Gypsophila is an annual or perennial culture from the clove family. The finest branched stems form a thick cloud, which, like small snowflakes, is covered with flowers. For tenderness, the gypsophila is called "baby's breath", "tumbleweed" or "swing". A plant in the garden is used as an addition or framing of flower beds. It is also good in cut to decorate a bouquet with larger and brighter colors. The plants are home to the Mediterranean, Asia and Australia, but some species are resistant to frost and live as perennials in temperate gardens.
Plant description
Gypsophila is a decorative flowering plant that takes the form of grassy shoots or shrubs. It has a powerful core root, extending far deeper into the soil. Thin erect stems are covered with many lateral processes, so very quickly the gypsophila bush acquires a spherical shape. The height of the vegetation is 10-120 cm. Creeping ground cover forms are found. Their stems are located near the ground.
On shoots covered with smooth green bark, there are practically no leaves. Most small leaves are concentrated in root sockets. They have a lanceolate shape with solid edges and a pointed end. The foliage is painted dark green or grayish. It has a smooth shiny surface.
In June, loose panicle inflorescences bloom at the ends of the shoots. They consist of snow-white or pink flowers with a diameter of 4-7 mm. The bell-shaped calyx consists of five wide serrated petals, on which there is a green vertical strip. In the center there are 10 thin stamens.
After pollination, seeds ripen - multi-seeded spherical or ovoid boxes. Drying, they independently open into 4 wings, and the smallest rounded seeds scatter on the ground.
Types and varieties of gypsophila
The genus of gypsophila has about 150 species and several dozen decorative varieties. Among the varieties popular among gardeners, annuals and perennials are found. Annual gypsophila is represented by the following plants.
Gypsophila graceful. Strongly branched shoots form a spherical shrub 40-50 cm high. It is covered with small leaves of gray-green color. In loose panicles there are white small flowers. Varieties:
- Rose - blooms profusely with pink inflorescences;
- Carmine - different beautiful carmine-red flowers.
Gypsophila creeping. A branching plant with stems spread out on the ground does not exceed 30 cm in height. The shoots are covered with linear dark green foliage. The smallest flowers are located at the ends of shoots and form an openwork coverlet. Varieties:
- Fratensis - with pink terry flowers;
- Pink haze - densely covered with bright pink inflorescences that almost completely cover the green shoots;
- Monstrose - blooms profusely in white.
Perennial gypsophila is popular with gardeners due to the lack of the need to renew plantings annually.
Gypsophila paniculata. The plant forms large spherical bushes up to 120 cm high. Strongly branched stems are covered with gray-green pubescent bark and the same narrow-lanceolate leaves. Many tiny flowers with a diameter of up to 6 mm are concentrated in paniculate inflorescences at the ends of shoots. Varieties:
- Pink Star (Pink Star) - blossoms dark pink terry flowers;
- Flamingo - a bush 60-75 cm tall blooms with pink double flowers;
- Bristol Fairy - spherical vegetation up to 75 cm high is decorated with white terry inflorescences.
- Snowflake - a dense dark green bush with a diameter of up to 50 cm in June, is covered with dense snow-white flowers.
Gypsophila is stalky. Although the stems of this species branch strongly, they are spread on the ground, so the height of the plant is 8-10 cm. In June-May, openwork green carpet is covered with snow-white or purple flowers.
Seed cultivation
Gypsophila is well propagated by seeds. Annuals are sown in the fall immediately into the open ground and additionally sown in the early spring. To do this, make holes with a depth of 1-1.5 cm and evenly distribute the seeds. At the end of spring, grown seedlings very carefully with a large lump of land transplanted to a permanent place.
Seeds of perennials are pre-grown seedlings. Use spacious deep boxes filled with sand-peat mixture with the addition of chalk. The seeds are buried by 5 mm, the container is covered with a film and kept in a well-lit place at room temperature. After 10-15 days, the first shoots appear. When the height of the plants reaches 3-4 cm, they are carefully dive in separate pots. It is important to keep the seedlings in a well-lit place. If necessary, use phytolamps so that daylight hours last 13-14 hours.
Vegetative propagation
Terry highly decorative varieties are propagated vegetatively, since the seeds do not convey the quality of the mother plant. In early spring, before the buds appear or already in August, the tops of the shoots are cut into cuttings. Rooting is carried out in a loose substrate with the addition of chalk. Cuttings are buried vertically by 2 cm and contain in good light and temperature + 20 ° C.
It is very important to maintain high humidity during the rooting period, so plants are regularly sprayed and covered with a cap. Rooted gypsophila in the fall are transplanted into the open ground to a permanent place.
Gypsophila planting and care
Gypsophila is a very photophilous plant. She barely tolerates even partial shade, so well-lit, open areas are chosen for planting. The soil should be fertile, light and well-drained. Loamy sand or loam are suitable. As the name implies, gypsophila loves calcareous soils, so before planting the earth is dug up with slaked lime. It is necessary to avoid places where groundwater is closely located.
Seedlings are planted with peat pots to the depth of the root system. Do not deepen the root neck. The distance between plants should be 70-130 cm. From the third year of life, each large perennial bush needs about 1 m² of area.
Gypsophila is very drought-resistant, therefore it is practically not necessary to water it. Only in strong heat and with a prolonged absence of natural rainfall 3-5 liters of water per week are poured under the root.
In the spring and during flowering 2-3 times a season, the gypsophila is fed with organic complexes. You need to use rotted manure or compost. From fresh organics, the plant will die.
Even in perennial plants, most of the ground vegetation is dried for the winter. Vegetation is cut off, leaving only small stumps above the ground. The soil is covered with fallen leaves or spruce branches, and in winter a high snowdrift is formed. In this form, gypsophila can withstand even severe frosts. In the spring, it is important to spread shelter in a timely manner to avoid flooding and decay of the roots.
Gypsophila is resistant to plant diseases. In too thickened thickets or when the soil is flooded, it suffers from root or gray rot and rust. Affected bushes are thinned out, transplanted to a new place and treated with fungicide.
Parasites on gypsophila settle very rarely. It can be moths or mealybugs. It can also be attacked by nematodes. This pest is dangerous because it penetrates into the stems and leaves, where it is not afraid of insecticides. Therefore, often affected plants have to be cut and destroyed. Sometimes treatment with "Phosphamide" or bathing in a hot shower (50-55 ° C) helps.
Garden use
High or undersized aerial thickets of gypsophila in the open ground look very decorative. But the plant rarely receives solo positions. It is often used as an addition or background for brighter colors. Good gypsophila on an alpine hill or in a mixborder. It also complements the stone garden. Plants are combined with eschscholtia, tulips, marigolds and ornamental cereals. Very often, gypsophila is grown for cutting, to decorate bouquets.
