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For fans of miniature flowers, gypsophila is a real treasure. Its small, white or pinkish inflorescences abundantly cover a fairly decent bush size, creating a charming and delicate flower cap. This herbaceous plant from the clove family grows freely in natural conditions. In home floriculture gypsophila also found its place thanks to the spectacular compact form and completely unpretentious character.
Most often, gypsophila is grown from seeds. Also, it can be propagated by cuttings, but this method concerns only perennials and requires a certain amount of effort from the florist, since the cuttings do not always take root. A more reliable result is provided by the seed method, we'll talk more about it.
Seeds of gypsophila have good germination and retain it for 2-3 years.
Gypsophila is represented by two species of plants: annuals and perennials. Depending on what kind of flower belongs to, two ways of seed reproduction are distinguished:
- sowing the seeds of an annual plant directly into the open ground;
- growing seedlings of perennial flowers in seedlings in the premises.
When to sow an annual gypsophila?
Seeds of annuals are sown in a special breeding plot, where they grow up until the moment of transplantation to a permanent place. You can do this:
- under winter, in the middle of autumn;
- in the spring, in the end of April - in the beginning of May.
Planted under winter bushes are transplanted to the flower bed next spring, and grown spring seedlings - in September.
When to start growing perennials?
Sow the seeds of gypsophila on seedlings at the end of March. To do this, fill a light and nutritious substrate in shallow pans, moisturize it well and spread the seeds over the surface, sprinkling a thin layer of soil on top. If you want, you can immediately make shallow grooves.
The top is covered with glass and placed on a warm and light window sill. Until the seeds all germinate, the glass is not removed, but the air is periodically ventilated by the greenhouse and moistens the soil. After the emergence of sprouting, they are either thinned, leaving at least 15 cm between the seedlings, or immediately dived into individual cups.
Seedling method of growing gypsophila requires additional lighting. The minimum light day for seedlings should last at least 13 hours, otherwise it will begin to stretch.
When the bushes build up a couple of these leaves, they are transplanted to a permanent place on the bed. Given that the gypsophila is greatly expanded, the distance between the bushes should be kept from 1 m, and in the aisles - even more. The maximum decorative form of the bush will increase in three years.
