SEEDS and BULBS

Carnations grow best in bright and sunny places, where they give us many flowers. It is not afraid of winter and is a cold-resistant plant, as it can withstand sub-zero temperatures. On the contrary, the very hot and dry summers bother her. Temperatures above 35 degrees can weaken the plant and dry it out. The carnation prefers rich, fertile soil with good water drainage, as it is sensitive to excessive moisture and its roots can rot. Depending on the type of carnation, we choose the appropriate type of pot and planter. For tall varieties of carnation, we need pots with a height of at least 30 cm. For the lowest varieties, pots with a depth of 20 cm are sufficient.

There are over 300 varieties of carnation. Cultivated and wild varieties of carnations, scented and unscented carnations, tall and short, some creeping and some erect, ideal for cut flower. More well-known varieties are the common carnation, the Chinese carnation, the poet’s carnation, while a special mention deserves to be made of the wild carnation. Common carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus): The carnation we remember traditionally decorating our grandparents’ yards. It has grey-green foliage and a wide variety of flower colors such as white, pink, purple, orange and red. There is a wide range of varieties of the common carnation to choose from both in height, from 20 cm to 70 cm and configuration from upright branches to lateral ones. Poets’ carnation (Dianthus barbatus): Dianthus barbatus is a low-growing herbaceous plant that reaches a height of 20-25 cm and produces many small flowers with distinctive fringe-like split petals. The flowers are white, pink or red, while some are bi-colored. They usually live for 1-2 years but multiply easily as the seed falls from the flowers. Chinese carnation (Dianthus chinensis): The Chinese carnation is a native plant of the mountains of southern Europe that reaches a height of 30-70 cm. Its flowers are presented in a dense cluster of up to 30 flowers together at the top of the stems, they are 2-3 cm in diameter with five petals which display characteristic serrated edges. We find them in various colors such as white, pink, red, purple and various designs.