The Dianthus chibaManila Bulletin March 29, 2011
MANILA, Philippines -- The Dianthus chiba is a popular plant because it’s easy to grow. A selected cultivar of the small carnation plants, they come in six different colors; crimson, lavender-picotee, picotee, purple, red, and rose.
The Dianthus chiba is ideal for the small-potted flowering plant industry as it produces compact basal branches and bares clusters of well-rounded flowers that vary in color. The plants can withstand heat, the cold, and rain.
It is native to the Mediterranean region and India but it is widely cultivated in gardens in the Philippines. The larger plants are produced in cooler regions for cut-flower production. Smaller versions are used for the flowering plant industry.
The Dianthus chiba can grow up to eight to 10 inches in height. The flowers are three centimeters in diameter and are often supported by short and strong flower stems, usually in clusters.
Because of its compact size, the plant can be grown in small pots and containers and produced in high quantities.
The Dianthus thrives under full sunlight but it can use some watering daily. It is recommended to apply a dilute solution of foliar fertilizer mixed with a fungicide once every two weeks for optimum growth.
A fertilizer with high potassium content will induce continuous flowering. Applying a fungicide should minimize fungal diseases during the rainy season.
It may be occasionally prone to attacks from downy mildew, mites, thrips. or mealy bugs. This can be controlled or prevented by dilute insecticides.
The plant can be grown in a fertile potting mix composed of equal parts of coconut coir dust, compost or garden soil, and sand.
The Dianthus is propagated from seeds. They can either be directly planted into your flower garden or sown on seedling trays and later trasplanted to the desired area or pot. They can also be propagated through stem cuttings or plant division.
Source:
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/311929/the-dianthus-chiba
