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Easy in-store ReturnsHow to grow baby’s breath flowers
What you need to know about baby’s breath
Name: baby’s breath, gypsophila, gyp, Gypsophila elegans.
Height: 50–60cm.
Plant type: annual.
Climate: all climates.
Soil: prefers an alkaline soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0.
Position: full sun.
Flowering: flowers in 10 weeks from sowing with a mass of small white or pink flowers.
Feeding: apply a liquid fertiliser to support flowering in spring and summer.
Watering: water regularly, especially in hot dry weather.
Appearance and characteristics of gypsophila
Baby’s breath has a mass of small white or pink flowers which resemble small pom-poms on an intricate array of fine branches. The botanical name, gypsophila, refers to its love of alkaline soils, while its common name describes its delicate flowers.
Uses for gypsophila
A popular cut and dried flower, baby’s breath is also a great addition to the garden, offering plenty of flowers for at least 6 months of the year if sown successively throughout the growing season.
How to plant and grow baby’s breath
Sow directly into the garden on a lightly raked soil during summer and autumn in most areas. Sow new seed every 3–4 weeks to extend the flowering season.
- Check the pH of your soil before sowing with a soil pH test kit.
- If necessary, apply garden lime at the rate of around 1 tablespoon per square meter to raise the pH by 1.0 until you get a reading between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Sow seeds and water in well. Apply snail and slug pellets to give seedlings a chance to germinate and grow.
- In most areas, seed will germinate in 10–14 days.
How to care for baby’s breath
Baby’s breath is relatively low maintenance, growing quickly and flowering in just 10 weeks.
How often should you water and feed baby’s breath?
Water regularly, especially during hot or dry weather. Apply a liquid fertiliser at the start of each season to prolong flowering.
Pest and diseases
Baby’s breath is relatively pest or disease free, but it’s best to protect from snails and slugs during germination. Spread pet-friendly snail pellets or use traps to give plants time to establish.
Water the soil and roots rather than the top growth to avoid fungal problems.
How to propagate baby’s breath
Baby’s breath is easy to propagated from seed.
- Allow plants to flower, fruit and set seed.
- Cut stalks as soon as pods begin to dry.
- Hang upside down over a bucket or bag and shake to release the remaining seeds.
- Store in an envelope clearly labelled with the variety and date harvested.
If you like this then try
Queen Anne’s lace: another stunning white wildflower with an open airy appearance.
Dill: a wonderful filler for bouquets and vases and a great addition to the flower garden.
Alyssum: a small flowering groundcover available in shades of white, pink and peach.
Start growing today
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More D.I.Y. Advice
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