Thin seedlings to six to eight inches (15-20 centimeters) apart. G. elegans makes a beautiful ground cover when planted en masse, so this species may not need thinning. Start baby’s breath from seed indoors about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Perennial varieties can be started as much as ten weeksearly. Toxicity: Gypsophila is slightly toxic to humans and is also toxic to pets, particularly dogs and cats if consumed in large quantities. What is Special about Baby’s Breath? You can buy gypsophila as bare root plants in spring and early summer from most good garden retailers, and it will usually begin to grow as soon as the soil warms up in early spring onwards.

Yes, Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) is considered toxic to cats. If ingested, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues. If you have cats at home, it’s better to keep Baby’s Breath out of their reach or choose a non-toxic alternative for your garden. Aim to water gypsophila when the surface of the soil is dry, but there's still some moisture at a depth of 2”. This should avoid water logging and rotten roots, and provide a good balance of fresh water from spring to late autumn. Use a sharp, clean pair of pruning shears or a knife to cut 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long stem sections just below a node (the point where a leaf attaches to the stem). Most control options are best used before populations are established. Unfortunately, once the damage is visible, leafhopper populations tend to be high. Remove Gypsophila flowers which are past their best, as this deadheading will encourage new flowers to develop. Throughout the flowering season, cut 5-6 stems to bring into the home fresh, or more for drying and using throughout the year. Propagating

Growing Tips for Baby’s Breath

While direct sowing is easy and works well, if you want to start the seeds indoors, sow six to eight weeks before the last frost in a tray of moist propagation medium, as deep as you would in the ground. Baby’s Breath, along with small wildflowers, planted together will produce a charming, cottage garden effect. Sowing & Planting Plant baby’s breath in full sun, in well-draining soil with a pH around 7.0. Add lime to acidic soils to raise the pH. Amend heavy, clay soils with plenty of organic matter, such as compost, manure and peat moss, because the plants will rot during long, wet winters. Growing Tips for Baby’s Breath Gypsophila can be invasive in certain regions, particularly in North America. It has been introduced to various parts of the United States and Canada, where it has become invasive in some areas, outcompeting native plants and disrupting local ecosystems.

The name “Baby’s Breath” comes from the delicate, small, and airy appearance of the flowers, which resemble a gentle, light breath. The tiny white flowers are often used in floral arrangements and bouquets to create a soft, ethereal effect. Alpine gypsophila, or creeping baby’s breath, makes a beautiful ground cover and comes in a wider variety of colors than the other two species described above. Alba Caring for Baby’s Breath is relatively simple, as these plants are low-maintenance and can tolerate a range of conditions. Here are some tips:My baby’s breath is flopping over, what’s wrong? This plant does need full sun and will tend to flop if it has too much shade. It also may benefit from staking. G. paniculata, aka common or panicled baby’s breath, is a tall perennial that grows a 13-feet-long storage taproot. It’s possible to grow most plants in pots, but not always recommended. A lot of effort can be spent trying to meet the needs of the plants, when really it’s much happier grown in the ground. Gypsophila is one of those plants. Is Gypsophila poisonous?

One might think that Baby’s Breath is not as widely available as popular plants, both perennials and annuals, but one would be wrong. Baby’s breath is commonly started from seed, although you may be able to find it in garden centers in thespring. Starting baby’s breath seedsindoors Plant seed in flats or small pots six to eight weeks before planting outdoors. Use a good seed starter mix and sow seed with just a dusting of soil over. Gradually acclimate the young plants to outdoor conditions before transplanting them into the garden after the last frost date.

Learn how to plant, grow, and care for baby's breath flowers.

Sow directly into the soil via broadcasting, or sow evenly in rows 8-10 inches apart. Do not bury seed. Different species of Baby’s Breath have different spacing requirements, with some mounding to 10 cm across and tall, while others can reach 50 cm, and even 1 m across. Plant them accordingly to allow for some intermingling between plants, but not so close that they compete. It is hard to treat but you can guard against it by mulching around the stem before the onset of winter. Botrytis Out of the about 150 species and several dozen cultivars that comprise Genus Gypsophila, several are well known to anyone who has received a bouquet and to most of those who have sent one. 2 The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998c, July 20). Baby’s Breath | Description, Species, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/plant/babys-breath