How to care for baby's breath flowers
Are you wondering about the care methods for baby's breath flowers and the plant cultivation tips for potting them? The following is a detailed introduction.
Summary: Baby's breath is one of the world's top ten cut flowers, loved by many gardening enthusiasts for its high ornamental value and frequent use as a floral arrangement material. Moreover, it is relatively easy to cultivate and is very suitable for home decoration. Here, I share the cultivation methods and precautions for baby's breath with everyone.
Cultivation methods for baby's breath
1. Soil
Baby's breath is not picky about soil, but it grows best in well-drained, fertile, and loose loamy soil. Generally, slightly alkaline lime soil or gravelly loam soil is sufficient.
2. Light
Baby's breath does not require strict sunlight; it only needs to be placed on a balcony or windowsill to receive 2-4 hours of sunlight when the sun is not too strong. However, it is important to note that during the summer, when sunlight is intense, it is necessary to move the baby's breath to a shaded area to avoid leaf sunburn and yellowing.
3. Temperature
Baby's breath grows best at a daytime temperature of 25°C. If it exceeds 30°C for too long, it can increase the chance of malformed flowers. The optimal night temperature is between 10-15°C. If it drops below 10°C, especially during the short days of autumn and winter, it can enter a dormant state or show clustering.
4. Watering and fertilizing
Proper fertilization and watering are important factors in caring for baby's breath. It prefers fertilizer but dislikes too much water. Regular fertilization is best, using compound fertilizers rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium during the growing season, and more phosphorus and potassium-rich fertilizers as the flowering period approaches. Baby's breath requires a significant amount of water during the growing period, with sufficient water needed before and after flowering to ensure the buds have enough moisture and nutrients to open.
5. Pruning and topping
Baby's breath generally grows well with enough sunlight, so we need to prune the branches. Note that about 30 days after planting, the plant will start to produce lateral buds, at which time it is important to top the plant, leaving only the lower 3-4 pairs of leaves, to promote the growth of lateral branches. Generally, each plant should retain 6-8 lateral branches.
Precautions for cultivating baby's breath
1. Baby's breath likes fertilizer. Apply enough base fertilizer before planting and regularly apply top dressing, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, then gradually increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
2. When the plant grows to 30 centimeters, it is important to control the water, 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 too intense sunlight and high temperatures are not suitable for its growth, so the sunlight should not be too strong.
4. Baby's breath seedlings are prone to death when repotting. When transplanting, it is important to do so with soil attached to the roots, and care should be taken to avoid knocking the seedlings over when watering. Alternatively, a method of watering without repotting can be used to supplement water.
5. In winter, it is necessary to supplement sunlight for baby's breath. We not only need to maintain the necessary daylight for the plant but also provide additional lighting at night. Additionally, we need to keep the plant warm in low winter temperatures.
6. Baby's breath does not often show signs of disease or pests, but occasionally there may be aphids or snails. In such cases, diluted insect repellent or a neutral laundry detergent can be sprayed to kill the aphids. For snails, a snail-killing granular agent can be sprayed on the potting soil.
Have you understood the detailed introduction of how to care for baby's breath flowers and the plant cultivation tips for potting them mentioned above?