Gypsophila perennial: creeping, graceful

The fragile graceful perennial gypsophila plant serves not only as a decoration for the garden. Florists complement bouquets with flowering branches of gypsophila, it is planted on alpine hills, used in compositions of flat rocky gardens. More than 100 varieties of the plant are currently being grown.

Perennial gypsophila: description of the plant

The flower is grown in the open field. Most ornamental dwarf shrubs grow up to 0.5-1.2 m.But some varieties of gypsophila look like grassy creeping shoots with a height of 10 to 20 cm.

flower composition

The plant tolerates cold winters and hot summers well, loves light very much, does not require abundant frequent watering, has a powerful root in the form of a branched rod that penetrates to great depths.

On the branches, dressed in a smooth green sheath, there are practically no leaves. Most of the small, elongated or rounded leaves are located in the root area and are collected in rosettes. The leaves have pointed ends and solid edges, the color varies from gray-blue to dark green, the surface is smooth and shiny.

Simple gypsophila flowers

The stems of gypsophila are erect or creeping, thin, lateral shoots grow very densely on them, therefore, without care and regular pruning, the plant often takes on a spreading shape of a flower cloud. Gypsophila inflorescences are loose, openwork or paniculate semi-umbels with simple or double flowers in the form of small bells of white, pink and other shades.

Perennial gypsophila: varieties and varieties

Gypsophila perennial refers to plants from the family of cloves, which have the second common name among flower growers "kachim". About 30 species of wild kachima grow in the territories of Europe and Asia.

Gypsophila graceful (Gypsophila elegans)

The place of origin of the Gypsophila elegans culture is called Asia Minor.

Gypsophila graceful

The plant is used in gardens, rock gardens, mixborders, to obtain a bouquet cut. Inflorescences are thyroid paniculate.

Among gardeners, varieties of pink shades Rose, Double Star, a variety with flowers of purple-orange shades of Carmine, snow-white varieties - Covent Garden, Grandiflora alba are in demand. The height of the plants is small, from 10 to 50 cm.

When propagated by seeds by sowing in the soil, it is grown as an annual gypsophila. The flowering time is short, no more than 3 weeks, therefore multiple sowing is used. Seedlings begin to bloom 40-50 days after the first shoots appear.Sowing of seeds begins (depending on the climate) in April, ends in October-November - for wintering in the open field.

Gypsophila paniculata (Gypsophila paniculata)

The shrubs of Gypsophila paniculata have been growing in one place for several years. Perennial gypsophila is represented by terry varieties Bristol Fairy, Flamingo up to 75 cm high, a long-flowering variety with low stems Rosenschleier, a herbaceous variety Rosy Veil, which has paniculate inflorescences of white-pink double flowers.

Gypsophila terry

Snow-white densely double inflorescences are covered with tall, highly branched bushes of the Snowflake gypsophila (snowflake) - a perennial plant, one bush of which can occupy an area of ​​up to 1 m². Bushes of white gypsophila look great on flower beds with plants of other bright colors, creating a delicate haze against a background of red, yellow, orange shades.

Gypsophila creeping (Gypsophila muralis)

Creeping varieties of gypsophila are perennial light-loving creeping grasses that live in one place for up to a quarter of a century.

Gypsophila creeping

Low bushes up to 25 cm high of the variety of gypsophila creeping pink Fretensis are covered with bright small flowers in June and finish their flowering in August. The Blush variety is not picky about growing conditions, has a dense abundant flowering, frost-hardy.

Reproduction is possible in several ways - by seeds, cuttings, dividing the bush. The Monsterroza creeping white gypsophila can be grown in the same way.

Gypsophila pacifica

The flower grows in the wild on the rocky slopes of the sea coasts of China, Primorye.

In culture, we swing the Pacific in one place up to 4 years old. Every 3-4 years, plantings are renewed by seed propagation.

Pacifik bushes are tall, spreading (up to 100 cm), so the seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 1 m from each other. Abundant flowering, forming a pink cloud above the bush, occurs in August, in September the flowering intensity decreases.

Gypsophila cerastioides

A perennial shrub with rounded leaves and bright white flowers with pink veins looks good in hanging containers, flowerpot baskets.

Lush low bushes of gypsophila jascolkovid gardeners are used in landscape rocky rock gardens. The height of the plant is from 15 to 30 cm, the bush occupies an area of ​​up to 40 cm, it grows rapidly. It has very small seeds - the weight of 2000 pieces is about 1 g. It is widely distributed in the gardens of Europe, where flowering begins in April.

Gypsophila cephalic

Collecting flowers for a bouquet

Gypsophila is used for bouquets not only fresh. It is used for both summer and winter compositions.

When dried, the plant retains its decorative effect and attractiveness. The collection of flowers intended for live bouquets or for drying is carried out in the middle of the day, after the dew has dried.

Plants must be in bloom. They choose healthy plants, without mechanical damage and traces of insects. Cut the stems as long as possible. The length of the stems is adjusted during the arrangement of the bouquets.

The branches of plants are dried in the shade, in a suspended state, tied in bunches.

Most popular varieties of gypsophila do not change the shades of their inflorescences after drying. If necessary, they can be dyed with natural dyes. Equally well-colored gypsophila branches look equally well in multi-floral and monochrome compositions.

Drying in bulk materials

Application in landscape design

Gypsophila thickets, creating an openwork colored smoke as a background for bright flowers, harmoniously fit into the landscape of any garden or flower bed, regardless of the height of the bush.

Herbaceous flowering plants are used in combination with large-flowered crops in various ensembles - mixborders, rabatkas, rockeries, alpine slides, curbs.

Often, gypsophila fill empty areas of land formed after the early flowers dry out. Combinations of undersized gypsophila varieties with tall flowers are popular.

Mixborder

Soil requirements and preparatory work

Soils for growing gypsophila should be not very fertile with a low level of humus. Use plots of land with neutral and alkaline indicators of the level of soil acidity - sod, sandy loam, light loam. If the acidity of the soil is lower than pH 6.3, the introduction of calcium carbonate is carried out up to 50 g per 1 m².

Lands with a high underground aquifer are not suitable for breeding gypsophila. Otherwise, plant roots may rot. If necessary, before the start of planting work, drainage grooves are arranged for water flow. Preparatory work must be completed no later than 15 days before planting or sowing seeds.

Growing from seeds

Gypsophila seeds are very small. They are located in seed pods, which open when fully ripe. Boxes from the branches of plants must be cut off before this point and manually poured the seeds onto a sheet of paper. The seeds are ripened and dried at room temperature in a ventilated place without direct sunlight. Store seeds in paper bags or boxes. The shelf life of seeds is 2-3 years.

Gypsophila seeds

Sowing seeds of annual gypsophila directly into the soil is carried out twice:

• in autumn for wintering under cover of foliage and snow,
• in spring - after warming up the earth to +5 ° С.

The seeds are sown in holes to a depth of 1.5 cm. In the spring, a shelter is removed from the place of autumn sowing of seeds immediately after the snow melts and stable low positive temperatures are established. Seedlings appear within two weeks. If necessary, the seedlings are thinned out. Flower seeds can be sown several times during the summer.

Perennial seeds are germinated in greenhouse or indoor conditions. Use seedling containers filled with a ready-made substrate with neutral acidity or peat with the addition of sand and chalk. The seeds are laid out in moistened holes to a depth of 0.5 cm. The containers are covered with foil and placed in a lighted place. Periodically, the film is lifted, the soil surface is slightly moistened with a spray bottle.

Gypsophila shoots

After the shoots appear, the film is removed from the boxes in order to prevent high air humidity near the plants. Gypsophila sprouts, which have reached a height of 3-4 cm and have 2-3 true leaves, are dived into individual pots.

The transplant of perennial gypsophila to a permanent place of cultivation is carried out in the fall. In summer, the plants continue to be kept in individual pots outdoors.

Seedling care consists in moderate watering, careful loosening of the soil, and removal of weeds. If necessary, carry out a single potassium dressing. Perennials bloom one to two years after planting in open ground.

Reproduction of gypsophila perennial cuttings

Plants are subjected to cuttings at least 3 years old. For cuttings in May or July, the tops of non-flowering young shoots 5-7 cm long are cut off. Inclined cuts are made with a sharp knife at a distance of 0.5 cm from the lower leaf. The ends with slices are treated with root growth stimulants. Cuttings are planted in open ground under a film in pre-prepared moistened furrows to a depth of 2 cm.

The cutting should be placed in the ground at an angle, the upper part of the cutting is directed towards the north. High humidity is maintained under the film.

The optimum temperature for rooting is 20-25 ° C. It takes about 20 days for rooting. After that, the film is removed. But if a cold snap occurs at night, temporary caps from cut plastic bottles are put on the plants.

Dates of disembarkation in open ground

Grown up cuttings of perennial gypsophila are planted in a permanent place in the fall.

If a plant requires a large area of ​​development, then the necessary distances are kept between the seedlings right away.

Gypsophila care in the country

Thanks to the powerful root system that develops most of the plant's life, the unpretentious gypsophila is resistant to cold and drought. Taking care of gypsophila is easy enough. Therefore, they are happily grown by summer residents who visit their suburban homes on short visits and cannot provide the crops grown in their summer cottages with regular watering and proper care.

Unpretentious gypsophila

Flower cloud watering rules

Watering plants is rarely carried out, but they do not allow the soil to dry out.

In a drought, up to 3 liters of liquid that does not contain impurities and chlorine are poured under one bush. Use spring, well, rainwater, and tap water.

The water temperature should not be lower than the ambient temperature. Gypsophila do not like surface watering, so water is poured at the root.

Top dressing

Top dressing is carried out no more than 3 times per flowering season. Potassium fertilizers can be alternated with organic - herbal infusions, ash extract.

Ash contains a large amount of potassium, calcium and other trace elements. For feeding, use a glass of wood ash sifted through a sieve, which is poured with boiling water, allowed to brew for 3 days. Then the liquid is filtered. Pure water is added to it. The total amount of water should be 10 liters.

Ash feeding

Wintering

Gypsophila is prepared for wintering in advance. Before the onset of cold weather, watering is stopped, the plants are allowed to dry out.

The stems are cut off, only 4-5 stumps with a height of about 2 cm should remain above the ground in one bush. Fallen leaves, dry grass without peduncles and seeds, and coniferous spruce branches are applied to them. After the appearance of snow, a snowdrift is formed.

Picture 14 gypsophila

Major pests and ailments

Gypsophila roots can be damaged by nematodes, ground parts of plants by rust and gray rot.

Plants damaged by the pest are best uprooted and burned, because drugs that destroy rootworm nematodes do not yet exist. They die only when the roots are treated with hot water. Then it is necessary to carry out activities aimed at scaring away the pest from the place of growing flowers. With the help of folk remedies and phosphamide insecticide, you can reduce the number of insects.

Nematodes are scared off by marigolds, nasturtium, calendula, which are very often planted together with gypsophila.

From a mixture of flower baskets of these plants and onion husks, you can prepare a decoction and water the gypsophila root zone with it in a warm form. To obtain the product, at least 1 kg of raw materials and 10 liters of water are used. The mixture is allowed to boil for 10-15 minutes, and then brew for a day.

Gypsophila bushes, which are planted and cared for for many years, quickly grow after full rooting, and without regular supervision they can occupy large areas in the garden. But abundant growth and flowering do not come immediately, but only after two or three years. Therefore, if you do not allow the plants to grow uncontrollably, they will become an adornment of any personal plot.