Carnations

Are roses too expensive for you? Try carnations. They are inexpensive; they last well, and they come in almost any color imaginable. If you don’t find the color you want, white carnations are easily dyed with food coloring. Just add a few drops to a glass of water and watch your flower change colors. You can also spray the petal tips for a variegated effect.

Carnations are used in boutonnieres, single bud vases, or mass blooms in large vases or bouquets, and the flower is increasing in popularity. It has been a standard flower at funerals for many years. It makes a good substitute for more expensive flowers, and it is readily available most of the year. Just visit any flower shop or super market.

History and Legend

The original carnation was called Dianthus caryophyllus, and it once grew wild along the Mediterranean Sea from France to Greece. It was also plentiful throughout Asia and Japan. The name meant “flower of the gods,” and it later became the “coronation” flower. Blossoms of carnations were used in the crowns of athletes.

Plimy, in his writings about 50 BC, mentioned the cultivation of carnations. 13th century monks cultivated carnations and saved the seeds. The plant was believed to originate in Spain and then taken to Tunis where it was valued as a medicinal tea. It was taken to France by soldiers in 1270. King Rene de Anjou, of Naples, was the first to cultivate the carnation in France.

According to legend, the carnation has powers of divination. In Korea and other parts of the East, a woman would wear in her hair a cluster of three flowers on a single stem. If the top flower dies first, the last years of her life will be difficult. If the bottom one dies first, her youth will be sad. If all three die at the same time, her whole life will be difficult. If the flowers remain fresh for the required length of time, her life will be happy.

Carnations were taken to England by Normans after 1066. In Chaucer’s time, the flower was known as the clove gilly-flower. Shakespeare says in A Winter’s Tale, “The fairest flower o’ the season is our carnations.”

Carnations are said to express love, fascination, and distinction. Light red carnations represent admiration; dark red flowers mean deep love and affection; white flowers stand for pure love and good luck; striped carnations symbolize regret for a love not shared; purple blossoms symbolize a flirtation rather than true love. Green carnations are for St. Patrick’s Day. Pink carnations were said to have appeared from the Virgin Mary’s tears when she wept over the death of Jesus, and they became the symbol of a mother’s undying love. In 1907, Ann Jarvis chose the carnation as a symbol of Mother’s Day. A red carnation is worn if one’s mother is still alive, and white one is worn if she had died.

The state flower of Ohio is a scarlet carnation in honor of President William McKinley, who regularly wore a scarlet carnation on his lapel.

American Breeders

The first carnations in America were shipped in 1852 from France to Long Island. The first outstanding variety produced in the United States was the Victor Emmanuel. This strain was introduced by Donati in Long Island. Donati was also the originator of the yellow variety that became the parent stock of modern day yellow carnations. Rudolph Heintze raised a white flower which he named for himself. Fred Dorner used the Heintze white as a principal parent when he began cross breeding in 1888. This variety remained in cultivation for nearly 20 years. Dorner’s work led to the development of a free flowering strain of greenhouse carnations in many colors. He was honored by the American Carnation Society with the Dorner Gold Medal for outstanding seedling carnations.

Other breeders were Peter Fisher 1895, Richard Witterslaetter 1890, and C.W. Ward 1890. Some of their outstanding lines are Enchantress (1903) light pink, White Enchantress (1907) white, Mrs. W. C. Ward (1910) deep pink, spectrum-scarlet (1924) light and dark salmon colors, Patrician (1931)light and medium pink frosted and large flowered white, King Cardinal (1936) scarlet, Virginia (1935) many colors. One of the most popular series of all times was the Sim series named for William Sim, who first bred them in 1938.

Carnation production remained in the north east until the middle of the 20th century when it moved to Colorado and southern California. Most carnations now come from those areas and from Bogotá, Columbia.

Characteristics

Double blooms are dominant over single ones. There are two kinds of doubles: those which self pollinate and yield all doubles and those that produce ¼ singles, ½ doubles, and ¼ bullheads. The size of the flower is hard to control. The scent of carnations, once associated almost solely with funerals, is due to aromatic and volatile oils. Temperature also affects the scent. White and pink carnations have a strong clove scent; orange and transitions colors smell like honey; magenta or crimson shades have a different scent.

Characteristics desirable for an outstanding parent plant are double flower of good size, healthy and vigorous, high sugar and dry matter contents, and fertile as a pollen or seed parent.

Growing Young Plants

The most popular greenhouse method of growing young plants is to use the mother blocks especially for the production of cuttings. Guides for handling mother blocks: 1. isolate them; 2. locate them for the best lighting; 3. space them about 8 inches apart; 4. give them proper nutrients; 5. allow the first cuttings to flower to determine the colors; 6. start cutting as soon as bad color shows. Cuttings are categorized into 3 sizes: 4-5 grams, 6-9 grams, and 10 grams and up.

Water and air are essential for the rapid growth of healthy roots. Planting media should be course sand or horticultural grade of perlite. Carnations can be rooted in full sun with good air circulation. They must also be misted regularly. After rooting, the plants are placed on the producing bench. They can be planted at any time, but they should be timed so the first crop flowers on a good market.

Harvesting

The correct time for harvest has to do with when the market is ready. For the local market, carnations should be cut when some of the flowers are fully open. For exporting, they should be cut while the blooms are tight. However, if they are too tight, they will not open properly, and if they are too open, they won’t last long.

In order to bring premium prices, carnations should meet certain standards. They should be free of pests and diseases. There should be no blemishes on the flowers or on the foliage. There should be no bent stems, split calyces, or faded colors. All first grade bunches should be separated out and sleeved. The damaged and weak flowers should be packaged separately.

The vase life of carnations depends on proper handling after harvest. To achieve the longest life possible, first trim the stems. Then place them in plastic buckets containing a warm preservative solution, such as Chrysal AVB or EVB. Keep them away from ethylene. They are extremely sensitive. Never store fruit or vegetables in the cooler with your flowers. They are major sources for ethylene.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! And don’t forget those carnations!