Introduction

Carnation is one of the most popular commercial flowers, grown for its beauty and long vase life. It is widely used in floral arrangements, bouquets, and ornamental gardens.

Botanical Classification:

• Botanical Name: Dianthus caryophyllus
• Family: Caryophyllaceae
• Common Name: Carnation
• Origin: Mediterranean Region

Importance and Uses:

• It is a winter season flower, mainly cultivated in temperate climates.
• It is an important cut flower in the global floriculture market.
• Used for bedding, pots, edging, vase decoration, and bouquets.

Types of Carnation

2. Border Carnation Large, double fragrant flowers. Used for garden beds and floral decorations
3. Marguerite Carnation. Self-colored flowers, Blooms year-round in flushes, Has a good vase life
4. Perpetual Carnation, Single or double-flowered varieties, Easy to cultivate, grows well in greenhouses, Most widely used for cut flowers

Popular Varieties of Carnation

• Standard Type Varieties (Single Flower per Stem): Domingo, Master, Baltico, Algar, Fuente, Falico
• Spray Type Varieties (Multiple Flowers per Stem): Aveiro, Fancy, Foego, Osiris, Celebration, Abril, Belon

Varieties Based on Flower Color:

• Red: Scania, Tanga, Red William, Granda, Espana, Master, Killer
• Pink: Pamir, Nora, Lena, Sharina, Pink Sim, Candy, Manon
• Yellow: Pallas, Raggio di Sole, Candy, Yellow Dusty, Murcia
• White: White Sim, Roma, Candy, Calypso, Sonsara
• Orange: Tangerine Sim, Orange Triumph
• Others: Charmeur, Aurthor Sim, Toledo, Solar, Laurella, Vanessa

Indian Cultivars:

• Arka Flame
• Arka Tejas

Climate:

• Temperature:
  • Night: 10-15°C
  • Day: 20-25°C
• Photoperiod: Requires long-day conditions (≥13 hours) for good flowering.
• Humidity: 50-60%
• CO₂ Levels: Optimum growth at 500 ppm during the day.

Soil:

• Light-textured loam or sandy loam soil is ideal.
• Well-drained and aerated soil.
• pH: 6-7 (Slightly acidic to neutral).
• Soil Preparation:
  • Deep tillage (80-100 cm) before planting.
  • Mix 50% sand, 30% loam, 20% clay for ideal texture.
  • Add organic manure for better fertility.
  • Sterilization: Steam or chemical treatment to prevent soil-borne diseases.
  • Raised beds of 30 cm height and 80 cm width with 50-60 cm spacing between beds.

Propagation Methods

i) Terminal Stem Cuttings:

• Cuttings of 8-10 cm long taken from healthy mother plants (Nov-Feb).
• Remove lower leaves and make a sharp cut below the node.
• Dipping Treatment:
  • Dithane M-45 (0.1%) + Bavistin (0.1%) for 5 min to prevent fungal infections.
  • NAA or IBA (500 ppm) for 5 sec to enhance rooting.
• Plant in sterile sand at 3×3 cm spacing.
• Maintain 90% humidity by mist spraying 4-5 times/day.
• Rooting occurs in 3-4 weeks.

ii) Seed Propagation:

• Sowing Time: September-October on raised beds.
• Germination within 7 days.
• Seed Rate: 400-500 gm/ha.
• Transplanting: After one month.

Planting & Spacing

• Best Planting Time: October-November
• Spacing:
  • Standard type: 15 × 15 cm
  • Spray type: 20 × 20 cm
• Avoid deep planting to ensure proper growth.

Irrigation Management

• Mist irrigation is preferred immediately after planting.
• Drip irrigation is given after 3 weeks.
• Recommended water supply: 4-5 liters/sq. meter/day.
• Avoid water stagnation to prevent root diseases.

Nutrient Management

• Basal Application (at planting):
  • 5-10 kg FYM/sq. meter
  • NPK @ 20:20:10 gm/sq. meter
• Annual Fertilizer Requirement:
  • N – 250 gm/sq. meter
  • P – 80 gm/sq. meter
  • K – 200 gm/sq. meter
  • Ca – 125 gm/sq. meter
  • Mg – 40 gm/sq. meter
• Apply fertilizers in 20-24 split doses at 15-day intervals.

Special Cultural Practices

Pinching:

• Removing the terminal growing shoot (2-3 cm) to enhance side branching.
• Types:
  • Single Pinching: Once, at the 6-8 leaf stage.
  • Pinch and a Half: Second pinching after 40-50 days.
  • Double Pinching: Delays flowering but improves yield.
  • Pinch Plus Pull Pinch: Gradual pinching for peak flowering.

De-shooting:

• Retain 3-5 shoots per plant for standard cultivars.
• Retain 6-10 shoots per plant for spray cultivars.

Disbudding:

• Standard varieties: Remove all lateral buds, retain terminal bud.
• Spray varieties: Remove terminal bud, retain lateral buds.

Staking:

• Wire mesh or plastic nets are used for plant support.
• Nets should be 10-15 cm square size, placed at 20, 35, and 50 cm height.

Harvesting & Yield

• First harvest in 4 months after planting.
• Harvesting Stage:
  • Standard Varieties: At tight bud or cross-bud stage.
  • Spray Varieties: At 2 flowers open stage.

Yield:

• • Standard Type: 300-350 flowers/sq. meter/year
  • Spray Type: 250 flowers/sq. meter/year
  • 8-10 flowers per plant per year

Insect Pests:

1. Aphids – Controlled by Imidacloprid 0.05% spray.
2. Red Spider Mites – Controlled by Dicofol 0.1% spray.
3. Heliothis Caterpillar – Controlled by Bt formulation or Spinosad 0.1%.

Diseases:

1. Wilt, Foot Rot, Stem Rot, Flower Bud Rot – Carbendazim 0.1% spray.
2. Bacterial Wilt – Streptocycline 100 ppm spray.
3. Rust, Viral Diseases – Neem oil + Mancozeb 0.2% spray.