Gypsophila creeping

One of the varieties of gypsophila is creeping. This plant acts as part of a large family of Cloves. Gypsophila grows abundantly in Africa, Australia and Eurasia. It is very popular due to its decorative effect, it is used for decorating flower beds and plots.

Gypsophila creeping (other names - kachim, gypsum) got its name due to the presence of shoots that spread along the ground. The plant forms dense shrubs, the height of which is about 20 centimeters. In one area it can grow up to 20-25 years.

The stem is highly branched, rather dense, there is a very powerful root system. Leaves of gypsophila creeping have an oblong shape with a sharp end (lance-shaped).

The flowers of the bush can be white or pink and have 5 petals. They are small in size, less than one centimeter in diameter. After the completion of the flowering process, a round box is formed, which is called a polysperm.

In gypsophila creeping, two garden forms are distinguished.

1. Gypsophila meadow (Gipsophila pratens). Plant height is less than 15 centimeters. Forms small five-leafed inflorescences of pink color of various shades: from light to quite saturated. If the plant is properly cared for, then it can bloom twice in one season. This happens at the beginning of the summer period and in the fall.
2. Gypsophila pink (Gypsophila rosea). The plant has large inflorescences of bright pink color. Leaves are small, dark green, tapered.

In addition, there are several types of creeping gypsophila. The Blush variety stands out among them. It is a non-capricious compact plant that has the ability to bloom from June to August. The maximum bloom is observed in the middle of summer.

Wall gypsophila is another type of this plant. It is annual. The main purpose is decorative.

The following varieties of gypsophila are also distinguished: Pink Lady Festival, White Festival, Rosenschleier, Fairy Perfect. The following varieties are also popular with gardeners: Mirage (pink flowers), Montrosa (small snow-white inflorescences), Pratensis (mauve flowers), RosaSchonheit (bright pink flowering), LetchworthRose (soft pink flowers with a dark center).

Gypsophila creeping is a perennial plant, as a result of which there are several methods of propagation of this shrub. It can be grown from seed or vegetatively. As for terry hybrids, it is recommended to propagate them exclusively by grafting or by cuttings.

Growing with seeds can be done in two ways. They can be planted directly into the soil in temporary beds or prepared boxes where seedlings will be grown.

Gypsophila seeds should be placed in the soil no earlier than the second half of April. For this purpose, it is necessary to form a bed with high sides. It should be possible to easily cover it with glass or foil. To prevent the occurrence of rot and mold, the greenhouse needs to be opened from time to time to ensure ventilation.

Seedling propagation begins in March. In a container with a nutritious light substrate, it is necessary to bury the seeds at a considerable distance, moisten and cover with plastic wrap or glass.

The first sprouts of seedlings appear in 10-14 days. After that, you need to get rid of the glass (film). If the seedlings are located outdoors, then in cool weather it is better to cover them at night. After the formation of several leaves, young seedlings can already be planted. In this case, the distance between individual plants should be approximately 15 centimeters.

In general, creeping gypsophila is a rather unpretentious plant. The only important requirement is lighting. It is very important for this shrub to get enough sunlight. Therefore, in the area where the gypsophila grows, there should be no shade, it should be open and sunny.

As for watering, the plant does not like excess moisture. Therefore, planting should be done in dry areas. In dry periods, watering is done under the root part, while the leaves are not moistened.

To create favorable conditions, humus must be present in the soil. Preference should be given to light sandy or loamy soils. When planting, it is necessary to prepare a hole so deep as to completely submerge the root system. The soil must be well-drained.

Creeping gypsophila is planted in a permanent place in open ground at a distance of at least 60-70 centimeters between individual plants. If planting is done in rows, then the gap between them should be more than one meter. This is important because the shrub grows quite a lot. Two to three years after planting, the plants need to be thinned out.

When planting, it is required to prepare a hole of such a depth to completely immerse the root system. It is required to weed the weeds so that they do not suppress the plant, this is especially true for young bushes.

Cuttings can be prepared from recently appeared shoots. This is done before the buds are formed. For their rooting, containers are used, which are filled with a mixture of garden soil, sand, humus. However, cuttings often do not take root.

You can feed creeping gypsophila no more than three times in one season. For this purpose, organics and various mineral complexes are used. It is not recommended to use fresh manure.

To prepare the plant for the winter period, almost all shoots are pruned. There should be no more than 5 strong and healthy specimens. To protect plants from excessive cold, the bushes need to be covered with spruce branches, bark or dry leaves.

Gypsophila with snow-white flowers looks great against the background of bright greenery. Small inflorescences are located very close to each other, which creates the effect of splendor and airiness.

An unpretentious shrub gets along well on an alpine hill in the immediate vicinity of stones of various shapes and other crops. An excellent combination of delicate pink flowers of gypsophila with a variety of shades (bright green, yellow-green, yellow) of other plants creates an unforgettable effect.

Gypsophila can be planted not only in open ground, it also looks great in hanging pots. A lush shrub with delicate pink blossoms combined with chamomiles and other flowers creates an interesting composition.

Thanks to this plant, you can create a very original hedge. A fluffy “hat” of a huge number of small flowers creates a feeling of airiness and gives lightness to the entire natural “fence” as a whole. In combination with other shrubs, it looks very attractive.

Gypsophila creeping is a very beautiful plant, which, due to its decorative and unusual shape, is actively used in landscape design.