The fragile elegant plant of gypsophila perennial serves not only as a decoration of the garden. Florists complement flowering branches of gypsophila with bouquets, they plant it on alpine hills, and use it in compositions of flat rocky gardens. Currently, more than 100 varieties of plants are grown.
Gypsophila perennial: a description of the plant
The flower is grown in the open field. Most ornamental shrubs grow to 0.5-1.2 m. But some varieties of gypsophila look like grassy creeping shoots with a height of 10 to 20 cm.
flower composition
The plant tolerates cold winters and hot summers, loves light very much, does not require plentiful frequent watering, has a powerful root in the form of a branched rod penetrating to great depths.
On branches dressed in a smooth green shell, there are practically no leaves. The main number of small elongated or rounded leaves located in the basal region and collected in sockets. The leaves have pointed ends and solid edges, the color varies from gray-blue to dark green, the surface is smooth and shiny.
Simple gypsophila flowers
The stems of the gypsophila are erect or creeping, thin, the side shoots grow very densely on them, therefore without leaving and regular pruning, the plant often takes on a spreading form of a flower cloud. Gypsophila inflorescences are loose, openwork or panicled semi-umbrellas with simple or double flowers in the form of small bells of white, pink and other shades.
Gypsophila perennial: varieties and varieties
Gypsophila perennial refers to plants from the clove family, which have the second name "swing", common among flower growers. About 30 species of wild kachima grow in Europe and Asia.
It is interesting! Gypsophila cultivar - kachim stenny is known as a malicious weed that pollutes rye crops. At the same time, this plant is used in culture as a design element for growing along borders and decorating floral patterns.
Gypsophila graceful (Gypsophila elegans)
The origin of the culture of Gypsophila elegans is called Asia Minor.
Gypsophila graceful
The plant is used in gardens, rock gardens, mixborders, to obtain a bouquet cut. Inflorescences are thyroid paniculate.
Among gardeners, varieties of pink shades of Rose, Double Star, a variety with flowers of purple-orange shades of Carmine, snow-white varieties - Covent Garden, Grandiflora Alba are in demand. The height of the plants is small, from 10 to 50 cm.
Additional Information! Gypsophila is grown on light neutral or slightly alkaline soils, therefore liming is required for acidic soils. No wonder the main name of the type of flower is translated as a lover of lime.
When propagated by seeds, sowing in the soil is grown as a gypsophila annual. Flowering periods are short, no more than 3 weeks, therefore, multiple sowing is used. Seedlings begin to bloom 40-50 days after the appearance of the first seedlings. Sowing of seeds begins (depending on the climate) in April, ends in October-November - for wintering in open ground.
Gypsophila paniculata (Gypsophila paniculata)
Shrubs of Gypsophila paniculata grow in one place for several years. Perennial gypsophila is represented by terry varieties Bristol Fairy, Flamingo up to 75 cm high, a long-flowering cultivar with low Rosenschleier stems, a grassy variety Rosy Veil with panicled inflorescences from white and pink double flowers.
Gypsophila Terry
Snow-white, densely-spread inflorescences are covered with tall highly branched bushes of gypsophila Snowflake (snowflake) - a perennial plant, one bush of which can occupy an area of up to 1 m². Bushes of white gypsophila look great on flower beds with plants of other bright colors, creating a gentle haze against a background of red, yellow, orange shades.
Gypsophila creeping (Gypsophila muralis)
Creeping varieties of gypsophila are perennial photophilous creeping herbs that live in one place until a quarter century.
Gypsophila creeping
Low bushes up to 25 cm high, the gypsophila cultivars of creeping pink Fretensis are covered with bright small flowers in June and end their flowering in August. Rumyana variety is not picky about growing conditions, has dense, plentiful flowering, and is hardy.
Propagation is possible in several ways - seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush. In the same way, you can grow a white creeping gypsophila of the Monsterroza variety.
Gypsophila pacific (Gypsophila pacifica)
The flower in the wild grows on the rocky slopes of the sea coasts of China, Primorye.
In the culture of the Pacific, in one place he lives up to 4 years. Every 3-4 years, plantings are updated by propagation by seeds.
Bushes of pacific are tall, sprawling (up to 100 cm), therefore, seedlings are planted with a distance of at least 1 m from each other. Abundant flowering, forming a pink cloud above the bush, occurs in August, in September, the flowering intensity decreases.
Gypsophila cephalic (Gypsophila cerastioides)
A perennial shrub with rounded leaves and bright white flowers with pink veins looks good in hanging containers, pots in baskets.
Lush low bushes of gypsophila of the dolphinous gardeners are used in landscape rocky rock gardens. Plant height is from 15 to 30 cm, the bush covers an area of up to 40 cm, grows rapidly. It has very small seeds - the weight of 2000 pcs is about 1 g. It is widespread in European gardens, where flowering begins in April.
Gypsophila
Collection of flowers for a bouquet
Gypsophila is used for bouquets not only fresh. It is used for both summer and winter compositions.
A dried plant retains its decorative and attractive appearance. The collection of flowers intended for living bouquets or for drying is carried out in the middle of the day, after the dew has dried.
Plants should be in the blooming phase. Healthy plants are chosen, without mechanical damage and traces of insects. Cut as long as possible stems. The length of the stems is regulated during the preparation of bouquets.
Dried branches of plants in the shade, in limbo, tied in bunches.
Important! The plants intended for decorating wreaths are rounded in shape immediately after cutting, and then they are dried in bulk materials - calcined sand, salt, semolina. At the same time, they monitor the degree of driedness of the flowers, not allowing complete drying out.
Most popular gypsophila varieties do not change the shades of their inflorescences after drying. If necessary, they can be stained with natural dyes. Equally well-painted branches of gypsophila look in both multicolor and monochrome compositions.
Drying in bulk materials
Landscape design application
Gypsophila thickets that create an openwork colored haze as a background for bright flowers harmoniously fit into the landscape of any garden or flower bed, regardless of the height of the bush.
Grassy flowering plants are used in combination with large-flowered crops in various ensembles - mixborders, discounts, rockeries, alpine hills, borders.
Often, empty spaces of land formed after the drying of early flowers are filled with gypsophila. Popular combinations of undersized gypsophila varieties with tall stem flowers.
Mixborder
Ground requirements and preparatory work
Soils for growing gypsophila should not be very fertile with a low level of humus content. Land plots with neutral and alkaline indicators of soil acidity are used - sod, sandy loam, light loam. If soil acidity is lower than 6.3 pH, calcium carbonate is added up to 50 g per 1 m².
Attention! Gypsophila are demanding on the content of potassium in the earth, so potash fertilizers are used both when digging the soil during soil preparation for planting seeds or seedlings, and during plant care. 25-50 g of potassium monophosphate are used per 1 m² of soil.
Lands with a high occurrence of an underground aquifer are not suitable for breeding gypsophila. Otherwise, rotting of the plant roots is possible. If necessary, drainage recesses for drainage are arranged before the start of planting. Preparatory work must be completed no later than 15 days before the start of planting or sowing seeds.
Important!Gypsophila photophilous plant, actively develops only in areas well-lit by the sun.
Seed cultivation
Gypsophila seeds are very small. They are in seed boxes, which open when fully ripened. Boxes from plant branches must be cut to this point and manually sprinkle seeds on a sheet of paper. Seeds are ripened and dried at room temperature in a ventilated place without direct sunlight. Store seeds in paper bags or boxes. The shelf life of the seeds is 2-3 years.
Gypsophila seeds
Sowing the seeds of annual gypsophila directly into the soil is carried out twice:
- in autumn for wintering under cover of leaves and snow,
- in spring - after warming the earth to +5 ° C.
Seeds are sown in holes to a depth of 1.5 cm. In the spring, shelter is removed from the place of autumn sowing of seeds immediately after the snow has melted and stable low temperatures have been established. Shoots appear within two weeks. If necessary, the seedlings are thinned out. During the summer, flower seeds can be sown several times.
Perennial seeds are germinated in greenhouse or room conditions. Use seedlings filled with a ready-made substrate with neutral acidity or peat with the addition of sand and chalk. Seeds are laid out in moistened wells to a depth of 0.5 cm. The containers are covered with a film, put in a lighted place. Periodically, the film is lifted, the soil surface is slightly moistened from the spray gun.
Gypsophila seedlings
After shoots appear, the film is removed from the boxes in order to prevent high humidity near the plants. Gypsophila seedlings, reaching a height of 3-4 cm and having 2-3 true leaves, are dived into individual pots.
Important! For normal development, seedlings need lighting for 13-14 hours. If the length of natural daylight is shorter, phytolamps are used for illumination.
Transplantation of perennial gypsophila to a permanent place of cultivation is carried out in the fall. In the summer, plants continue to be in individual pots in outdoor conditions.
Seedling care consists of moderate watering, careful loosening of the soil, removal of weeds. If necessary, conduct a single potash top dressing. Perennials bloom one to two years after planting in open ground.
Propagation of gypsophila by perennial cuttings
Cuttings are subjected to plants aged at least 3 years. For cuttings in May or July, the tops of non-flowering young shoots are cut 5-7 cm long. Inclined sections are made with a sharp knife at a distance of 0.5 cm from the bottom sheet. Sliced ends are treated with root growth stimulants. Cuttings are planted in open ground under a film in pre-prepared moistened furrows to a depth of 2 cm.
The handle should be placed in the soil at an angle, the upper part of the handle is directed towards the north. High humidity is maintained under the film.
The optimum temperature for rooting is 20-25 ° C. It takes about 20 days to root. After that, the film is removed. But if there is a cooling at night, temporary caps from cut plastic bottles are put on the plants.
Open Landing Dates
The grown cuttings of perennial gypsophila are planted in a permanent place in the fall.
If a plant requires a large development area, then immediately between the seedlings maintain the necessary distances.
It is interesting! The root neck of young bushes is not buried in the ground - it should be on the surface of the soil. The soil after planting plants in it must be moistened.
Gypsophila care in the country
Due to the powerful root system, which develops most of the life of plants, unpretentious gypsophila are resistant to cold and drought. Gypsophila care is easy enough. Therefore, they are gladly grown by summer residents who visit their suburban homes and cannot provide regular watering and proper care for crops grown in their summer cottages.
Unpretentious gypsophila
Rules for watering a flower cloud
Watering plants is rare, but do not allow overdrying of the soil.
In a drought under one bush, up to 3 liters of a liquid containing no impurities and chlorine are poured. Use spring, well, rain, piped water.
The water temperature should not be lower than the ambient temperature. Gypsophila do not like surface watering, so water is poured under the root.
Top dressing
Top dressing is carried out no more than 3 times per flowering season. Potassium fertilizers can be alternated with organic - herbal infusions, ash extract.
Ash in its composition contains a large amount of potassium, calcium, and other trace elements. For feeding, use a glass of wood ash sifted through a sieve, which is poured with boiling water, allowed to infuse for 3 days. Then the liquid is filtered. Pure water is added to it. The total amount of water should be 10 liters.
Important! For feeding gypsophila do not recommend the use of manure.
Feeding with ash
Wintering
Gypsophila prepare for wintering in advance. Before the onset of cold weather, watering is stopped, plants are given the opportunity to dry.
Stems are cut, only 4-5 stumps about 2 cm high should remain above the ground in one bush. Fallen leaves, dry grass without peduncles and seeds, coniferous spruce are applied to them. After the appearance of snow, a snowdrift is formed.
Note! In order that the roots of plants under the shelter do not rot, in the spring, immediately after the onset of warm weather, the snowball and vegetation from the roots of gypsophila must be removed.
Gypsophila picture 14
The main pests and ailments
Gypsophila roots can be damaged by nematodes, the terrestrial parts of plants - by rust and gray rot.
Plants damaged by a pest should be uprooted and burned, because drugs that destroy gall nematodes do not yet exist. They die only when the roots are treated with hot water. Then it is necessary to carry out activities aimed at deterring the pest from the place of growing flowers. With the help of folk remedies and the insecticide of phosphamide, the number of insects can be reduced.
Marigolds, nasturtium, calendula, which are often planted together with gypsophila, scare away the nematode.
From a mixture of flower baskets of these plants and onion peels, you can prepare a decoction and water them with the warm root zone of the gypsophila. To obtain funds use at least 1 kg of raw materials and 10 liters of water. The mixture is allowed to boil for 10-15 minutes, and then infused for a day.
Note! The fight against gray rot and rust is carried out with the help of contact fungicides, copper sulfate, Bordeaux fluid.
Gypsophila bushes for many years planting and care which are carried out properly, after full rooting quickly grow, and without regular supervision can occupy large areas in the garden.But abundant growth and flowering do not occur immediately, but only after two or three years. Therefore, if you do not let the plants grow uncontrollably, they will become an adornment of any personal plot.
