How to Care for Carnations During Their Blooming Period
As the most popular gift flower for Mother's Day, the proper care of carnations during their full bloom directly affects the duration of the blooming period and the quality of the flowers. This article systematically analyzes professional care solutions for five key dimensions of caring for carnations in bloom, combined with real photo illustrations, to help you easily extend the blooming period by 2-3 weeks.
One: Key Points for Light Control
1.1 Management of Light Intensity
Carnations are long-day plants that require 6-8 hours of diffused light daily during the blooming period. They can accept full sunlight in spring and autumn, while during summer, 30% of the intense light should be filtered with a shade net from 10:00 to 16:00, and in winter, they should be placed on a south-facing windowsill for additional light.
1.2 Adjustment of Light Direction
Rotate the pot by 45 degrees every 3 days to prevent unidirectional stretching of the plant. After the flower buds show color, reduce the duration of light exposure to 5 hours to deepen the petal color.
Two: Precise Control of Temperature and Humidity
2.1 Setting Temperature Gradients
The optimal growth temperature range is 14-21°C. Maintain 18-20°C during the day to promote blooming, and reduce the temperature to 15°C at night to extend the blooming period. Use a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor in real-time, and ensure the air outlet of the air conditioner is more than 1.5 meters away from the plant.
2.2 Techniques for Balancing Humidity
Keep the environmental humidity at 60-70%, and place a humidifying tray next to the pot. Avoid keeping the leaves wet for extended periods; it is recommended to use a misting humidifier, spraying twice a day (at 9:00 and 15:00 each time).
Three: Coordinated Management of Water and Fertilizer
3.1 Scientific Watering Plan
Use the "dry-wet" method: water thoroughly when the top 2cm of soil is dry. The watering frequency during the blooming period is every 3 days in spring and autumn, twice a day (avoiding noon) in summer, and every 5 days in winter. It is recommended to use a long-spout watering can to water slowly around the edge of the pot.
3.2 Precise Fertilizing Strategy
Apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate (1:1500) weekly during the bud stage, and switch to a special flower nutrient solution (N-P-K=5-10-10) during full bloom. After fertilizing, rinse the leaves with water within 6 hours to avoid fertilizer damage.
Four: Optimization of Substrate Configuration
4.1 Ideal Soil Formula
Prepare the soil mix with the ratio of leaf mold soil: perlite: vermiculite as 5:3:2, and add 5g of bone meal per liter of soil. The pH value of the substrate should be maintained between 6.0-6.5, test once a month, and use ferrous sulfate to adjust acidity.
4.2 Standard Potting Operation
It is not suitable to repot during the blooming period. After blooming, choose a breathable ceramic pot, 3-5cm larger in diameter than the original pot. When repotting, retain 1/3 of the protective soil, and the new soil needs to be treated with high-temperature disinfection.
By adjusting light, balancing temperature and humidity, coordinating water and fertilizer, and optimizing the substrate, combined with regular pest and disease control (check the back of the leaves weekly), the blooming period of carnations can be extended to 25-35 days. It is recommended to establish a care log to record daily environmental parameters and plant status, gradually forming a personalized care plan.