We're all familiar with the baby's breath plant (Gypsophila paniculata), from bridal bouquets to cut flower arrangements that use the small, delicate white flowers, fresh or dried, to fill in around larger blooms. But did you know that baby's breath flowers can grow easily in your garden? You can learn how to dry your own baby's breath for making arrangements at home and to share with friends simply by growing baby's breath flowers in your garden. This plant may be annual or perennial, and baby's breath flowers grow in rose, pink and white and may have single or double blooms. Double blooming baby's breath plants have been grafted, so take care to cut above the graft union.
How to Grow Baby's Breath
Growing baby's breath is simple and you'll likely find it a useful garden specimen. Learning how to grow baby's breath can be a lucrative hobby, especially if you sell it to florists and others who make professional arrangements. Growing baby's breath in a full sun area is relatively simple if the soil pH is right. The baby's breath plant likes an alkaline or sweet soil. Soil should also be well-draining. If your baby's breath plant does not perform well, take a soil test to determine the soil's alkalinity. Start baby's breath flowers in the garden from seeds, cuttings or tissue cultured plants.
How to Dry Your Own Baby's Breath
Reaching 12 to 18 inches (30.5-46 cm.) at maturity, you can harvest and learn how to dry your own baby's breath flowers. When cutting to dry flowers of the baby's breath plant, choose stems with just half of the flowers in bloom while others are only buds. Don't use stems with browning flowers. Re-cut stems of the baby's breath under warm running water. Bundle five to seven stems together with twine or a rubber band. Hang these upside down in a dark, warm and well-ventilated room. Check the drying flowers after five days. When flowers are papery to the touch, they are ready for use in a dried arrangement. If they do not have the papery feel after five days, allow more time, checking every couple of days. Now that you've learned how to grow baby's breath and how to dry it, include it as a border in your garden. If it does well, check with local florists to see if they are interested in purchasing some of the flowers you've perfected in your garden. NOTE: This plant is considered a noxious weed in some parts of the U.S. and Canada. Before planting anything in your garden, it is always important to check if a plant is invasive in your particular area. Your local extension office can help with this.
-
Grow A Music Garden: Hit The High Notes By Making Musical Instruments From NatureMusic lovers and gardening lovers can find a natural groove using items growing and resting around them. Find out how easy it is making musical instruments from nature
-
Why You Should Eat Invasive Plants – A Tasty Way To Control Unwanted SpeciesEat invasive plants for nutrition and their amazing varied flavors, but be sure to properly identify the plant and know how to eat it.
-
Is Baby’s Breath Bad For Cats: Information About Gypsophila Poisoning In CatsIf you are the lucky recipient of a bouquet and have a cat, your feline friend may harbor a particular fascination with the baby’s breath. After all, plants are fun for cats, which beckons the question: is baby’s breath bad for cats? Click this article to learn more.
-
Growing Baby’s Breath From Cuttings: How To Root Gypsophila CuttingsBaby’s breath is the star of the cutting garden, providing delicate little blooms that dress up floral arrangements, (and your garden). If you have access to a mature baby’s breath plant, growing cuttings from baby’s breath is easy. Learn more in this article.
-
Sowing Baby’s Breath Seeds: Learn How To Plant Gypsophila SeedsGrowing baby's breath from seed will result in clouds of the delicate blooms within a year. This perennial plant is easy to grow and low maintenance. Click this article for more tips on how to plant Gypsophila, or baby's breath, from seed.
-
Baby’s Breath Winter Care: Information About Winterizing Baby’s Breath PlantsBaby’s breath is a staple of cut flower bouquets. You can grow these flowers in your garden with an annual or a perennial variety. Depending on the climate, you may need to take some extra steps to ensure survival over the winter. This article will help with that.
-
Baby’s Breath Issues – How To Deal With Common Gypsophila ProblemsBaby's breath is best known for adding a little magic to floral arrangements. If you are thinking of planting these flowers in your backyard, you will want to learn about common problems with baby’s breath plants. Click here for common Gypsophila problems.
-
Baby’s Breath Varieties: Learn About Different Types Of Gypsophila PlantsBaby’s breath flowers provide an airy look to floral arrangements but can also be just as pretty used in a border or rock garden. It is one of several types of Gypsophila. Click here to learn about different baby’s breath varieties for the garden.
-
Trimming Baby’s Breath – Learn How To Prune Baby’s Breath PlantsYou can grow baby’s breath as an annual or a perennial, depending on the variety chosen. Care is fairly easy, but a little Gypsophila pruning will help your plants grow healthier and bloom more. This article will help get you started with baby’s breath pruning.
-
Baby’s Breath Skin Irritation: Is Baby’s Breath Irritating When HandledBaby’s breath is commonly found naturalized throughout much of the northern United States and Canada and often identified as an invasive weed. Despite the innocuous look of these sweet soft blooms, baby’s breath harbors a little secret. Learn more in this article.
