The home gardens of many gardeners are filled with a variety of garden plants that bloom from the onset of spring warmth to the very first autumn frosts. Strict and graceful, multi-color and one-color, they look great on alpine slides and ordinary flower beds. Each of these plants needs special care. Among this huge variety, flowers from the numerous order of carnations deserve attention, suitable for creating magnificent compositions in landscape design.
The article provides information about a herbaceous plant for open ground - sand carnation.
Distribution and habitat
The European variety grows in Ciscaucasia, the European part of Russia and Central Europe.
Prefers open pine forest sands of forest areas, growing abundantly anddeveloping in lighter places: in glades, forest edges, clearings and juniper wastelands, forming rather dense communities (40 cm in diameter). They are least common under the canopy of trees.
Sand carnation, which will be discussed further, belongs to the northern European species. She prefers sandy places, meadows, dry forests and pine forests. You can meet her on poor soils along the banks of rivers, rivers and tributaries. This plant does not like dampness.
General characteristics of the Mediterranean beauty
Garden carnation is a perennial herbaceous plant, characterized by beautiful flowering and unique aroma. This group consists of many species. Sandy carnations stand out among them (the photo is presented in the article), pinnate, grass, lush grayish-blue, etc.
The knotted stem of this plant has a blue or light gray tint. Paired leaves are elongated, evenly scattered along the entire length of the stem, which reaches a height of 40-60 cm. They form bushes with a rather underdeveloped root system with a depth of 10 to 20 centimeters. Flowers, depending on the variety, can be different in color and shape. They may consist of one or more rows of petals with dissected or smooth oval edges. Corolla five-petalled. Inflorescences may differ in the length of the peduncle. A terry flower looks impressive.
Garden carnation inflorescences come in a variety of colors, and they can be both multi-color and one-color, but delicate pastels prevailcolors. Among the varieties there are also multicolor inflorescences that look very impressive in flower beds. In autumn, seed pods filled with seeds form on plants.
Carnation has many species and varieties with distinctive features and characteristics. Below is a more detailed description of the sand carnation.
General Description
This miniature plant is quite unpretentious. It has very beautiful pinnate-fringed flowers. Each stem, which ranges from 10 to 30 centimeters in height, bears several flowers.
The bushes of the plant easily tolerate transplantation.
Sand carnation (photo and description is presented below) is widely used in landscape design when decorating borders, rock gardens, rocky areas and supporting walls.
Features
- Perennials form dense tufts, leaves densely arranged on short shoots.
- Narrow and linear leaves with a bluish tint are located on erect shoots.
- Fragrant flowers up to 3 centimeters in diameter have white or pink petals.
- Flowering occurs from July to September, reproduction is mostly produced by seeds, but you can also use the vegetative method (ineffective).
- A distinctive feature of the sand carnation is a flower whose petals are divided into filamentous lobes that look like a thread fringe.
- On the outer side of the petals there are hairs and dots or one speck of green.
Rarely, but sometimes you can see carnation fruiting. This is due to the fact that not all insects, but only long-proboscis insects, can pollinate sand carnation flowers.
One of the most common varieties in floriculture is Nostalgie. This plant grows up to 30 cm in height, the flowers are painted white. Petals are fringed with yellow in the central part. June-July is the most abundant flowering time. The flower has a pleasant rich aroma.
Reproduction and cultivation of sand cloves
Clove seeds should be planted after spring frosts. The best time is May. The distance between seeds should be about 1 cm, and between rows - 10 cm. Some gardeners sow before winter (at the end of October). Before planting, prepare the beds in advance. The plant is transferred to a permanent place in early summer or early autumn, depending on the variety and the natural characteristics of the region.
Before planting the seeds, stratification should be done by laying them in wet sand. You need to keep them in a warm room for about a week and about two weeks in fresh cool air. Only after that they should be sown for growing seedlings. Growing sand cloves from seeds is a simple process, but there are some nuances. If planting carnations is planned in late spring, then seeds for seedlings at home can be planted in early March.
The order of sowing seeds and growing seedlings
- Preparationa mixture consisting of sand, soddy soil, peat or some other nutrient soil.
- Ignition of the prepared mixture to kill parasites.
- Planting seeds in a container with prepared soil and powdering them with a layer of sand a few millimeters thick.
- Creating a greenhouse effect (the pots are covered with a film in which holes are pierced for the passage of oxygen).
- Creating the optimal temperature for seed germination (approximately +18 degrees).
- Decrease in temperature to 12 degrees when the first sprouts appear.
- Creating good lighting in the room (highlighting with a phytolamp and a fluorescent lamp will also benefit).
- Moderate watering (an excess of moisture can damage the plant with a black leg).
- Dive seedlings after the appearance of at least 2 leaves (distance between plants - 3 X 4 cm).
With the advent of April, the plants should be moved to separate containers, leaving the root neck on the surface. When five leaves appear, the growth point is slightly pinched. From the same month, the carnation should begin to harden, but be sure to protect it from drafts.
Care
Sand carnation needs special conditions for growing, which require minimal plant care. As with most flowers and garden plants, weeds must be periodically weeded for carnations, and watering must be done on time. During a period of active growth,apply fertilizer. Complex mineral fertilizers or humus are suitable as top dressing. If there is a variety with long and thin stems, they should be tied up.
Carnations love sunny areas, do not tolerate dampness and stagnant water. They can grow in poor soils, but feel better in fertilized areas with neutral acidity. To reduce acidity, dolomite flour can be added to the soil, which saturates it with magnesium. Does not tolerate the plant and heavy soil very well. To make it easier, you can add river sand or peat, otherwise the carnation will not bloom.
Fertilizer is desirable to apply just before planting and during active growth. You should also pay attention to the fact that the composition of the fertilizer does not include chlorine, as it can destroy the plant.
Useful properties
This plant has many useful properties. Sand cloves are used in folk medicine in the treatment of heart diseases, as well as in dry coughs and other colds. This plant is also useful for bleeding.
Usually, the entire ground part of the plant is used for the preparation of potions: leaves, stems, flowers. You need to collect them during the flowering period.
The oil contained inside the flower is of particular benefit. Its main properties are antispasmodic, antibacterial. For effective treatment of colds, inhalation can be done using a few drops of clove oil. Also, when applying a cotton swab dipped in oil to an aching tooth and other sore spots,you can get an analgesic effect. With problems with the gastrointestinal tract, with various skin diseases and with weak immunity, the liver, clove oil can also provide effective help.
In conclusion
It is important to note that the use of cloves for food and medicinal purposes is best freshly dried, as after long-term storage the plant will acquire a rather unpleasant odor and all its beneficial properties are lost.
Carnation will not only help to improve the body, but also decorate any adjoining area. And even beginners in floriculture will be able to cope with its cultivation.
