The shade matters
Dark red carnations have traditionally stood for deep love, while lighter red ones suggest admiration, so the colour you pick sends a slightly different message. The red carnation is also a worldwide symbol of labour movements, and in Portugal it became the emblem of the 1974 revolution. In Australia the flower is more often seen in funeral work and in mixed spring bunches.
Red carnations beside Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day falls in the middle of summer in Australia, which is the hardest time to keep any cut flower looking good. Carnations are an underrated pick because they cope with heat better than most roses and they do not shed petals easily. Their only real enemies are ethylene gas and dirty water.
- Place the vase in the coolest part of the house, away from windows.
- Strip the lower leaves and change the water every two days.
- Do not stand the vase beside fruit.
Red carnations in the garden
Red garden carnations and pinks want full sun and free-draining soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. In Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne they grow easily; in humid Brisbane they are better in pots with good airflow. Pinch out shoot tips in spring to get bushier plants and more flowers.
If a dog chews a stem
The ASPCA rates carnation as toxic for dogs, cats and horses, with mild effects such as vomiting, diarrhoea or skin irritation. If your dog has chewed a stem, a call to the vet is enough in most cases.
