How to Grow and Care for Baby's Breath

Baby's breath (Gypsophila spp.) is a flowering plant with small, white blooms, most known for its use in bouquets and as a garden ornamental. These plants grow best in temperate areas in full sunlight and well-drained soil that is not acidic. Hardy down to USDA zone 3, baby's breath tolerates quite cold temperatures. Keep in mind that baby's breath can be mildly toxic to humans and pets.

Baby's Breath Care

Baby’s breath generally requires very little maintenance. Here are the main requirements for growing these plants:

• Choose an area that gets lots of sunlight, ideally receiving at least six hours of direct sun.
• Prepare well-draining soil, and avoid soil that is acidic.
• Water baby's breath while it's becoming established, but once it's settled in the garden, you can skip watering unless in a period of drought.
• Add some compost around baby's breath each spring.

Warning

Baby's breath has been classified as an invasive plant in the United States, especially around the upper Great Lakes. It is also considered a noxious weed in both California, Washington, and Canada.

Light

Baby's breath plants grow best in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. But they will tolerate a bit of shade, especially from the hot afternoon sun. However, too much shade will result in leggy plants and poor flowering.

Soil

Baby's breath plants can grow in a range of soil types, as long as they have good drainage. Sandy soil works well, whereas wet clay soil does not. So if your soil is heavy, consider planting baby's breath in raised garden beds or containers. These plants also like a slightly alkaline soil pH, so if your soil is acidic, sweeten it with an application of garden lime.

Water

Baby’s breath has low water needs and thrives in dry soil. Keep the soil moderately moist for young plants. You typically won’t have to water established plants unless you have an extended period of drought. Overwatering can cause root rot and kill the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

Baby’s breath can tolerate a range of temperatures within its growing zones. Some species have more cold tolerance than others. These plants prefer a dry climate over a humid one. So if you have high humidity, it’simperative to make sure your plant has excellent soil drainage and isn’t sitting in constant moisture.

Fertilizer

These plants aren’t heavy feeders, and too much fertilizer can cause floppy growth. To promote healthy growth and profuse blooms, simply work some compost into the planting site everyspring.

Types of Baby's Breath

There is a diversity to the Gypsophila genus that you might not expect if you only know baby's breath from the floral trade. Here are some different varieties of the plant:

• G. elegans:This species is considered an annual, but it tends to self-seed and comes back in the garden year afteryear. It features notably large, open blooms compared to other baby’s breath species.
• G. paniculata ‘Bristol Fairy’: This cultivar sports double blooms that are white and roughly 1/4 inch wide. It grows in mounds that reach around 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
• G. paniculata ‘Compacta Plena’: This is a compact variety that grows in mounds only around 15 to 18 inches tall and wide. Its flowers are very similar to those on the ‘Bristol Fairy’ cultivar.
• G. paniculata ‘Perfekta’: This variety can grow up to 3 feet tall and wide. Its flowers are very similar in appearance to the ‘Bristol Fairy’ cultivar, except that they’re around twice the size.
• G. paniculata ‘Viette’s Dwarf’: This is another compact cultivar that only reaches around 12 to 15 inches tall and wide and thus typically won’t need staking to keep it upright. It features double flowers in pink that slowly fade to white.

Pruning

These plants can be deadheaded by removing the spent blooms back to where the next spray is growing. They can also benefit from light pruning after the first flowering, which will help to maintain their shape and hopefully promote another bloom.

After the second bloom, during the fall season, cut the stems of the perennial baby's breath to about one inch above the ground, for overwintering. The plant will come back in the spring.

Propagating Baby's Breath

Baby's breath propagates easily and does well from cuttings taken from a mature plant. Here's how:

1. Cut pieces, about 4 to 5 inches, of healthy stems.
2. Remove any leaves in the 1/3 portion of the lowest part of the cutting.
3. Plant the cuttings in a small container filled with alkaline soil and mist often, keeping the soil moist, and not soaked.
4. The cuttings should be rooted in approximately four weeks, which you can then transplant outside.

How to Grow Baby's Breath From Seed

While this plant is self-seeding, spreading about on its own, you can also directly sow the seeds into the garden.

1. Plant them in a sunny, well-drained area.
2. Space the seeds about 12 inches apart.
3. Cover them lightly with soil.
4. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet.

Potting and Repotting

Baby's breath can be grown in containers, as long as the pot has good drainage holes.

Annual baby's breath will not need to be repotted, however, perennial baby's breath will need to be winterized before it is transplanted into a larger container or garden. Although it is a cold hardy plant, potted baby's breath cannot handle freezing temperatures. Relocate the container to a spot in the ground or place it inside a larger container.

When the root systems have matured, repot baby's breath using fresh potting soil. The best time to do this is in the spring.

Overwintering

Baby's breath is a cold hardy plant that can tolerate cold temperatures. For extra warmth and insulation, you can add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant.

Common Pest & Plant Diseases

Baby's breath has a few issues with pests and diseases. Pests for this plant include aphids, leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, slugs, and rabbits. You might notice discolored leaves or holes in the leaves, which are an indication of a pest problem. There are non-chemical ways you can control some of these pests, such as a citrus spray or soap spray. Common diseases for baby's breath include fungal infections and root rot, which can be caused by overwatering.

How to Get Baby's Breath to Bloom

Baby's breath is known for its tiny delicate flowers which bloom in late spring through the summer. To help this plant bloom better and longer, simply follow the pruning steps to help promote a second bloom and then winterize it before the first frost. The plant will come back each spring and rebloom every year.

Bloom Months

Baby's breath blooms from summer into fall, usually from around June until October, depending on where you are located.

What Do Baby's Breath Flowers Look and Smell Like?

The small, dainty flowers of baby's breath are white and almost look like they have a fluffy texture. There is a slight smell to baby's breath flowers which some people find not very appealing as their blooms are not sweet-smelling.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Make sure these plants get enough sun, which will encourage them to bloom, and promptly deadhead spent flowers so that they can be replaced.

Caring for Baby's Breath After It Blooms

After their final blooms in the fall, prune back baby's breath so that it will grow back in a bushy formation in the spring.

Deadheading Baby's Breath Flowers

Deadheading spent baby's breath flowers as you see them will promote repeat blooming, especially earlier in the season.

From: thespruce