Breeding methods and precautions for baby's breath
This article introduces the breeding methods and precautions for baby's breath, as well as sharing some small green plant maintenance experiences for growing baby's breath at home. Let's proceed with the introduction by the editor.
Baby's breath is one of the top ten cut flowers in the world, loved by many flower enthusiasts for its high ornamental value and frequent use as a flower arrangement material. Breeding baby's breath is also relatively simple and very suitable for home decoration. Now, I will share the breeding methods and precautions for baby's breath with everyone.
Breeding methods for baby's breath
1. Soil
Baby's breath does not have high requirements for soil, but grows best in well-drained, fertile, and loose loamy soil. Generally, slightly alkaline lime soil or gritty loam soil is sufficient.
2. Light
The planting of baby's breath does not require strict lighting, only needing to place it on the balcony or windowsill for 2-4 hours of sunlight when the sun is not too strong. However, it is important to note that in summer, when sunlight is intense, baby's breath should be moved to a shady place to avoid sunburn and yellowing of the leaves.
3. Temperature
Baby's breath grows best at a daytime temperature of 25°C. If the temperature exceeds 30°C for too long, it can increase the chances of abnormal flowers. The optimal night temperature is 10-15°C. If it drops below 10°C, combined with short days in autumn and winter, it can lead to dormancy or clustering.
4. Watering and fertilizing
Proper water and fertilizer management is an important factor in successfully breeding baby's breath. Baby's breath prefers fertilizer but dislikes excessive water. It is best to fertilize regularly during the growing period with a compound fertilizer rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements. Approaching the flowering period, more fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium elements should be applied. Baby's breath requires a higher water demand during the growing period, and sufficient water should be provided before and after flowering to ensure the buds have enough moisture and nutrients to bloom.
5. Pruning and topping
Baby's breath grows well with sufficient sunlight, so it is necessary to prune the branches. Note that about 30 days after planting, side buds will start to sprout. It is important to topping at this time, leaving only 3-4 pairs of leaves at the bottom, allowing side branches to grow. Generally, 6-8 side branches are retained per plant.
Precautions for breeding baby's breath
1. Baby's breath enjoys fertilizer. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting and regularly apply top dressing after planting, mainly using nitrogen fertilizer and gradually increasing phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
2. When the plant grows to 30 centimeters, control the water supply, especially during the budding period. The flowering period should also be kept on the drier side.
3. Baby's breath prefers to grow in warm and sunny environments, but overly intense sunlight and high temperatures are not suitable for its growth, so avoid too strong sunlight.
4. Baby's breath seedlings are prone to death when repotting. When transplanting, it is important to transplant with soil, and watering after transplanting should avoid washing the seedlings away. You can also use the method of watering without repotting to supplement water.
5. In winter, additional sunlight is needed for baby's breath. We not only need to maintain the necessary daylight for baby's breath but also supplement light at night through illumination. Also, during the cold winter temperatures, we need to keep baby's breath warm.
6. The occurrence of diseases and pests in baby's breath is not common, usually only occasionally encountering aphids or snails. For aphids, you can spray with diluted eucalyptus oil or neutral laundry detergent, which can kill aphids. For snails, you can spray snail-killing pellets on the potting soil.
The above information introduces the breeding methods and precautions for baby's breath and shares specific content about growing baby's breath at home. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited!