Gypsophila (Gypsophila) - a flowering herb or shrub culture from the Clove family, translated from Latin means "loving lime". Most of the species of this plant, and there are more than a hundred of them, prefer to grow on limestone in their natural environment. Annuals and perennials are common in many countries in northeast Africa, as well as in New Zealand and Eurasia. People call gypsophila "gypsum" and "tumbleweed".
The flowering gypsophila consists of a powerful taproot and branched root, a straight and almost leafless stem 20 to 50 cm high, oval-shaped small leaves, panicle inflorescences of small white or pink flowers and fruits with seeds.
Growing gypsophila from seeds
Sowing gypsophila seeds
Annuals and some perennials of gypsophila reproduce by seeds. Annual species are recommended to be planted in open ground before winter. By mid-spring, the seedlings will gain strength and will be ready to be transplanted to a permanent growing site. Perennial plants are best grown in seedlings. In early spring, seeds are sown in planting boxes with wet soil, deepening them by about 5 mm, after which they are covered with glass and kept in a warm and bright room until shoots appear.
Seedlings of gypsophila
With the correct maintenance, shoots will appear in 10-15 days, which are recommended to thin out, maintaining an interval of about 15 cm, or you can transplant young plants into peat pots one copy at a time. For the full growth and development of gypsophila seedlings, timely soil moisture and a long daylight hours with good lighting are required. Since there is still not enough natural light in spring, fluorescent lamps should be used so that the plants are illuminated for at least 13-14 hours a day.
Planting gypsophila
When to plant gypsophila
It is recommended to plant young gypsophila plants with 2-3 full-fledged leaves in a permanent place.
Perennials can grow without transplanting on one site for about 10 years, so the place must be chosen carefully and taking into account all the requirements of the plants. It should be a sunny, open and dry place with no close ground water. The soil should contain a small amount of humus and lime. On a garden plot in which lime is not contained or very little, it is necessary to add about 25-50 g per square meter.
How to properly plant a gypsophila
The distance between plantings of gypsophila seedlings is 70-80 cm, row spacing is 1.2-1.3 m. It is very important that after planting the root collar is slightly above the soil surface. As the plants grow, they will have to be thinned out, and the excavated specimens will need to be transplanted to another place.It is necessary to leave a distance of at least one meter or even a little more between adult crops, because the shrubs grow very quickly. The high decorativeness of perennials can be seen only 3 years after planting.
Gypsophila care outdoors
Watering
Plants of gypsophila do not need watering, the only exceptions are too long summer dry periods. On such days, flowers need to be watered abundantly, but so that the irrigation water only gets to the root.
Top dressing and fertilizers
Gypsophila responds well to additional fertilizing in the form of mineral and organic fertilizers. It is recommended to make them alternately two or three times per season. In no case should fresh manure be used, but the mullein infusion will only benefit flowering plants.
Perennial gypsophila after flowering
Seed collection
Collecting seed boxes is carried out in early autumn, when the plant stems dry up. Cut boxes should be thoroughly dried in a ventilated area, poured into paper bags and stored in a dry place. Seed germination is maintained for three years after harvest.
Preparing for winter
Perennial gypsophila species need reliable shelter for the winter, since they cannot withstand very low subzero temperatures, especially in snowless winters. In late October - early November, the stems are trimmed to the base, after which the flower garden is covered with fallen dry leaves or spruce branches.
Reproduction of gypsophila
Most often, seeds and cuttings are used to propagate gypsophila perennials. The features of the seed method are already known, but you can talk about grafting in more detail.
Propagation by cuttings
In late April or early May, before the formation of inflorescences, as well as in August (after the end of flowering), planting material is prepared. Cuttings are recommended to be cut from young shoots. The average length is 10-12 cm. The places of the cuts are treated with a root-forming solution or powdered with wood ash, after which they are buried by 2 cm into a special loose and light substrate, in which chalk must be present. Favorable conditions for the formation of their own root system in cuttings are an air temperature of 20-22 degrees, full lighting for 12 hours a day and high humidity in the growing room. Such conditions can only be created in a greenhouse or greenhouse. After about 2-2.5 months, the cuttings will be ready to be transplanted into the open ground to their permanent place. It is very important that before the onset of autumn cold weather and the appearance of the first night frosts, the seedlings can adapt and take root in a new place and in new conditions.
Diseases and pests
The plant is resistant to pests and various diseases. These problems can appear in gypsophila only with inadequate care.
Possible diseases are gray rot and rust. You can get rid of them by spraying with contact fungicides. The most effective are copper sulfate, Bordeaux liquid and oxych.
Possible pests are cyst-forming and root-knot nematodes. Control methods and measures depend on the number of pests. At the initial stage of their appearance, you can do with spraying (2-3 procedures) with phosphamide. With a large gathering of uninvited guests, you will have to dig up the plant and rinse the root part with hot water at a temperature of about 50 degrees.
Types and varieties of gypsophila
Gypsophila graceful (Gypsophila elegans) - an annual herb with abundant short flowering (up to 50 cm tall), with highly branched shoots, small lanceolate leaves and numerous inflorescences of white and pinkish flowers. Popular varieties: Double Star, Carmine and Rose.
Gypsophila pacifica - a perennial shrub with spreading branches and wide leaves of a gray-blue hue, blooms with pale pink inflorescences.
Gypsophila paniculata (Gypsophila paniculata)- a perennial shrub plant about one hundred and twenty centimeters high with strongly branched stems, gray-green narrow leaves with a pubescent surface and panicle inflorescences of white or pink flowers with a diameter of about 5-6 mm. Popular varieties: Bristol Fairy - with white double flowers, Pink Star - with dark pink double flowers, Flamingo - with double pink flowers.
Gypsophila creeping (Gypsophila muralis) - an annual, branchy, low-growing shrub, reaching a height of 25-30 cm, with dark green linear leaves and small pink or white flowers. Popular varieties are Monstroza and Fratensis.
Other species are also interesting for flower growers - chickweed, tender, areciiform, Patrena.
