Last Updated on April 8, 2024 by Real Men Sow
Gypsophila, also known as Baby’s Breath, is an annual, perennial, or alpine plant that can be grown in a variety of colors. They are a member of the Caryophyllaceae family of carnation flowers. Because they can be combined with almost any flower, they are loved by florists and are a favorite in bridal bouquets. They are also great for bordering, where their wiry stems and cloud of flowers make them a good ‘filler’. This allows them to bridge the gap between plants and adds an airy feeling to the planting scheme.
Best Place To Grow Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath)
Gypsophila can be grown in cottage gardens, white gardens or gravel gardens. The blooms can be displayed in a vase or bouquet with five to seven stems. They can also be dried very quickly for arrangements.
How To Grow Gypsophila
Grow gypsophila in well-drained, moist soil that is slightly alkaline or neutral to get the best results. To encourage repeat flowering, you should regularly deadhead spent blooms. Perennial plants are sensitive to root disturbance and should not be disturbed once they have been established.
Find A Sunny Place For Baby’s Breath
In a sunny place and in free-draining earth, Gypsophila will thrive. If you don’t have this soil, then add lots of grit to your garden. Gypsophila prefer slightly alkaline soils (lime or clay), but can grow in all neutral soils. Make sure to avoid acid soils.
Watering
Dig the hole to the same depth as your plant’s pot. If you have heavy soil, add some compost or grit. Water in well.
Caring For Gypsophila
As the plant grows, support taller plants in windy areas. For a natural look, use pea sticks or brushwood. Every few weeks, feed the plant with a general liquid fertilizer. After flowering, cut the stems of the flowers. This may result in a second flush of blooms in late autumn.
How To Propagate Gypsophila
Plant the annual gypsophila seeds in April or September. They are happy to bloom where there is no root disturbance. If you are growing them as cutting plants, plant them in succession every few weeks between April and June. Basal cuttings can be used to propagate perennial varieties of Gypsophila. You can divide Alpine varieties in March.
What If Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath) isn’t growing?
Most diseases and pests are not found in Gypsophila. Problems with winter wetness are the most common problem. Gypsophila don’t like sitting in cold, moist soil. To prevent root and stem rot, make sure you have plenty of grit.
GypsophilaVarieties To Grow
- Snowflake – A mass of snow-white flowers that bloom on strong stems in the early summer. This perennial variety is great for creating bouquets and dried arrangements, as well as filling in gaps in the border. (H x S: 90cm x 40cm)
- Bristol Fairy – A perennial with double-white flowers. You can also use it to fill in gaps in borders, cut flowers and dry flowers. (H x S: 1.2m x 1.2m)
- Rosenschleier – A compact, perennial variety. As they age, the white flowers turn pink. (H x S: 50cm x 40cm)
- Covent Garden – A pretty white annual variety that is great for cutting. (H x S: 45cm x 45cm)
- Cerastioides (mouse-eared gypsophila) – A dwarf semi-evergreen alpine species with a creeping habit. The contrast between the green-gray, hairy foliage and masses of small, white trumpet-shaped flowers in spring or summer is striking. Pollinators love these flowers. (H x S: 5cm x 15cm)
- Rosea – A pretty, creeping rose variety that is great for rockeries and planting in stone walls. (H x S: 10cm x 45cm)