Among all the other flowers carnation lush stands out particularly. It has a beautiful, very delicate and subtle form of flowers, but in order for the plant to grow and bloom in your flower bed, you need to know the basic rules for growing and maintaining carnations. We will describe all the properties of a plant, the necessary conditions and other intricacies of growing a flower in this article.
Botanical description
The flower belongs to perennial herbaceous plants, grows up to 50-60 centimeters tall.
Herbaceous perennials include such plants as erigeron, rudbeckia, hymenocallis, Venus flytrap, rogers, irezine, nertara, and canna.
The stem is usually straight, with several fragrant flowers on it. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, from the bottom they are a little blunt, and from above are more sharp. 
The calyx of a flower is usually 5 petals, which are divided into thin narrow slices like feathers. From the flower you can get one box of seeds. The flowering period is in the middle of summer, usually you can pick flowers in June or July.
Distribution and habitat
Clove is common in temperate countries. It survives well in the wild and where the climate is colder. Prefers woodlands and forest edges, often grows in meadows. It is found in most European countries and in Asia.
Subspecies of carnations lush
There are several subspecies of this flower.
Here are the most common ones:
- Carnation lush Alpestris. Belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae. Sometimes found under the name Celak (from 1875 the main name, which later changed). It has the same flower, usually pink or faint purple, but larger in size. Distinctive features are shorter stem than the other subspecies, and grayish leaves. Grows in the Alps and the Carpathians;
- subspecies Longicalycinus different from the rest in white. It has great popularity in Japan, where it bears the name of Nadeshiko;
- carnation Dianthus superbus var. speciosus, belongs to the same family, class Equisetopsida C. Agardh. More popular in China, where it is grown in large quantities. The flowers have a more intense color, usually bright purple or dark pink. This subspecies of the flower is also most common in the western and southern Carpathians and the Alps;
- on the territory of Ukraine and Russia is most common subspecies Stenocalyx. Its color variations are the brightest and most diverse, there are blue, blue, pink, white flowers, sometimes with black centers. Petals have the form of feathers, sometimes more lush than those of other subspecies.
Did you know? During the French Revolution, supporters of the royal family, walking under the arm of the executioner, decorated their clothes with carnations of white. In those days, these flowers were even called horror studs.
Chemical composition
The entire composition of the plant has not yet been studied. But it was determined that the roots contain a large amount of vitamins A, B and C, as well as gypsogenic acid. The flowers contain essential oil, as well as a small concentration of anthocyanins and chalcones.
The leaves contain ascorbic acid and carotene in large quantities. Also found in the plant alkaloids, approximately 0.08%.
Security status
Although the flower is quite widespread in Europe and Asia, in some places it is listed in the Red Book. The lush carnation received a special status in the Belgorod, Kaluga, Lipetsk, Kursk and other regions of Russia and the Lviv region. 
It is also listed in the Red Book of Latvia, Estonia and East Fennoscandia.
In addition, separate areas of growing this type of flowers in special reserves and parks have been created. In some areas, the free collection of plants is prohibited.
Medical applications
Medicine recommended decoctions and infusions of the plant to improve uterine tone, as they have no side effects. Also, the clove is used for uterine atony, treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.
The plant is often used in therapy as a diaphoretic and diuretic, is part of tonic and anti-inflammatory decoctions.
Plants such as mordovnik, Siberian siksha, maple, Phrygian cornflower, purple stone, goldenrod, lavender, and basil have the diuretic properties.
Important! Since the clove grass is lush, it is able to stimulate and improve the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus, decoctions and other means are used as abortive. But it is quite dangerous and can cause great harm to health.
The plant is used to prepare baths, washings or applications that help with scrofula, burns, skin inflammations. Inside take infusion to combat coughing and suffocation.
Flowers themselves, as well as seeds are used as a sedative. Good for epileptic seizures, fainting, increased nervous irritability, headaches. They have a weak antispasmodic and analgesic effect.
Use in landscape design
From the carnation it turns out beautiful design of borders, paths, flower beds and alpine slides. Look good with coniferous plants, as during flowering they form beautiful bright spots on the green carpet. 
Flowers have decorative properties for almost the whole year, because they can be used for any purpose and for the design of any area, it all depends on the idea and imagination.
It is only important to remember when making a site - these are light-loving plants, although they will bloom in shaded places, but less and not so bright. Also, the carnation does not tolerate stagnant water, because it is better to decorate high places or slides, it is well suited for settling in drier patches of soil.
Growing at home
This type of carnations is also amenable to growing at home, because it is often used for decoration of window sills or balconies. But before planting, you should make sure that there are all necessary conditions for the flower to feel well.
The following rules for planting and care are suitable for compliance at the dacha. 
Conditions of detention
As already mentioned, you should choose a bright place for landing, with a sufficient amount of sun and no stagnation of water. Planting should be carried out in a free space, if it is a pot - it should be large enough for the flower to grow freely.
It is advisable to choose with a pallet and special holes for the outflow of water. Drainage should be used for better water outflow during irrigation.
Soil and fertilizer
All varieties adore light and fertile soil. But the lush clove feels best in loamy or peaty soil. Does not tolerate high acidity. Mineral and organic fertilizers are used for top dressing. In the summer, fertilizers are applied at least three times, once a month. 
Important! Flowers do not tolerate acidic soil. If you have such - Before planting, you should definitely add dolomite flour, which raises the level of magnesium in the soil.
About a week before planting, it is advisable to add potash fertilizers to the soil. If the soil is already fertile, then you can simply mix it with peat, turf or sand.
The potash fertilizers include such as potassium salt, "Kalimag", potassium sulfate, "Kalimagneziya", potassium chloride.
Watering and moisture
The flower garden should be watered twice a week, and if spring and summer are hot, then more. If the flowers grow in lowlands, watering should be done very carefully and make sure that the water does not stagnate.
Watering should be done only on the ground, as the plant is very poor in water on the leaves or flowers. If the moisture in the soil is too high, the plant can get sick.
Reproduction from seed
Experienced gardeners and gardeners advise growing lush carnation from seeds. 
It is advisable to plant in February or March, then in the spring the sprouts can be transplanted into open ground.
Landing is usually carried out in late May, when the temperature becomes high enough. The distance between plants should be at least 30 centimeters.
After the preparation and fertilization of the soil, it is moistened a little and spread the seeds to the surface. After that, they cover with vermiculite. In a few days, the first shoots should appear.
During this period, young animals are very important to protect from temperature changes, drafts and cold. Pots are best left in the room so that the temperature does not fall below 18 degrees. 
At the same time, it is impossible to put the container on the window sill, it is better to fill the lack of light with lamps. Watering plants need not very often, otherwise they can form rot.
Important! When planting seeds can not cover them with film! Creating a greenhouse effect can be detrimental to the shoots. Vermiculite or another insulator is enough.
Collection and preparation of raw materials
Gather cloves during flowering. Stems need to be cut at a height of 15 centimeters from the ground. Collect both leaves and stems with flowers. It is necessary to dry them in the open air under a canopy. It is advisable to lay out the grass in a thin layer, no more than 5 centimeters thick.
Drying can be carried out in the dryer, but it must be good ventilation, and the temperature should not fall below 40 degrees. 
It is necessary to store in glass or other containers in the shade, without access of the sun or moisture not more than 2 years.
Relation to temperature
The plant loves warmth. The landing should be carried out when the average air temperature already does not fall below 10 degrees. The optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees. Very bad flower tolerates sudden changes in temperature.
The flowers winter well and without special shelter. But if you wish, you can use it, any standard way of covering the plant for the winter will do.
Possible difficulties in growing
Difficulties can arise when the carnation has been planted earlier than necessary. 
Then the plant can germinate poorly, weaken and require additional feeding and care. Problems arise even when the soil is poorly prepared - it is better to take care of this before planting.
The main cause of poor growth are the diseases that weak plants are exposed to, especially when the soil is too high in moisture.
Did you know? The carnation flower in Spain was used to arrange a secret date for its cavalier. The lady chose a certain color, which meant the time and place of the meeting. The flower was pinned on the chest, so the man knew that his lady's heart was waiting for a meeting.
Pests, diseases and prevention
The most common types of pests are spider mites and aphids. To prevent their occurrence should constantly loosen the soil and weed flower bed. Plants may be affected by rot due to the greenhouse effect or watering too often. 
Also, often young shoots striking black leg. If black or yellow spots appear on the leaves, you should immediately remove the infected seedlings so that the disease does not spread to healthy ones.
Lush carnation is a very beautiful and tender plant. Petals, similar to feathers, decorate not only any dacha or flower garden, but are also well suited for the decoration of balconies and verandas.
But in order for the plant to bloom bright and long, you need to provide basic conditions for its life. But in general, the flower is not pretty picky and easy to maintain and care.
