Carnation and Dianthus: How to Tell Them Apart
This article brings you knowledge about growing flowers, focusing on the experience of distinguishing between carnations and Dianthus. Let's take a look with the editor!
Often, people refer to carnations and Dianthus as the same plant, but they are actually different. So, how do we tell the difference between carnations and Dianthus? It's actually quite simple; we can tell them apart by looking at their flowers and leaves.
Carnation flowers are usually double-petaled, while Dianthus flowers are single-petaled. Moreover, the leaves of carnations are dark in color and long, but the leaves of Dianthus are light in color and short. If you put a carnation and Dianthus together, you can easily distinguish them by these two characteristics.
Another difference is that they have different plant heights. Carnations are taller than Dianthus. Generally, the height of Dianthus flowers is around 30-50 centimeters, while the height of carnations can reach 40-70 centimeters. Not only are they taller, but carnation plants are also relatively upright and straighter compared to Dianthus, which tend to be more sprawling.
The following two pictures show Dianthus. We can look at its flowers and leaves.
Since it is winter now, let's talk about their cold resistance. According to theoretical data, the cold resistance of carnations and Dianthus is similar, both above 9 degrees Celsius. However, in actual care, Dianthus has the strongest cold resistance. When planted outdoors, even at minus 10 degrees Celsius, although the above-ground parts wither, they can still sprout in the spring of the following year. But for carnations, there are currently no cases of similar overwintering in the open. However, according to the experience of flower enthusiasts, as long as the temperature can be kept above 5 degrees Celsius, carnations can also safely survive the winter.
The following picture is of a carnation. We still look at its flowers and leaves.
As for how often to water a carnation in winter, this cannot be determined by checking the date. It depends on the specific situation. Try to keep the soil moist but not wet, slightly on the drier side, and not too wet. This is for environments without heating. If there is heating, then watering is the same as in the summer.
The above sharing on how to distinguish between carnations and Dianthus at a glance is for everyone to learn and understand!