There was a time when no good bouquet could do without gypsophila. The plant is still popular with hobby gardeners. Gypsophila thanks you for the right location with rich branching and countless flowers.
In a nutshell
- choose a sunny, warm spot
- provide loose, well-drained, calcareous soil
- Rock gardens, dry stone walls or gravel beds are ideal
- in a pot: sunny position, soil enriched with sand and gravel
- protect from moisture in winter, overwinter potted plants frost-free
Table of contents
- Warm and sunny
- Poor and sandy soil
- Gypsophila as a potted plant
- location for the winter
- frequently asked Questions
Warm and sunny
gypsophila (Gypsophila) needs a sunny spot that offers plenty of light and warmth. Direct sun is also allowed with him. Only young specimens should not be exposed to the blazing sun immediately, but should be slowly accustomed to it starting from the penumbra. For high-growing varieties, the place should also be sheltered from the wind so that the very thin shoots do not buckle.
Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Gypsophila repens 'Rosea' kz01, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tip: Anyone who has opted for the upholstery gypsophila (Gypsophila repens) can also choose a slightly cooler and fresher location for this variety.
Poor and sandy soil
Gypsophila originally comes from the mountains of Canada, but now also feels at home in southern Europe. In the wild, it roots poor, sandy soils and even gravel sites. Even with targeted cultivation in the garden, the soil should offer the following properties:
- deep, loose soil
- dry, calcareous soil
- no tendency to waterlogging
- gravel beds are ideal rockeries and dry stone walls
Source: Udo Schmidt from Germany, Gypsophila repens L. (7477374922), Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Tip: If the soil at the location is not permeable, you should definitely loosen it up with sand before planting. Because gypsophila has a sensitive taproot, which rots easily, especially in winter.
Gypsophila as a potted plant
Gypsophila, also called gypsophila because of its fondness for lime, can also be used as a Pot plant on terrace or balcony grow and reach a considerable size. Perennial cultivars are well suited. But even in the pot, the plant must be offered favorable conditions from the start. This is what the ideal location for gypsophila in a pot looks like:
- sunny, warm and sheltered from wind and rain
- no pure potting soil use
- add coarse material
- e.g. B. Gravel, grit, sand
- enrich with lime
A notice: The pot you choose should be big enough and have drainage holes. the excess irrigation water can be emptied promptly. The gypsophila does not tolerate waterlogging.
location for the winter
Potted specimens are badly hit by harsh winters. They can only tolerate frost for a short time and only below zero. They don't have to move into a warm house for a long time. A frost-free greenhouse or an unheated conservatory are ideal as winter quarters. Bubble wrap wrapped around the pot in layers keeps the root area warm.
frequently asked Questions
Gypsophila is a good companion for flowers that open larger, more colorful and showy blooms. For example: roses, Globe Thistle, Lilies, Phlox, Larkspur, Bearded Iris, Tulips. The carpet gypsophila is an ideal ground cover and gap filler, like with pasque flowers, soapwort and mountain sedges.
Gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata) is very hardy. This also applies to all the resulting short-growing varieties. In winter, the wet can make things worse for them than frost. Therefore, the permeability of the soil is of great importance. A thick layer of brushwood can do a valuable job and keep the rain off a bit. There are also purely annual gypsophila varieties.
The gypsophila exudes a honey scent, which magically attracts bees and other insects. A visit is worthwhile, because the flowers, although small, are numerous and very rich in pollen and nectar. In addition, there is a long flowering period from May to October.
For tall varieties, tying is not a good substitute for a sheltered spot. The herb grows too slender for that and spreads strongly. On the one hand, some shoots would still snap in a windy location. On the other hand, tying up Gypsophila means that it can no longer show its natural potential, which would be a shame.