Need to Know Carnation Care


of years! So they’re less sensitive to drying out than most cut fl owers. Caring for them is simple – the strong and sturdy carnation doesn’t need much special attention. Just ensure they’re kept in clean containers with fresh water. That said always remember to add fl ower food, because even the teeniest, tightest of spray carnation buds should still open with proper care and attention.


D The best storage


temperature is about 4°C-8°C but they will bloom nicely at slightly


higher temperatures, provided that they weren’t purchased while still immature – be careful of this in the winter months.


Buying Guide


varieties within these categories. Their diff erent forms and styles are pretty diverse, ranging from varieties with fl uff y ruffl ed petals to serrated and fringed edges. They have a massive colour range too, with whites or brights often being the favourites. Green carnations are a fl orist’s dream… they add zing to any design but some varieties can look small so test out diff erent ones to see which works for you, as Ian Lloyd tells us:“Green Goblin carnations tend not to open up as much as other varieties, so you may


C


arnations are available as standard or spray; there are hundreds of diff erent


fi nd they remain fairly small, especially compared to their larger Colombian counterparts”. Carnations are readily available


all year round; often carefully cultivated in greenhouses ensuring that they’re easily accessible at all times. The busiest production period


is between April and October, this is because the dianthus is a ‘long day grower’. In other words, the longer the days, the faster the fl owers grow, so their availability peaks in the summer as the fl owers grow faster and can then be harvested six to seven times per week.


All in all, we reckon carnations are one of the most straightforward blooms to buy and look after; so easy there’s never an excuse not to have them as a standard line.


If you want your carnations


to open up as quickly as possible, top fl oral


designer Ian Lloyd of the UK School of Floristry advises to keep them in a warm dark room.


The main factors to look out for when buying dianthus:


Maturity – be careful of super- tight buds in the winter as these are less likely to open.


Number of buds per stem (in the case of spray-cars only).


Quality – Keep an eye out for diseases and pests, botrytis blemishes, brittle/fragile stems in the winter and curved stems (although depending on design, a curved stem could be exactly what you’re looking for!) Your dianthus will probably


have been treated by the grower with a post-harvest treatment to reduce their sensitivity to ethylene and to improve their shelf life, this also prevents “shrinkage” of fl owers.


F&wb Autumn/Winter 2013 13


ianthus are hardy blooms – their tough stems have been battling through for hundreds


They’re ethylene


They still need a few centimetres cutting from the end


of the stem with a sharp knife or scissors. Always make sure you cut between, not on, a stem node joint.


sensitive so, as usual, keep your


bananas out of the fl ower fridge!


Keep an eye out for


your dianthus suff ering from excessive humidity or


condensation after being left in cellophane. This encourages the botrytis fungus which


they’re pretty sensitive to - just a little while all wrapped up could leave them looking blemished and sad.


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