Giant Flower Carnation 
Field -Grown ... Hardy Rugged Plants 
Cultural Directions for Carnations 
Easy to Grow if These Simple Rules Are Followed 
PREPARATION OF SOIL. The Carnation will tol- 
erate wide range of soil condition and acidity, but it 
must have good drainage. The PH if the soil is best 
between 6.0 and 7.0. The plant requires plenty of or- 
ganic 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 surface 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 
base. 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 top- 
ping, the plants should be provided with some sort of 
support. Individual wire loop supports are most com- 
monly 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 conditons 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, feeding is a year around procedure after its final 
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topping. Nitrogen stimulates stem and leaf growth; phos- 
phoric acid and potash build up sturdy, firm growth of 
plants with large flowers, good substance, and good color. 
For this reason, application of complete fertilizers is rec- 
ommended at the rate of between 2 and 4 pounds per 
100 square feet at every two months intervals. 
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 
must start propagating new plants from cuttings some 
time or another. Best cuttings are produced about mid- 
way on a flowering stem, as indicated (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 surround it, are held firmly and severed by outward- 
downward pull (see first part in the illustration). 
TRIMMING OF FOLIAGE. According to pathologists, 
the plant food is manufactured in the leaves and trim- 
ming reduces the area in which food is manufactured. 
Also, essential plant elements must be used to heal any 
wound. Furthermore, all wounds will become a source 
of infection; therefore, only leaves of the cuttings com- 
ing in contact with the rooting media are removed. 
ROOTING AIDS. Use Rootone or Hormodin No. 1 ac- 
cording to directions. Do not allow cuttings to become 
wilted. Submerging in water is one way of refreshing 
wilted cuttings. 
ROOTING MEDIA. Use either clean medium coarse 
sand or “Vermiculite.” The latter is better. 
CARE OF CUTTINGS. Take an ordinary plant flat, 
fill it with “Vermiculite,” and level it off. Then soak it 
with water thoroughly and pound the surface firmly with 
a 2x3 piece of board. Make a straight groove about one 
inch deep with a small mason’s trowel or flat blade of 
some sort. Then place the cuttings about one-half inch 
apart. When a row is completed, tap the base of the 
cuttings firmly again with the board. Then another 
groove is made about three inches away. Thus, an ordi- 
nary flat holds about 200 cuttings. They are thoroughly 
watered overhead when finished and then shaded for a 
while from direct sunlight, but not too heavily. Remem- 
ber always that light is necessary for normal function 
of a plant. Heavy draft is also detrimental. It dries off 
the foliage too much. 
It normally takes about four weeks to root a Carna- 
tion cutting when the termperature is right. When roots 
are about one-half to one inch long, the plants need trans- 
planting. Young cuttings are transplanted in “Vita- 
Bands,” using regular sandy loam as the potting soil. 
No soil mixture is required when “Vita Bands” are em- 
ployed, as these bands are chemically treated to nourish 
young plants. In about six to eight weeks, the plant is 
ready to set out. 
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