Babys breath is more than a popular filler for floral arrangements.
Babys breath is toxic to humansafter repeated handling.
Where to Plant Babys Breath
Plant babys breath in a sunny location.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The soil should have excellent drainage and be in theslightly alkaline neutral pH range.
They are also attractive in containers.
It forms monocultures and outcompetes native species.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and about the same depth.
Gently tamp down the soil.
Space plants 12 inches to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety.
Creeping babys breath needs more space than other types.
Babys Breath Care Tips
Both the annual and perennial varieties of babys breath are low-maintenance.
Soil and Water
The most important soil requirement for babys breath is excellent drainage.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Sandy soil is ideal.
Babys breath needs a soil pH between 6.0 and 8.0.
If your soil is acidic, lower the pH by addinggarden lime.
Dry climates are best, as babys breath does not do well in high humidity.
Fertilizer
Babys breath usually does not need anyfertilization.
It is sufficient to add somecompostaround the base of the plant in the spring.
Overfertilization can lead to floppy growth.
Once it has started flowering,deadhead the spent blooms.
Potting and Repotting Babys Breath
Babys breath is a good container plant.
To grow your own, use a pot with large drainage holes and fill it with awell-drainingpotting mix.
Keep in mind that container plants require more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape.
The best time to do this is in the spring at the beginning of the growing season.
Annual babys breath is so short-lived it wont need repotting.
Pests and Problems
Babys breath can attractaphids,Japanese beetles, and leaf hoppers.
Rabbits feed on it, but babys breath is deer-resistant.
The plants are not prone to any serious diseases.
How to Propagate Babys Breath
Babys breath can be propagated from stem cuttings or seeds.
Remove all the leaves from the lower third of the cutting anddip the cut end in rooting hormonepowder.
Water it well and keep it evenly moist.
It takes about four weeks for the cutting to root.
Wait until it has grown into a strong, healthy plant before transplanting it into the landscape.
Keep them evenly moist at 70F to 75F.
Germination takes two to four weeks.
Plant the seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Its blue-green leaves are 2 to 3 inches long.
Double-flowered cultivars are often grafted onto hardier single-flowered rootstocks.
Popular cultivars include Summer Sparkles and Festival Star.
Showy Babys Breath
Gypsophila elegans, also known as showy babys breath,is an annual variety.
It has larger flowers and a more open growth habit than perennial babys breath.
It grows 6 inches to 2 feet tall.
Sometimes, they bloom longer where evenings remain cool during the summer months.
Their short flowering time of two weeks makes them a brief but colorful addition to a garden.
They are deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Oriental poppies do best in Zones 2-8.
The flowers are borne on leafless stems.
The strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous.
Zones 3-10 are ideal growing regions.
Plants range from tiny creeping groundcovers to 30-inch-tall cut flowers.
Zones 3-10 are best for growing dianthus.
The buff-colored plumes endure into winter, keeping the garden attractive when all else has gone dormant.
Gypsophila paniculata, the most commonly grown babys breath, is a perennial plant.
It grows from spring to fall and goes dormant for the winter.
It blooms in late spring and throughout the summer.
Updated by Nadia Hassani
Gypsophila paniculata.
North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension.
March 2017 Weed of the Month: Baby’s Breath.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
