural border for decorative tile paths. Every year, planting grass carnations look better and more natural, since almost all varieties are perennials. Carnation grass in landscape design Once every few years, breeders offer flower growers new varieties of flowering plants, and undersized carnation is no exception. This plant is well adapted to the weather conditions of Russia and CIS countries. Planting carnation grass with seeds is simple and, subject to the simple requirements of agricultural technology, allows you to grow wonderful flowers.

Care rules

Caring for this type of carnation is not burdensome at all. It is required to carry out rare watering and fertilize the plant several times during the season mineral supplements and humus.

The winter hardiness of the grass eliminates the need to cover the flower, but it is fraught with another danger that must be remembered. Rodents, big gourmets, are happy to refresh themselves with stems and rhizomes. There are two ways to avoid damage to the bushes. The first is to place baits stuffed with poison near the flowers. The second is to cover the carnation with prickly twigs. The second option is preferable if you have a dog. After all, it is easier to avoid a dangerous situation when the animal eats the bait.

Grass does without weeding. It covers the ground with such a dense cover that it leaves no chance for weeds to germinate.

Reproduction features

Grass is a perennial plant, the reproduction of which occurs by cuttings, seeds, as well as by dividing the bushes.

• They are engaged in cuttings in the last days of May, in early June.
• Shoots are cut under the leaf node, placed in a soil mixture with sand or perlite to prevent the occurrence of fungus.
• Need to ensure high humidity air, so the plants are covered with a film.

Overgrown bushes are best divided in March, then the plants will begin to bloom in the same year.

Propagation by seeds is described above. One of the advantages of the plant is self-seeding after re-flowering. Self-sowing in many ways facilitates care, relieves for several years of worrying about planting flowers.

Disease prevention Pest control

Serious damage to the carnation is caused by thrips, nematodes, and bears.
To protect annually late autumn thoroughly dig up the ground so that pests freeze out during the cold season. Deep loosening of the soil destroys the underground passages created by insects, which makes it difficult for them to find food.

It is recommended that in preparation for wintering, collect and burn all plant debris on the site. Do not leave heaps of weeds between the beds after weeding. Be sure to use special protective equipment. The preparations must be alternated so that the pests do not have time to adapt to the substances.

Grass is susceptible to infection by viruses and fungi. It is forbidden to plant a plant next to tulips that will “share” their diseases with her. Drained soil is the best prevention of fungal infections, an abundance of moisture leads to rotting and death of cloves.

The most common diseases

Alternariosis. Fungal attack. Signs: round brownish spots, cover the leaves with a dark green, almost black bloom. Inflorescences wither, the plant dies.

Fusarium. Fungal attack. Signs: the leaves turn yellow and wither, but remain on the stem, the stem itself acquires a reddish-brown hue, its root part rots. Flowers may not fully open.

Rust. Fungus. Signs: stems, leaves seem to be covered with real rust, red-brown swellings with a dirty yellow spots around. Save the plant by cutting diseased leaves and spraying it with a fungicide.

Mottling. It appears in the spring. Inflorescences lose their usual shape, the leaves become stained. Why does mottling occur? The answer has not yet been found, but practice shows that lilac can serve as a source of infection.