did you know?

The botanical name for baby's breath, a member of the carnation family, comes from the Greek meaning "chalk," and meaning "loving." The name is a reference to the plants' need for alkaline?or chalky?soil.

general maintenance:

Pinch back growing tips of young plants to encourage branching.

pests/diseases:

Crown rot, stem rot, crown gall, and bacterial soft rot may occur.

controls:

To control crown and stem rot, remove severely infected plants, reduce soil moisture, and increase drainage. Remove stems with signs of crown gall, and do not resow in the same location for several years.

how to sow/plant:

After last frost, choose a sunny, well-drained site, and amend with compost or well-rotted manure. Direct sow, lightly covering seeds with soil. Successive sowings will increase bloom period. In Zones 8 and warmer, sow in fall or early spring. After true leaves appear, thin seedlings to a distance equal to or slightly less than plants' mature spread.

water and fertilize:

Water moderately, keeping soil moist but not wet (early-morning watering is best). Apply an all-purpose fertilizer biweekly or a slow-release fertilizer at planting, following label directions.

garden hint:

To extend the bloom season, resow twice at 2?3 week intervals. Once established, baby's breath is remarkably drought tolerant and a great cool-season annual.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Drought Tolerant

garden uses:

• Flowerbed borders

other uses:

• Cut Flower
• Everlasting (>)

combine with:

hybrid tea roses, delphiniums and snapdragons