Giant Flower Carnations 
Field-Grown ... Hardy Rugged Plants 
Cultural Directions for Carnations 
Easy to Grow if These Simple Rules are Followed 
PREPARATION OF SOIL. The Carnation will tolerate wide 
ranges of soil condition and acidity but it must have good drain- 
age. The pH of the soil is best between 6.0 and 7.0. The plant 
requires plenty of organic matter, so liberal amounts of well rotted 
manure are spaded into the soil. In addition to this, about 5 lbs. of 
either bonemeal or superphosphate is required per 100 square feet 
of ground. If an extreme acid condition is encountered, a light 
sprinkling of agricultural lime or wood ashes would be beneficial. 
TREATMENT OF PURCHASED PLANTS. Our plants come in 
“Vita-bands” as in the illustration. When they are received, the 
bands are removed and set out with the soil around the roots 
intact. Carnations like full sunlight and young plants should be 
spaced about 15 inches apart. They should be watered thoroughly 
after planting, but no further watering is required until the sur- 
face shows signs of drying. 
STOPPING. Plants are first topped when they are three or four 
inches high. The object of this topping is to encourage young 
plants to become bushy around the bases. The best method is to 
pull out the center with the right hand while gripping the plant 
firmly with the left. More stems will arise by this procedure than 
when the top is merely broken off. Centers of new growths are 
further topped occasionally until a bushy plant is assured. 
STAKING. Almost simultaneously with the last topping, the 
plants should be provided with some sort of support. Individual 
wire loop supports are most commonly used. 
DISBUDDING. When buds become sufficiently large, all side 
buds are removed, thus leaving a single bud to a stem. 
WATERING. Very wet or very dry soil conditions are both 
detrimental to support a vigorous, healthy growth of Carnations. 
Although in Winter they will stand being kept fairly dry much 
better than on the wet side. 
FEEDING. Since the Carnation is an ever-blooming flower, feed- 
ing is a year around procedure after its final topping. Nitrogen 
stimulates stem and leaf growth; phosphoric acid and potash build 
up sturdy, firm growth of plants with large flowers, good sub- 
stance, and good color. For this reason, application of complete 
fertilizers is recommended at the rate of between 2 to 4 pounds 
per 100 square feet at every two months intervals. 


CARNATION PLANT IN “VITA-BAND” 
DISEASE CONTROL. 
1. Rust. Easily controlled with Fermate, Bordeaux mixture, 
or Botano dust. 
2. Septoria leafspot causes purple blotches on the leaves. 
Same control as for rust. 
3. Yellows and Mosaics are virus diseases. Since aphids 
spread viruses, they should be controlled. 
INSECT CONTROL. 
1. Aphids and Red Spider. Controlled with sprays such as 
“Vapotone,” etc. 
2. Thrips. Causes white spots on flowers and may cause tips 
of shoots to stick together. Controlled with DDT dust or 
sprays. 
Propagation of New Plants 
In order to grow Carnations successfully, a person has to start 
propagating new plants from cuttings some time or another. Best 
cuttings are produced about midway on a flowering stem, as indi- 
cated (A and B) in the illustration. The length of the cutting should 
be about three to four inches long. The growth (C) is allowed to 
grow into a flowering stem. 
The procedure of taking slips or cuttings is rather unique in 
Carnations. The ones shown in the illustration are called ‘‘heel’’ 
cuttings because the shoots are severed by the “heel” or node of a 
main stem. The cutting, and leaf surrounding it, are held firmly 
and severed by outward-downward pull (see first part in the illus- 
tration). 
TRIMMING OF FOLIAGE. According to pathologists, the plant 
food is manufactured in the leaves and trimming reduces the area 
in which food is manufactured. Also, essential plant elements mus’ 
be used to heal any wound. Furthermore, all wounds will become 
a source of infection; therefore, only leaves of the cuttings coming 
in contact with the rooting media are removed. 
pee Loe 
