Guide to growing Baby's Breath Gypsophilia

Members of the Gypsophilia genus can be hardy annuals or perennials.

They range in height from 15cm to 90cm in height. Gypsophilia tend to have lance shaped leaves and wire like stems.

They bloom from late in spring through to summer and carry small massed flowers of white.

A commonly grown Gypsophilia in the garden is known as Baby's Breath.

How to grow Gypsophilia

When growing perennial Gypsophilia species they can be sown out at the start of spring or autumn. Annual Gypsophilia such as annual Baby's breath should be sown at three week intervals from march until the start of July. In both cases lightly cover the Gypsophilia seeds once sown.

The spacing of Gypsophilia is species dependent; grow small v at about 50cm apart and larger ones from 60cm to 1.2M apart. Ideally grow Gypsophilia in a sunny part of the garden. They will grow in an average soil but like a pH close to neutral (6.5 to 7.5), and good drainage.

If you plan to start Gypsophilia indoors then start to grow them about six weeks (annuals) to ten weeks (perennials) in advance; transplant annuals out after the last frost; transplant perennial Gypsophilia before the last frost or at the start of autumn.

Caring for Gypsophilia

It is fairly easy to look after Gypsophilia species such as Baby's breath. Lightly water and feed annual varieties; regularly water perennial Gypsophilia. Once they have finished blooming cut back the stems; this should result in a further bloom. If you want more plants then propagate perennial Gypsophilia by taking cuttings at the start of summer.