Guide to growing Baby's Breath Gypsophila
Members of the Gypsophila genus can be hardy annuals or perennials.
They range in height from 15cm to 90cm in height. Gypsophila 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 Gypsophila in the garden is known as Baby's Breath.
Gypsophila muralis by karitsu; creative commons.
Gypsophila elegans – Baby's Breath by Hyougushi's; creative commons.
Quick Gypsophila Growing Guide and Facts
Common Names: Baby's Breath, Gyp, Soap Root. Gypsophila: Common; Annual; Dwarf; Alpine; Bunge's; Sharp leaved.
Life Cycle: Hardy annual. Hardy perennial.
Height: 2 to 48 inches (5 to 120 cm).
Native: Europe, Asia, North Africa.
Growing Region: Annuals: zones 2 to 10. Perennials: zones 3 to 9.
Flowers: Early spring and summer.
Flower Details: White, violet. Small massed flowers. Five petals.
Foliage: Narrow. Linear to triangular. Sickle-shaped.
Sow Outside:
Annuals: cover seed. Sow every three weeks from just before the last frost until mid-summer. Spacing 6 to 16 inches (15 to 40 cm).
Perennials: cover seed. Early spring or autumn. Spacing 16 to 48 inches (40 to 120 cm).
Sow Inside:
Annuals: start outdoors.
Perennials: use peat pots. Germination time: one to two weeks. Temperature 70°F (21°C). Eight to ten weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors before the last frost or in autumn.
Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Soil pH 6.5 to 8. Average soil. Chalky soils. Crowd plants. Provide support for larger varieties. Regular watering. Deadhead. Cut back perennials in autumn. Propagate: cuttings can be taken from perennials at the start of summer.
Miscellaneous: Invasive species in many areas of North America. Commonly used in floral arrangements.
How to grow Gypsophila
When growing perennial Gypsophila 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 Gypsophila seeds once sown.
The spacing of Gypsophila is species dependent; grow small varieties at about 50cm apart and larger ones from 60cm to 1.2M apart. Ideally grow Gypsophila 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 Gypsophila 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 Gypsophila before the last frost or at the start of autumn.
Caring for Gypsophila
It is fairly easy to look after Gypsophila species such as Baby breath flowers. Lightly water and feed annual varieties; regularly water perennial Gypsophila. Once they have finished blooming cut back the stems; this should result in a further bloom. If you want more plants then propagate perennial Gypsophila by taking cuttings at the start of summer.