Chinese carnation, a flower plant suitable for beginners

The Chinese carnation is a pretty composite flower

Who has not ever seen the Chinese carnation? It is a small plant that can be kept in a pot throughout its life, or if you prefer, in the garden together with other specimens. In addition, it is so easy to care that even children will enjoy it.

So I don’t go into the introduction any further, because I want you to know what its characteristics are so that it is much easier for you to identify it, and of course the care it requires to always be perfect.

Origin and characteristics

The flowers of the tagetes can be of a single color or of several

Our protagonist is a plant that, despite its common names, is native of Mexico. It belongs to the botanical genus Tagetes, and is popularly called African carnation, Indian carnation, carnation, Indian carnations, Indian rose, damask or damask, Chinese carnation, Turkish carnation and of course Chinese carnation. There are 47 accepted species, of the 151 described, one of the best known being the raised roofs and patula tagetesBoth plants are ideal to have in pots or in the garden during the spring and summer season.

It is a plant that, depending on the variety, can grow as an annual or perennial herb or as a shrub. The stems are thin or robust, highly branched. The leaves are opposite in the lower part, opposite or alternate in the upper part, and in all cases simple and whole to pinnately divided or compound, with entire or serrated margins.

The flowers appear in cymose or solitary capitulescences that measure about 2-5cm, and that are of very cheerful colors.: yellow, orange, red, or bicolor. The fruit is an achene (dried fruit whose seed is not attached to the inner wall) elongated and thin, with bristles and / or scales.

What are their cares?

Tagetes patula is a kind of Chinese carnation

If you dare to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

It is important that you place your Chinese carnation outside, in full sun. This way you can grow well and flourish.

Earth

  • Flower pot: universal culture substrate without or mixed with 20% perlite. You can get the first here! and the second in this link.
  • the garden: the type of soil is indifferent as long as it has good drainage.

Irrigation

Irrigation has to be frequent during the warmest months of the year, but rather scarce the rest. A) Yes, it will usually be watered 3-4 times a week during the summer, and 1-2 times a week the rest. Anyway, I insist, this is just a general rule: the frequency of irrigation will depend on the climate (you have to water more the warmer it is), on the location (a plant that is in a pot will not need the same amount of water than another that is in the garden), and if a plate is placed under it.

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During spring and summer It can be paid with an organic compost, taking into account that it must be liquid if it is planted in a pot. Said fertilizer can be guano, compost, mulch, humus, herbivorous animal manure, or any other.

Planting or transplanting time

In springas soon as you buy it. If you want to have it in a pot, it must also be transplanted the same day it was purchased.

Multiplication

Marigolds are easily multiplied by seeds

The Chinese carnation is easily multiplied by seeds during the spring. The step by step to follow is the following:

  1. First, you need to fill a seedling tray (you can buy it here!) with universal growing substrate.
  2. Second, water so that the soil is well soaked.
  3. Third, place 1-2 seeds in each socket, and cover them with a thin layer of substrate.
  4. Fourth, water again, this time with a sprayer.
  5. Fifth, place the seedling in a tray that is slightly larger that does not have holes.
  6. Sixth, place it outside, in full sun, and water, filling the tray without holes with water.
  7. OPTIONAL (although highly recommended): seventh, enter a label to which you will have previously written down the name of the plant and the sowing date.

If everything goes well -what will it go – will germinate in 7-10 days.

Pests

When the sun is “hot” for many days in a row, it can be affected by red spiderswhich are mites that measure about 0,5cm. They feed on the sap of the leaves, where they also weave their webs. They are fought with acaricides.

The snails and slugs They can also harm you, but can be kept away by sprinkling a ring around the plant with diatomaceous earth (you can get it here!).

Diseases

If the growing conditions are not the most suitable, it can be affected by:

  • Leaf fungi: like alternaria or cercospora. They cause the appearance of spots. They are fought with fungicides.
  • Fungi on the stem and / or roots: like Phytopthora, which first infects the root system and then causes the stem to rot and die. It is fought with fungicide.
  • Gray mold: caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. It develops on the flowers and leaves, which must be removed as soon as you see that they have been affected. Treat with fungicide.
  • Virus: cause the appearance of colored mosaics on the leaves. There is no cure.

Rusticity

The Chinese carnation is a pretty composite flower

Can’t stand the cold.

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Chinese carnation, a flower plant suitable for beginners

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