Gypsophila 'Baby's Breath'
Baby’s Breath forms airy clouds of tiny, delicate white flowers massed on fine branching stems. Pretty stems are traditionally added to posies to accentuate more showy flowers.
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Gypsophila (Gypsophila repens) or commonly known as Baby's Breath is a popular cut flower for weddings or to add to bunches of roses to create a softer touch. Not only great for cut flowers, it will also soften up the hardest of gardens with its delicate white petalled flowers that sit atop their fine green stems.
How to grow Baby's Breath in a garden
Starting from a seedling or potted plant:
- Choose a position with full sun and well-drained soil.
- Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food.
- When planting into prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are well spaced – at least 20 to 30cm apart.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most. Water in well.
- Water in gently and keep soil moderately moist at all times.
- Mulch with an organic mulch such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw to a depth of 5 - 8cm, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
- Feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
Starting from seed:
- Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5 cm tall, then plant into the garden.
- Alternatively, sow direct where they are to grow in rows or in scattered clumps around the garden. Cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist. Just be sure to enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food prior to sowing.
How to grow Baby's Breath in a pot
Starting from a seedling or potted plant:
- Choose a pot at least 200mm wide with adequate drainage holes.
- Position pot in full sun with protection from wind.
- Fill the pot with a quality potting mix such as Yates Nature's Way Organic Flower Mix.
- Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down.
- Water in gently and keep mix moderately moist at all times.
- Feed with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Starting from seed:
- Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5 cm tall, then plant into the pot.
- Alternatively, sow directly into the pot where they are to grow. Cover with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist.
Growing tips
- Make successive sowings of Gypsophila at 4 weekly intervals to ensure that you get a continuous amount of flowers for picking.
- In exposed positions, particularly in strong winds, plants may need some additional support through staking.
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Recommended products
Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of flowers. With high potassium for large & abundant flowers, added calcium & iron for stronger flowers.
Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food
Provides your flowers & roses with the balanced nutrients they require for healthy growth and flower production.
Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food
Releases nutrients slowly, improves the structure and moisture retention of the soil and encourages earthworms and beneficial soil micro-organisms.
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