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Baby’s breath is a beloved flower known for its delicate airy blooms that add beauty to any garden. As winter approaches some extra care is required to ensure your baby’s breath plants survive the cold conditions. In this article, I’ll explain exactly how to prepare baby’s breath for winter so you can enjoy its breezy blossoms for years to come.
Why Winterize Baby’s Breath
Baby’s breath is hardy to USDA zones 3-9, meaning it can withstand quite cold temperatures. However, in the colder parts of its growing range, some winter protection is recommended. There are two main threats to baby’s breath in winter:
- Excess moisture leading to root rot
- Damage from extremely frigid temps
Baby’s breath prefers dry conditions and its roots will rot if left sitting in wet soil all winter. Even in areas with more mild winters, it’s a good idea to take steps to keep the soil around baby’s breath from getting waterlogged Proper winter care ensures your plants survive the dormant season and return vigorously the following spring
When to Winterize Baby’s Breath
The best time to winterize baby’s breath is in late fall after it has completed blooming for the season. This is generally in October or November. You’ll want to complete winter preparation before the ground freezes in your area.
Plan on winterizing baby’s breath in early fall in colder climates and later into fall for warmer regions The key is acting after blooming finishes but before harsh weather sets in
How to Prepare Baby’s Breath Plants for Winter
Fortunately, baby’s breath is pretty low maintenance when it comes to winter care. Just a bit of effort will properly prepare your plants. Here are the key tips:
Choose the Right Location
Site selection is important to prevent wet soil issues in winter. Pick an area with excellent drainage. If you have heavy clay soil that gets waterlogged, consider planting baby’s breath in raised beds instead. The improved drainage will keep roots healthy.
You can also transplant plants in fall to a better drained spot if need be. Move baby’s breath to higher ground before winter if you suspect moisture problems.
Cut Back Foliage
After blooming finishes, cut back the foliage to just 1-2 inches above the ground. This removes dead growth and prevents diseases from carrying over winter. Discard the trimmed foliage rather than composting, which could allow pests to overwinter.
Cleaning up the plants in fall helps encourage fresh new growth and abundant blooming next season. Don’t cut too low or you may damage the crown.
Apply Mulch
Add a 2-4 inch layer of shredded bark, chopped leaves, straw or other organic mulch around your baby’s breath plants. This acts like a blanket, insulating the roots from extreme cold.
Mulch also prevents early spring growth that could be damaged by late frosts. An added benefit is the mulch keeps soil evenly moist, preventing winter wetness.
Check Soil pH
Baby’s breath prefers a neutral to slightly alkaline pH between 6.5-7.5. Test your soil pH in fall and sprinkle garden lime around plants if needed to raise pH. Acidic soils below 6.0 can cause yellowing leaves and poor growth.
Hold Off on Fertilizer
Avoid fertilizing baby’s breath in fall. Too much nitrogen right before winter can spur tender new growth that is easily damaged by cold. Any nutrients needed in spring can be applied after the threat of frost has passed.
Well-fed plants tend to have excessive foliage and fewer flowers anyway. Let baby’s breath bloom naturally next year before amending soil.
Plant in Raised Beds
If drainage is a consistent problem in your yard, planting baby’s breath in a raised garden bed can make winter care easier. The improved drainage prevents wet roots in winter.
Raised beds also warm faster in spring, giving plants an early start on growing season. Just be sure to provide ample mulch protection.
Remove Dead Material
In fall, remove any dead or diseased foliage, stems and flower heads from around baby’s breath plants. Dispose of this debris rather than composting. Eliminating this dead material helps prevent issues like stem rot going into winter.
Start the winter with only healthy growth intact so plants have a strong foundation for dormancy. Removing spent blooms also tidies up beds.
Water Sparingly
Baby’s breath prefers drier conditions and too much moisture in winter invites problems. Water sparingly after winterizing, just enough to keep roots from completely drying out.
Test soil moisture with your finger; water if the top few inches are crumbly but stop before it gets muddy. Gradually decrease watering frequency as temperatures drop.
Add Winter Protection
In regions with extremely harsh winters, some extra insulation can be helpful. Place a fabric row cover or frost blanket over your baby’s breath bed once the ground has frozen.
This adds an extra layer of protection from frigid winds and icy conditions. Make sure plants have good airflow underneath. Remove any coverings in early spring as shoots emerge.
Avoid Fertilizing Too Late
Hold off on fertilizing baby’s breath after summer ends. Late applications of nitrogen can cause growth spurts before dormancy. This new tender foliage is prone to winter dieback.
Let plants harden off naturally in fall and wait to fertilize until new growth resumes in spring. Never fertilize frozen ground.
Caring for Potted Baby’s Breath in Winter
Container grown baby’s breath requires a bit more care in winter. Follow these tips to overwinter potted plants:
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Move containers to a sheltered area out of winds. An unheated garage or porch works well.
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Stop watering and allow pots to go fully dormant once cold hits. Check soil occasionally and water only if extremely dry.
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Mulch around pots with leaves or other organic materials.
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On cold nights, move containers into an unheated shed or garage if possible.
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Repot in spring before growth resumes. Prune back any damaged growth.
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Water sparingly after winter until weather warms and new growth emerges.
What to Expect After Winterizing
Once you’ve completed your winter prep, there’s nothing left to do but wait until spring! Here’s what to expect:
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Foliage will die back after hard freezes arrive. This is normal. Plants are simply going dormant.
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Delay pruning or cutting back further until spring growth resumes.
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Expect some dieback of stems and foliage. This is natural and actually protects the crowns.
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Apply fertilizer in spring once new shoots are several inches tall.
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Remove winter mulch and protection when weather begins warming up.
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Harvest any dead growth and foliage. Live shoots will be obvious.
With proper care, your baby’s breath should return vigorously in spring! The efforts taken in fall to winterize plants will pay off with abundant blooms and healthy growth when warmer weather returns. Just be patient and allow the plants time to exit dormancy.
Enjoying Baby’s Breath Year After Year
Baby’s breath is one of those quintessential cottage garden flowers that graces gardens with charm. By understanding its winter requirements, you can keep your baby’s breath thriving for years of beauty. A bit of simple winter preparation allows these plants to survive through dormancy and return refreshed.
With its graceful presence and carefree growth, this floral filler finds a place in most any garden. I hope these tips help you successfully winterize your baby’s breath so you can enjoy its billowy blooms season after season. Let those delicate blossoms brighten up your beds year after year with the gift of proper winter care.
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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila)
Famous as that filler flower in bouquets, baby’s breath is coming into its own as a feature flower in perennial gardens. Its tiny white flowers bloom from summer through fall. Learn how to successfully plant, grow, and care for baby’s breath.
The baby’s breath flower we know belongs to the genus Gypsophila. You’re probably most familiar with the perennial form of baby’s breath, which is a popular ‘behind-the-scenes’ filler in bouquets, often setting off more colorful, larger blooms such as roses. It’s a common Valentine’s Day and wedding flower as well and, fittingly, a symbol of everlasting love. See the Meaning of Flowers.
In flower gardens, the small, delicate 5-petaled flowers and light green stems create an airy look that’s perfect for perennial beds, cottage gardens, and cutting gardens. It nicely hides die-back from spring bulbs and flowers. Plant in groupings. Cut it back after flowering to encourage more blooms. We think baby’s breath looks lovely in a vase all on its own in big billowy sprays.
While white is the most common color, baby’s breath comes in shades of pink, too! Blooming from late spring or summer through the fall, you can find baby’s breath in the wild in fields, roadsides, and open sandy areas. It’s drought-resistant and deer-resistant as well.
While they are dainty and beautiful, they are mildly toxic to pets and can be an irritant to humans, so don’t eat them or let Fido chew on them.
Also, check your state’s invasive plant list before growing baby’s breath. Gypsophila paniculata is considered an invasive species or a noxious weed in many Western states and other areas like the Great Lakes. In these areas, you may be able to grow annual varieties. Read Next
Baby’s breath likes full sun in northern regions and morning sun with a bit of afternoon shade in hotter climates. Hardy to USDA zones 3 to 9, it will grow in most areas of the US. Poor, sandy, or otherwise less fertile soil is fine for Gypsohila. Fertile soil or too much fertilizer can cause excessive vegetative growth and floppy stems, easily knocked down by wind or rain.
It needs well-drained alkaline to neutral soil, not strongly acidic. Excellent drainage is vital, and Gypsophila spp. are likely to suffer from root rot in heavier soils with poor drainage.
When to Plant Baby’s Breath
Start baby’s breath from seed indoors about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Perennial varieties can be started as much as ten weeks early.
Direct seeding can be done once the soil warms. Wait to transplant seedlings started indoors until after your last frost.
Flower 101: Everything you need to know about babies breath
FAQ
Do you cut back baby’s breath?
How do you take care of baby’s breath in the fall?
Does baby’s breath come back every year?
Can baby’s breath be winter sown?
Do Baby Breath plants need winter protection?
One of the most important components in baby’s breath winter protection is keeping the soil from getting too moist. Excessive moisture can be a real issue, causing root rot, and baby’s breath plants prefer dry soil anyway. Make sure your plants are in a spot with good drainage.
How can a cold-induced asthma be treated for an infant?
Asthma symptoms are generally managed with an inhaled medicine that helps to open the airways that tighten up in an asthma attack. The most commonly used of these medications (bronchodilators) is albuterol, which is given either via a pump (with a tube and mask attached for babies and children) or a nebulizer machine. If symptoms are severe or frequent, other bronchodilators or sometimes steroids (usually inhaled) are given.
How do you care for a Baby’s Breath plant?
One of the benefits of baby’s breath is its ease of care once established. Plants generally only need water during excessively hot, dry weather or extended periods without rain. Feed your baby’s breath plants with organic fertilizer once each year in the spring.
Is Baby’s Breath a cold hardy plant?
Baby’s breath is a cold hardy plant that can tolerate cold temperatures. For extra warmth and insulation, you can add a layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Baby’s breath has a few issues with pests and diseases. Pests for this plant include aphids, leafhoppers, Japanese beetles, slugs, and rabbits.