Don't Coddle Carnations!

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 16 (Supplement)

Don't Coddle Carnations!

PERPETUAL flowering carna--1 tions, if they have been well grown, should during the next few months furnish a lot of first-class blooms. These plants resent coddling, and a little ventilation should be kept on night and day. During rough, wet or frosty weather it should be reduced to a minimum, but if taken entirely off the result will be that the blooms will damp. A temperature of from 45 to r>o degrees should be maintained. In cold districts this may mean that artificial heat would be necessary. Keep n sharp look-out for aphis and vaporise promptly if eeen. Of the many good qualities which the perpetual-flowering carnation possesses, durability of the cut flowers is of no small importance; yet many fail to secure this all-important feature and deplore the shortness of life and lack of size and finish in their blooms. Sleepi-

ness, or wilting, may be traced to several causes, the most prevalent being over-development, heavy feeding or tinwise use of chemical fertilisers, improper treatment and rough handling. The recipes often given for the preservation of cut flowers, such as additione of salt, sugar, camphor and other ingredients to the water, are not able to add five minutes to the life of fullydeveloped carnation blooms. Every flower whether on the plant or cut off and placed in a vase, needs a certain time for its full development. The perpetual carnation will continue in good condition for days and weeks provided the correct eyetem is carried out in the cutting and finishing of the bloom. Apart from the nature of the different species of flowers, there are important factors which come into play in prolonging their life and obtaining the full amount of satisfaction from the labour expended upon them. Over de-

velopment of a carnation can be easily guarded against by cutting the bloom when the guard-petals are fully expanded and the centre of the (lower has unfolded into position. The cutting should be done in the parly morning before the sun has reached tlie Rowers and wbiie the petals are firm from the night air. The length of stem is ;il<-o of importance, and the advantage of long stems is available- with the perpetual carnation. The lmigcr the stem the more nourishment the (lower can draw from the water, but it is essential that the stem should be cut between the joints with a sharp knife and not broken oil" at a joint. Another most important condition necessiirv for the preservation of the cut bloom, and one which will add to its size and finish, is to have a good, cool, dark situation, which inii-t combine dryness of atmosphere at this seaJim of the year with scrupulous i-leailli-nesri and airiness. It should also possess a temperature of 45 to 50 degrees. As the flowers are cut they nillft be taken directly to the darkened place prepared for them and be put in huge earthenware vases which will allow the stems to stand two-thirds their length <*>

<g> in water. Those vases are the best articles for holding tlie flowers, being f>f a er>ol, absorbent character. Set the flowers in a position so tliat each bloom lias sufficient room to develop its petals fully, and keep them upright, so that they can readily absorb the water taken up tlio stems. How long the flowers should remain in water in the dark is governed by the season of the year. During the winter month* 24 to ,il> hours is siiftiek'nt; but | (lowers intende<l for show purposes may be kept longer should they need further development before packing for travelling, 100 often many growers' and amateurs' flowers, are cut and taken direct from the plants into the rooms in which they are to do service, without, being correctly prepared for the ordeal; hence they lack size, finish and lasting quality. If I h« conditions mentioned are carried nut it will be found that better blooms of higher keeping qualities are obtained; also the eize and colour of each individual bloom will be greatly improved, a n<l the. reputation of the lasting qualities of perpetual carnations will bo endorsee', by all growers.