How to Care for a Baby's Breath Plant
Also known as Gypsophilia, the baby's breath plant is a popular accent for flower bouquets and corsages. As the stem of the baby's breath plant grows, it separates into thin strands that produce dainty, pink or white flowers. Baby's breath grows to heights of approximately 2 feet with a 1-foot spread. You can grow this summer annual in your own backyard landscape if you have full sun and well-drained soil, with a pH between 7.0 and 7.5. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Test the soil before planting the baby's breath plant. Use a soil testing kit from a garden center. If the pH of your soil does not meet the requirements of the baby's breath plant, you will have to amend.
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Amend the soil with lime before planting if the pH of the soil is below 7.0. If the soil pH is above 7.5, mix peat moss in with the soil. Add either amendment according to manufacturer's instructions.
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Water the baby's breath plant during the early morning hours, at a rate of 1 inch per week. Early morning water will quench the plant before the height of afternoon sun. Use a soaker hose that provides deep watering.
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Feed your baby's breath plant an all-purpose fertilizer. The fertilizer can supply the baby's breath plant with the nutrients that the soil lacks. Apply the fertilizer according to label instructions.
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Pinch off the withered stems and blooms of the baby's breath plant, using your fingertips. Removing the spent blooms will help to encourage new growth and keep the plant looking tidy.
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Tips & Warnings
Baby's breath is a good companion plant for snapdragons, hybrid tea roses and delphiniums.
Do not overwater the baby's breath plant. Standing water caused by too much watering can lead to diseases, such as root rot. Press a finger into the soil to check for moisture 1 inch down. If the soil feels moist, do not water. Instead, check back in a few days.
References
- Photo Credit bunch of roses in vase with baby breath image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
