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Perpetually Flowering Carnations
link to article for absolute beginners
Cultivation.
Plants only grow true to form from cuttings and certainly beginners will want to purchase plants from specialist nurseries (see links page). On arrival pot into 31/2 in pots. Much advice is given regarding composts. I favour a peat based multipurpose compost with added sharp sand and perlite or vermiculite. To this I add a few limestone chippings and a carnation base fertiliser. (I am sure experienced members will more detailed advice in the pages of the “Forum”).
When repotting the old surface should always be aprox.1/4in higher than the new compost level. It is disastrous to plant too deeply. From 31/2 in pots I move to 2 litre, then 4 litre, then 71/2 litre. (I still work in metric and Imperial). Obviously other sizes could be used. Pot on when the roots fill the pot but before getting pot bound.
PF’s and sprays require “stopping” to produce more than one flower stem. When 9-10 pairs of leaves are visible the top is broken out leaving a stem with 4-6 pairs of leaves. It is best to this in the morning when the stem is more turgid. At each leaf pair a shoot will break. (The plant is “stopped and broken”). Bought plants may be a single stem, or stopped or stopped and broken. A few weeks after stopping (depending on the time of year) when each stem has 8-9 pairs of leaves there is the option of stopping again (second stop) again leaving 4-5 pairs of leaves per stem. This will delay flowering but will increase the number of flowering stems. If a succession of flowers is required only a few stems should be stopped (a stop and a half), always reducing the strongest growths.
Plants should be supported with a cane and preferably wire carnation supports of which there are a number of designs. Avoid bunching the shoots too tightly together. They need air to circulate around them.
As the stems elongate a flower bud forms at the end. In addition smaller flower buds emerge from the upper leaf joints. With PF’s these should be removed, again preferably in the mornings. It is quite a relaxing job. (For spray carnations the exact opposite procedure is performed i.e. remove the terminal bud and leave all the side shoots).
Blooms can be picked after they show colour or when in full bloom. Do not leave dead flowers on the plant. Remove the stem down to 5-6 pairs of leaves. To maintain flowering all year round a minimum temperature of 15 degrees C is required. Plants will survive in a cold greenhouse but will stop flowering in the cold months. Whenever possible ventilate the greenhouse. A small electric fan helps air circulate.
In the summer months ventilate freely and use greenhouse shading. On very hot days damp down the floor. In summer water freely and feed growing plants weekly with liquid Growmore and flowering plants with tomato feed. In the winter water sparingly letting the compost dry between watering and feed infrequently. Avoid splashing the leaves especially in winter to reduce the chance of fungal disease.
Healthy plants will be less prone to disease. Rust is a common problem and spraying with a systemic fungicide will treat but also help prevent the trouble. Red spider mite is a common foe. Regular spraying with a systemic insecticide particularly late spring and early summer will treat if not prevent. This will also control Tortrix moth which can be a problem (particularly if you have a privet hedge). Recent EU changes in legislation regarding pesticides and fungicides make it impossible to provide specific guidance.
Plants will only come true from cuttings. With bottom heat they can be taken at any time of year. However Aug – Sept and Nov – Mar are the best months. Ideally use a “mother plant” i.e. a plant not allowed to flower. However most amateurs will want to propagate from flowering plants. Use only shoots from the lower part of the stem (7-10th pair of leaves below the calyx). Cuttings of higher shoots will not form bushy plants. A well drained compost should be used 50% peat / 50% sand or perlite. Small pots can be used or three cuttings in a 31/2in half pot. ( With the latter make sure they are potted on individually before the roots intertwine). Mist with a sprayer 3-4 times a day. They will have rooted when the leaves start to grow. Pot on as described above.
Happy growing! Please make comments and share useful tips on the forum page.
Monthly Reminders, Perpetual-Flowering Carnations
January
Remove old and decaying leaves from plants and scarify surface
soil to remove moss. Take cuttings. Sow perpetual-flowering carnation seeds, and those of the
Marguerite carnations to be grown for cut flowers. Soil
temperature should be around 13°C (55°F). Water only when absolutely necessary. Take care to avoid
splashing.
February
Apply limestone dressing to older plants.
Remove dead and decaying leaves.
Pot rooted cuttings and continue taking cuttings.
Sow all kinds of carnation seeds, including Marguerite type and
bedding plants. Soil temperature, 13°C (55°F). Water carefully to avoid splashing, and only when absolutely necessary. Spray against pests and diseases. Continue taking cuttings. Support plants using canes and wire hoops.
Repot autumn-rooted plants into 15-cm (6-in) pots and one-year-old plants into 20- or 23-cm (8- or 9-in) pots.
Stop young plants, leaving five or six pairs of leaves.
Transplant or pot seedlings and rooted cuttings.
Water plants carefully and ventilate freely in good weather.
Give older plants in final pots one high-nitrogen feed.
Spray against pests and diseases.
Continue to stop young plants.
Plants need more water this month.
On warm days, spray pots and paths in the greenhouse, but not
late in the day—foliage should be dry before nightfall. Sunshine will cause temperatures to rise; ventilate freely to keep a cool atmosphere; maintain 7°C (45°F) at night. Keep plants supported with canes and hoops. Disbud as plants become ready. Spray against pests and diseases.
Heating should now be discontinued, but be prepared to
resume should frost threaten. Ventilate freely on warm days. Repot young plants from 8-cm (3-in) to 15-cm (6-in) pots. Spray pots and paths to maintain a cool greenhouse atmosphet Keep plants supported with canes and hoops. Continue disbudding and stopping. Stop young plants before they become too large. Spray against pests and diseases.
June
Shade greenhouse.
Continue to final-pot young plants.
Continue disbudding, supporting plants.
Spray pots and paths to keep greenhouse cool, and ventilate
freely. Much watering needed now. Stop young plants when growing freely. Spray against pests and diseases.
July
Keep plants well supported and continue disbudding.
Stop young plants when they become ready.
Feed plants to keep them growing steadily without check.
Final-pot all plants still in small pots.
Spray pots and paths and ventilate freely.
Inspect plants regularly and do not allow them to dry out.
Spray against pests and diseases.
August
Keep plants well supported and continue disbudding.
Spray pots and paths and ventilate freely.
Repot strong healthy plants into 20- or 23-cm (8- or 9-in) pots
to flower another season.
Feed established plants and do not allow plants to dry out. Spray against pests and diseases; keep a close watch for signs of
red spider mite.
September
Continue disbudding.
Damp down less frequently; make sure foliage is dry by
evening.
Ventilate freely when conditions allow. Remove shading from glass.
Dust against pests and diseases.
Pick off dead leaves and flowers, but do not drop them where
they may become infected with mildew or botrytis. Feed established plants for steady growth.
October
Commence heating greenhouse to maintain 7°C (45°F) minimum.
Water early m the day, taking care to avoid splashing Ventilate freely by day in good weather. Reduce ventilation m
bad weather, but not completely. Dust against pests and diseases. Apply final feed to mature plants.
November
Ventilate freely on fine days, and reduce in bad weather, but
not completely. Water only when really necessary. Start taking cuttings. Clean glass with domestic bleach. Dust against pests and diseases.
December
Take cuttings. Pot rooted cuttings into 8-cm (3-in) pots Scarify surface of established plants to remove moss. Keep plants clean by picking off dead leaves. Ventilate judiciously in spells of pleasant weather. Water carefully to avoid splashing. Treat pests and diseases by dusting or fumigating.
