Baby’s breath (Gypsophila) is the star of the cutting garden, providing delicate little blooms that dress up floral arrangements (and your garden), from midsummer to autumn. You are probably most familiar with white baby’s breath, but various shades of rosy pink are also available. If you have access to a mature baby’s breath plant, growing cuttings from baby’s breath is surprisingly easy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Let’s learn how to grow baby’s breath from cuttings, one step at a time.
Baby’s Breath Cutting Propagation
Fill a container with good quality commercial potting mix.
Water well and set the pot aside to drain until the potting mix is moist but
not dripping.
Taking Gypsophila cuttings is simple. Select several healthy baby’s breath stems. Cuttings from baby’s breath should each be about 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) in length. You can plant several stems, but be sure they aren’t touching.
Dip the cut end of the stems into rooting
hormone, then plant the stems in the moist potting mix with about 2 inches (5
cm.) of stem above the soil. (Before planting, remove any leaves that will be
under the soil or touching the soil).
Place the pot in a clear plastic bag to create a warm, humid
environment for the baby’s breath cuttings. Place the pot in a warm spot where
the Gypsophila cuttings aren’t exposed to bright sunlight. The top of a
refrigerator or other warm appliance works well.
Check the pot regularly and water lightly if the potting mix feels dry. Very little water will be needed when the pot is covered with plastic.
After about a month, check for roots by tugging lightly on
the cuttings. If you feel resistance to your tug, the cuttings have rooted and
each can be moved into an individual pot. Remove the plastic at this time.
Continue to care for the baby’s breath cuttings until
they’re large enough to grow outside. Be sure any risk of frost has passed.
Baby’s breath (Gypsophila) is the star of the cutting garden, providing delicate little blooms that dress up floral arrangements (and your garden), from midsummer to autumn. You are probably most familiar with white baby’s breath, but various shades of rosy pink are also available. If you have access to a mature baby’s breath plant, growing cuttings from baby’s breath is surprisingly easy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Let’s learn how to grow baby’s breath from cuttings, one step at a time.
Baby’s Breath Cutting Propagation
Fill a container with good quality commercial potting mix.
Water well and set the pot aside to drain until the potting mix is moist but
not dripping.
Taking Gypsophila cuttings is simple. Select several healthy baby’s breath stems. Cuttings from baby’s breath should each be about 3 to 5 inches (8-13 cm.) in length. You can plant several stems, but be sure they aren’t touching.
Dip the cut end of the stems into rooting
hormone, then plant the stems in the moist potting mix with about 2 inches (5
cm.) of stem above the soil. (Before planting, remove any leaves that will be
under the soil or touching the soil).
Place the pot in a clear plastic bag to create a warm, humid
environment for the baby’s breath cuttings. Place the pot in a warm spot where
the Gypsophila cuttings aren’t exposed to bright sunlight. The top of a
refrigerator or other warm appliance works well.
Check the pot regularly and water lightly if the potting mix feels dry. Very little water will be needed when the pot is covered with plastic.
After about a month, check for roots by tugging lightly on
the cuttings. If you feel resistance to your tug, the cuttings have rooted and
each can be moved into an individual pot. Remove the plastic at this time.
Continue to care for the baby’s breath cuttings until
they’re large enough to grow outside. Be sure any risk of frost has passed.