Genre Gypsophila brings together different species of baby’s breath, one of the best known being the paniculated baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata). This herbaceous plant of the family of Caryophyllaceae is the ally of all florists and gardeners who love bouquets because it magnifies floral compositions like no other. But all species have a crazy charm. They can be grown in the garden where they bring a vaporous touch of great delicacy. Let’s take stock of the planting, the rare needs and the flowering of Gypsophila.
Plant the baby’s breath paniculate
Planting a Gypsophila can take place in spring as in autumn outside of frost periods. The procedure is as follows:
- Dig more holes deep than the height of the clod,
- Remove the roots of weeds,
- Gently remove the plants from the buckets or containers,
- Place a layer of loosened soil at the bottom of the planting holes,
- Position one foot per hole, ensuring that the collar is flush with ground level,
- Cover with garden soil,
- Tamp down,
- Water.
Can also sow annual Gypsophila in place at the end of April and perennial Gypsophila under shelter such as a greenhouse or frame, also in spring. The latter need a temperature between 15 and 18°C. If there is no shelter, the risk of frost must be completely eliminated for sowing. Some gardeners even sow this type of plant until July. Once the seedlings are sufficiently developed, it is necessary to thin the row so as to keep onlyone foot every 25 cm. Nothing prevents transplanting others elsewhere.
Finally, the potted culture suitable for Gypsophila, provided that you opt for a deep container with a pierced bottom and that you offer it a place in the sun.
Growing Gypsophila
Depending on the species, this plant is annual or perennial and its height varies from 10 to 100 cm. All Gypsophila are revealed quite rustic, so that we can cultivate them in all our regions. They are also drought resistantwhich makes them ideal plants for the most southern areas.
We reserve a special place for them. sunny, this is one of their few requirements. In terms of soil, these herbaceous plants make do with a ordinary garden soilprovided it is well drained because humidity is their worst enemy. The ground must be deep to allow the roots to develop well by finding the nutrients they need deep down. Note that Gypsophila tolerate moderately calcareous soil.
Easy goingGypsophila are perfect for vegetating a dry gardena rock gardenbut also like massifin bordure driveway, and as we have seen, it is possible to grow them in pots. They are also plants that grow easily between the stones of a garden wall. In terms of choice, we opt for the paniculate species if we want a large plant of about one meter in height. G. muralis et G. repens do not exceed 10 to 20 cm, as to G. elegansit displays a moderate height of about fifty centimeters.
Entertain the Gypsophile
The maintenance of these undemanding plants not likely to put off the gardener because it is really minimal. It is therefore far from being time-consuming.
watering
As a rule, watering is necessary only at planting. At most, you should water your Gypsophila afterwards in the event of long-lasting drought or scorching temperatures. However, it is necessary to keep a light hand because these plants fear excess humidity.
Tutoring
If the plants are grown in a windy area, it is better to take the precaution of staking them as soon as they are planted. Logically, a stake is only placed on a wide variety upright.
Cut
At the end of winter, we settle for a light size and only for perennial Gypsophila species. This helps restore the tuft to a balanced shape.
Multiplication
It is quite easy to propagate Perennial Gypsophila since in their case, the root cuttings works well.
Parasites and disease
We can only fear the attraction of snails and the slugs for Gypsophila seedlings because these molluscs feed on very tender young leaves. All you have to do is put a little sand all around the growing area to hinder the progress of these voracious undesirables.
Under good growing conditions, Gypsophila is not sensitive to no specific disease. Only excess moisture can cause crown and stem rot.
Flowering of the baby’s breath
The Gypsophila flowers flourish from May until the end of August. By planting several species, you can have single or double flowers, united or solitary, white in color or declined in a sublime shades of more or less powdery pink tones. They form with the fine foliage a delightful set of great delicacy and constitute a veritable carpet of vegetation.
The Gypsophiles make it possible to constitute splendid bouquets of cut flowers, very airy. To do this, simply cut the flowering stems with pruning shears. In order to preserve the aesthetic appearance of a bed or a rockery of Gypsophila, it is of course essential to remove the faded flowers as you go.