How to grow Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides? Introduction and care methods for Baby's Tears, Po Tong Qian
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (Baby's Tears, Po Tong Qian, Taiwan Hydrocotyle) Scientific name: hydrocotylesibthorpioides Family: Apiaceae Morphological features: Perennial herb. Plant height 5-10 cm, stems slender, creeping growth. Leaves alternate, kidney-shaped, usually 5-lobed, hence the name Po Tong Qian
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (Baby's Tears, Po Tong Qian, Taiwan Hydrocotyle) Scientific name: hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Family: Apiaceae Morphological features: Perennial herb. Plant height 5-10 cm, stems slender, creeping growth. Leaves alternate, kidney-shaped, usually 5-lobed, hence the name Po Tong Qian. Umbels solitary at nodes, opposite to leaves, petals greenish-white.
Ecological habits: Prefers moisture, avoids drought and severe cold.
Flowering period: April to May.
Flower language: Tenacity, resilience.
Landscape uses: Leaf color is deep green and glossy, suitable as groundcover in damp shaded areas, and as a base color for flower borders. As a potted ornamental, it can remain evergreen year-round; once it reaches a certain density, the stems and vines trail down outside the pot. It can be grown in shallow water (with white gravel placed in the pot), placed on a windowsill or stand, small and exquisite, elegant and distinctive; or used as an accent planting for tree stump bonsai and landscape bonsai; or used as decorative greenery for garden paving.
Species identification: Species with the same name "Coin Grass" --- Hydrocotyle vulgaris (common Hydrocotyle) h. vulgaris has long-stalked leaves, round umbrella-shaped, leaf margins with blunt rounded serrations.
Edible value: The plant has a special fragrance, mainly used to clear heat, promote urination, reduce swelling, and detoxify. The vine buds and leaves can be stir-fried or used in soup, belonging to a pollution-free health-promoting green wild coriander.
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides picture appreciation, getting closer to Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a herbaceous plant that many people may not be very familiar with. It mainly grows in dark, damp places, mostly along roadsides or in waterlogged areas. The editor feels its appearance is somewhat like four-leaf clover and coin grass, so everyone should be careful to distinguish them. This plant is distributed in many cities in our country. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides also has its medicinal effects and can assist in treating various diseases, for example, it can clear heat and detoxify. This was already recorded in detail in ancient medical books. Today, the editor will join everyone in learning about Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides.
How to plant Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides?
First, before introducing the characteristics of Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides as an aquatic plant and how to grow it, we need to correct the wrong pronunciation many friends use: it is Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (sui), not Tianhu Kui. As an aquatic plant, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides also exists as a traditional Chinese medicine in the field of Chinese medicine, but at the same time it is also regarded as an excellent foreground plant in aquatic plant landscaping.
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, scientific name Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides , was originally distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, and prefers relatively humid environments. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides does not have very high environmental requirements and is a relatively easy aquatic plant to grow. The pH of the water in the aquarium can be maintained between 5 and 8. It is better to use softer or neutral water to care for it, and the temperature in the planted tank is best controlled at about 10°C-26°C. In addition, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides has a relatively high demand for light. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides generally reproduces relatively quickly in an aquarium, creeping and propagating on the substrate, and will gradually cover the tank substrate. After maintaining the environment needed for Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides to grow, insert its roots into the soil, or tie it onto driftwood or fake rocks; after doing this, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides will begin to creep on its own. However, be sure to check whether the light in the planted tank is strong enough and concentrated enough, and whether there is enough carbon dioxide.
Related selected prescriptions
1. To treat jaundice from hepatitis: fresh Di Xing Xiu 5 qian to 8 qian (dried 3 to 5 qian), Yinchenhao 5 qian. Decoct in water and take, three times a day. ("Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs") 2. To treat acute icteric hepatitis: fresh Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1 to 2 liang, white sugar 1 liang, decoct with equal parts wine and water, take once daily. ("Jiangxi Herbal Medicine")
3. To treat yang jaundice and children's wind-heat: mash Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, add a little salt, and take with boiling water. ("Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Records")
4. To treat children's summer fever: appropriate amount of fresh Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, mash to obtain half a small bowl of juice, take 3 to 5 spoonfuls each time, 5 to 6 times daily. ("Jiangxi Herbal Medicine")
5. To treat dysentery: Baby's Tears, Shegeda, Cili root, pomegranate peel. Decoct and take. ("Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Records")
6. To treat red strangury: Di Xing Xiu and Bianxu 4 liang each. Mash to extract juice and mix with white sugar to take. ("Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs")
7. To treat kidney stones: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1 to 2 liang, decoct in water and take. ("Jiangxi Folk Herbal Prescriptions")
8. To treat anuria: fresh Di Xing Xiu 1 liang, mash and squeeze out the water, add white sugar 1 liang and take, or decoct in water and mix with white sugar to take. ("Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs")
9. To treat children's malnutrition: Di Xing Xiu 5 qian to 1 liang, steam with chicken liver or pig liver and eat. ("Guiyang Folk Medicinal Herbs")
10. To improve eyesight and remove eye film: rub Yi Cao and insert into the nose; for left eye film insert into the right nostril, for right eye film insert into the left nostril. ("Yi Lin Zuan Yao")
11. To treat wind-fire eye pain: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides and Hanliancao in equal parts. Mash and apply. ("Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Records")
12. To treat traumatic bruises and swelling: mash Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, stir-fry with wine until hot, apply and rub the affected area. ("Guangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Records")
13. To treat urticaria: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1 to 2 liang, mash to extract juice and take with boiling water. ("Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine")
14. To treat skin eruptions and boils, with extreme heat and purple-black color: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 6 to 7 qian, place in a bowl and mash without letting the water escape, then add boiling rice-washing water and pour in, remove the residue and drink it; apply the residue to the skin eruptions and boils, and the heat will exit through urine. ("Lingnan Medicinal Herb Collection")
15. To treat shingles (herpes zoster): fresh Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1 handful, mash and squeeze out 1 cup of juice, add realgar powder 1 qian, apply to the affected area, twice daily. ("Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine")
16. To treat laryngitis: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1 to 2 liang, decoct in water or mash for juice and add a little salt to gargle. ("Fujian Chinese Herbal Medicine")
17. To treat bleeding from tooth gaps: fresh Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1 handful, wash with cool boiled water, mash and soak in vinegar, hold in the mouth; spit out after five minutes, 3 to 4 times daily. ("Fujian Folk Herbal Medicine")
18. To treat scalp sores and white ringworm: Baby's Tears, Niu'er Dahuang, hibiscus bark. Mash and apply. ("Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Records")
19. To treat ear ulceration: fresh Baby's Tears grass, rub to extract juice and apply. ("Sichuan Traditional Chinese Medicine Records")
20. To treat whooping cough: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 5 qian, mash and mix with honey and take with boiling water. ("Hunan Materia Medica")
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, a perennial herb over two years. Stems slender and weak, creeping, spreading flat on the ground in patches, hairless or nearly hairless; roots growing at the stem nodes. Simple leaves alternate, round or nearly kidney-shaped, diameter 0.5-1.6 cm, base heart-shaped, 5-7 shallowly lobed, lobes short, with 2-3 blunt teeth, upper surface dark green, smooth, lower surface green or with soft hairs, both surfaces from smooth to slightly pubescent; petioles slender and weak, 0.5-9 cm long. Umbels opposite to leaves, solitary at nodes; peduncle 0.5-3 cm long; involucral bracts 4-10, oblanceolate, about 2 mm long; each umbel has 10-15 flowers, flowers sessile or stalked; calyx teeth absent; petals ovate, arranged valvate; greenish-white. Schizocarp slightly heart-shaped, 1-1.25 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide; mericarps flattened on the sides, smooth or spotted, dorsal ribs slightly sharp. Flowering period April to May.
Main varieties: The herb is mostly wrinkled into a mass, roots fine, surface pale yellow or grayish-yellow. Stems extremely slender, curved, yellow-green, with root scars and residual fine roots at the nodes. (1) Leaves mostly wrinkled and broken, when intact round or nearly kidney-shaped, 5-7 shallowly lobed, rarely undivided, margins blunt-toothed; stipules membranous; petioles about 0.5 cm long, twisted. Umbels small. Schizocarp slightly heart-shaped, flattened on both sides. Aromatic odor. (2) Po Tong Qian is wrinkled into a mass. Stems slender. Leaves mostly broken; when intact leaves are flattened and nearly round, blade 3-5 deeply lobed almost to the base, with one or both sides of the lateral lobes only split to 1/3 of the base, lobes wedge-shaped. Slight fragrance, bland taste.
Pharmacological methods: Anti-pathogenic microorganism effect. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 1:1 decoction shows strong inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus in in vitro tests, and also has varying degrees of inhibitory effect on Proteus, Shigella flexneri, and Salmonella typhi. In a plague model test, the inhibition rate in the mouse model was 54%; when using whole Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides at 100 g/kg for antimalarial screening, the inhibition rate was 54%. Oral administration of crude coumarin 250 mg/kg has a significant blood sugar-lowering effect on normal diabetic rats.
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a plant that can not only be used as medicine to treat diseases and save people. It also has ornamental functions. It has relatively strong adaptability and wide coverage, and can grow into a lawn. It can also be used as an indoor hydroponic potted plant, with a certain ornamental value, bringing a touch of bright green to the home. Some people now also put it in aquariums, growing it as an aquatic plant, also giving fish a growing environment closer to nature. Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a non-toxic and pollution-free plant, so everyone can plant and touch it with confidence.
Baby's Breath Gypsophila Baby's Breath flower guide: How to grow Baby's Breath / How to propagate Baby's Breath
Baby's Breath flower profileBaby's Breath Gypsophila
Aliases: Paniculate Gypsophila, Double-petaled Gypsophila, Gypsophila, Xia Cao
Classification: Perennial herbaceous flower
Family and genus: Plantae, Angiosperms, Dicotyledons, Caryophyllales, Caryophyllaceae, Gypsophila genus
Full flowering period: Summer
Baby's Breath, originally named Double-petaled Gypsophila, native to the Mediterranean coast. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family as a perennial herbaceous flower. It is an evergreen dwarf small shrub, with plant height about 65-70 cm, stems slender and smooth, many branches, leaves narrow and long, sessile, opposite, leaf color powdery green. It prefers warm, humid, and sunny environments, suitable for planting in flower beds, roadsides, and flower hedges, and is also very suitable for potted ornamental display and bonsai making. It blooms in early summer, flowers like beans, each flower with 5 petals, with a slight fragrance. Also known as Po Tong Qian, it can be used as a medicinal plant, and can also be used as a companion for roses for lovers.
Baby's Breath cultivation methods and precautions Baby's Breath introduction
Baby's Breath, originally named Double-petaled Gypsophila, native to the Mediterranean coast. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family as a perennial herbaceous flower. It is an evergreen dwarf small shrub, with plant height about 65-70 cm, stems slender and smooth, many branches, leaves narrow and long, sessile, opposite, leaf color powdery green. It prefers warm, humid, and sunny environments, suitable for planting in flower beds, roadsides, and flower hedges, and is also very suitable for potted ornamental display and bonsai making. It blooms in early summer, flowers like beans, each flower with 5 petals, with a slight fragrance. Also known as Po Tong Qian, it can be used as a medicinal plant, and can also be used as a companion for roses for lovers.
Morphological characteristics of Baby's Breath Morphological characteristics
Perennial herb, 30-80 cm tall. Roots thick and strong. Stems solitary, rarely several clustered, erect, much branched, hairless or glandular-pubescent below. Leaf blades lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 2-5 cm long, 2.5-7 mm wide, apex acuminate, midrib obvious. Paniculate cyme much branched, loose, flowers small and numerous; pedicels slender, 2-6 mm long, hairless; bracts triangular, acute; calyx broad. Teeth bell-shaped, 1.5-2 mm long, with broad purple veins, calyx lobes ovate, rounded-obtuse, margin white, membranous; petals white or pale red, spatulate, about 3 mm long, about 1 mm wide, apex truncate or rounded-obtuse; filaments flat-linear, nearly equal to petals in length, anthers arranged round; ovary ovoid, about 1 mm in diameter, style slender. Capsule spherical, slightly longer than persistent calyx, 4-valved; seeds small, round, about 1 mm in diameter, reddish-brown, with neat blunt tuberculate protrusions. Flowering period June to August, fruiting period August to September. Flowers terminal on branch tips, arranged in compound corymb. Small snow-white flowers, scattered evenly in thousands, fresh and elegant; cut flowers are high-grade flower material for flower arranging, and after shade-drying they become natural added dried flowers. Varieties include semi-double or double-petaled types; double-petaled types bloom more and densely. It can bloom year-round, but due to weak heat tolerance, in flatland summer high temperatures it must be cultivated in a greenhouse.
Texture hard, not easy to break, cross-section shows 2-3 whorls of anomalous vascular bundles, perennial and dwarf, with a strong bitter odor, often mixed into Yin Chai Hu for medicinal use. Stems slender and creeping, spreading flat on the ground in patches, leaves alternate, round or kidney-shaped, diameter 0.5-3.5 cm, undivided or 5-7 deeply lobed to the middle, margins blunt-serrate, upper surface green, smooth or sparsely hairy, lower surface usually pubescent; petioles fine, 0.5-9 cm long. Single umbel opposite to leaves, growing at nodes, peduncle 0.5-3 cm long; involucral bracts 4-10, oblanceolate, about 2 mm long; each umbel has 10-15 flowers, flowers sessile or with short stalks; no calyx teeth, petals ovate. Schizocarp slightly heart-shaped, flattened on the sides, smooth or spotted, central ribs slightly sharp. Flowering period is more than one month.
Shape
Baby's Breath is an evergreen dwarf small shrub. At the beginning of summer, countless flower buds gather at the branch tips, flowers fine as beans, each with 5 petals, white as clouds,
with a slight fragrance, like ten thousand stars shining, hanging all over the sky. If viewed from afar, it seems like morning mist or evening sunset haze, hence the alias "Xia Cao".
Stems and leaves
Main roots thick and strong, stems clustered and much branched. Leaves oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, 5-12 mm wide, apex pointed, base slightly narrowed, slightly clasping the stem, cymes terminal or axillary, arranged in paniculate.
Flowers
Flowers relatively small, dense. Bracts ovate, membranous, apex acute. Pedicels 2-4 mm long. Calyx bell-shaped, 2-2.5 mm long, calyx teeth 5, ovate-triangular, margin membranous, ciliate; petals 5 cm, pink or white, obovate, 4-5.5 mm long; stamens 10, longer than petals; ovary elliptic, styles 2 cm exceeding petals. Capsule ovoid-spherical, longer than calyx, apex 4-lobed. Flowering period May to July.
Seeds
Seeds nearly kidney-shaped, about 1.2-1.5 mm long, light gray.
Ecological habits of Baby's Breath Growth environment
Native to the Mediterranean coast. It likes to grow in warm, humid, and sunny environments, and has relatively good shade, cold, and drought tolerance. Suitable for growing in well-drained, fertile, and loose loam. The best cultivation soil is slightly alkaline calcareous loam, with good drainage and sunlight. When the plant height is already above 20 cm, the amount of irrigation water should be reduced as appropriate; slight drought can promote flowering, especially after flowering, poor drainage or prolonged rain can easily rot the roots. It prefers warmth and avoids high temperature and humidity; the suitable growth temperature is 10-25°C, and propagation is mainly by sowing.
Habits
Perennial Gypsophila is a long-day plant, with flowering period June to August. Flower bud differentiation requires more than 13 hours of sunlight. As day length increases, flower bud differentiation accelerates. Different types of perennial Gypsophila have different critical day lengths; generally, large-flowered varieties are more sensitive to long days than small-flowered varieties. Under natural growth conditions, it is generally planted in autumn and blooms in May to June the following year. With an unheated greenhouse, it can be marketed from April to May. In recent years, there has been cultivation for market from March to May, October to November, or January to February of the following year, for year-round production. Baby's Breath is native to the dry summer regions of Europe, northern Africa, and central and western Asia. It prefers cool conditions and grows best under conditions of sufficient sunlight and air circulation. The suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C. Above 30°C or below 10°C, with insufficient water content, it easily causes rosette-like clustering, only growing rhizomes and not flowering. The soil should be loose, rich in organic matter, with moderate water content, and pH (acid-base value) around 7.
Suitable environment
Prefers warm, humid, and sunny environments, relatively shade-tolerant and cold-tolerant, suitable for growing in well-drained, fertile, and loose loam. The best cultivation soil is slightly alkaline calcareous loam, with good drainage and sunlight. Roots easily rot. It prefers warmth and avoids high temperature and humidity; the suitable temperature for potted Baby's Breath is 10-25°C.
Growth environment
Baby's Breath is native to the Caucasus of the former Soviet Union (Europe, northern Africa, and central and western Asia). Cold-tolerant, avoids intense heat and rain. It should grow in sunny environments and loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly alkaline sandy loam. The suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C. Above 30°C or below 10°C, it easily causes rosette-like clustering, only growing stems and not flowering. The soil should be loose, rich in organic matter, with moderate water content, pH around 7. In southern China, it is mostly planted in autumn, about 2000 plants per mu. After pinching, each plant retains 4-6 branches, and ultimately can produce more than 5 flower stems. If cultivated in a greenhouse, the flowering period can be more effectively regulated, aiming for market before the Spring Festival. Because the price per stem is several times higher than other cut flowers, most flower sellers divide large branches into fine branches and sell them by quality, sometimes in short supply. For commercial cut flower production of Baby's Breath, seedling propagation is mainly by tissue culture, and can also be by cuttings; some single-petaled types can be propagated by seeds.
Cultivation techniques of Baby's Breath Cultivation management
Baby's Breath can be used in landscaping displays in most cities and can maintain a flowering period of more than 300 days, which other varieties cannot compare with. It is also an indispensable cut flower variety with broad market prospects. The specific cultivation techniques are as follows.
1. Land preparation
Before planting, the soil should be deeply plowed 40-50 cm, sufficient organic fertilizer applied, and some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer appropriately added. Acidic or neutral soil should be appropriately treated with some lime to adjust soil pH. Make high beds, with bed surface height 30-40 cm.
2. Planting
Plant 2000-2500 plants per mu (1 mu = 667 sq m), using double-row planting, row spacing 50 cm, plant spacing 35-50 cm. Before planting, irrigate thoroughly, then choose a cloudy day for planting, and water thoroughly after planting. Planting time: for cut flower cultivation, if produced in a greenhouse, it can be planted in summer, autumn, or even early spring. In this way, flowers are harvested from early autumn until early summer. After harvesting flowers, the plants should be dug up in June to July, then cold-stored until August to September, and replanted.
3. Fertilizer and water management
Like other herbaceous flowers, Baby's Breath has relatively high fertilizer and water requirements, but it is most afraid of random fertilization, concentrated fertilizer, and one-sided application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. It requires following the two fertilization (water) principles of "light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts but many times, complete nutrition" and "alternate dry and wet, dry should be thoroughly dry, do not water if not dry, water thoroughly when watering," and after fertilizing, keep leaves and flowers dry at night. After planting, topdress in stages, mainly nitrogen fertilizer in the early stage and mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in the later stage. Water management must be strictly controlled; excessive moisture weakens growth, and waterlogging causes root rot and death. When the plant grows to 30 cm, watering should be controlled, especially carefully during the bud stage, and it should also be drier during the flowering period. In rainy areas, a shelter should be built to avoid rain during cultivation.
Spring
After temperatures rise, growth recovers rapidly and gradually enters the flower bud differentiation stage and flowering stage, with high fertilizer and water requirements. Fertilizer and water management follows the cycle of "Hua Bao" - clear water - "Hua Bao" - clear water, with an interval period of about 2-4 days. After entering the seed-setting stage, stop fertilizer supply.
Autumn
After sown seedlings are potted and recover for a period, fertilizer and water management should be quickly brought up to speed. Fertilizer and water management follows the cycle of "Hua Bao" - "Hua Bao" - clear water - "Hua Bao" - "Hua Bao" - clear water, with an interval period of about 1-3 days; shorter intervals on sunny days or during high temperatures, longer intervals or no watering on rainy days or during low temperatures.
Winter
Although it continues to grow, the relatively low temperature slows its growth rate, and it has low fertilizer and water requirements, and may even need controlled fertilizer and water. Fertilizer and water management follows the cycle of "Hua Bao" - clear water - clear water - "Hua Bao" - clear water - clear water, with an interval period of about 4-7 days. Watering time should be arranged as much as possible at noon on sunny days when the temperature is relatively high.
Care methods
The best cultivation soil is slightly alkaline calcareous loam; roots easily rot. During flowering, cutting off spent flowers with three leaves can prolong the flowering period.
It prefers warmth and avoids high temperature and humidity; the suitable growth temperature is 10-25°C. Paniculate Gypsophila can bloom year-round.
Flowering regulation
The growth and flowering characteristics of perennial Gypsophila are its growth and development characteristics. Besides the two self-deceiving characteristics of flowering under long days and rapid stem elongation after flower bud formation, there are also three points: plants that have already become rosetted in autumn break the rosette after receiving low temperatures, and growth activity increases. After activity increases, even under relatively low temperatures in early spring it grows slowly; after growth reaches a certain degree, if the temperature rises, flower buds form under long days, and at the same time the flower stem elongates rapidly and blooms. If it encounters summer high temperatures, growth activity decreases, and under cool autumn and short-day conditions it enters winter in a rosette state. If rosette formation occurs, the growth activity of perennial Gypsophila in autumn and winter is extremely low, making it difficult to flower. High temperature and long-day treatment can be used to prevent rosette formation.
Specific methods: Cultivate at 15-25°C with more than 16 hours of sunlight (preferably lighting late at night) to obtain cut flowers in autumn, winter, or early spring; or, starting from mid-July, cold-store the plants at 2-3°C until mid-September for planting, then cultivate under long-day conditions at temperatures above 8°C to bloom in December; rosette formation can also be prevented with hormones. When rosettes are about to form, spraying with aminopurine (300×10-6), or spraying with gibberellin (300×10-6), can both significantly promote the elongation and flowering of perennial Gypsophila.
Cultivation tips
Suitable germination temperature: 15-20°C. Sowing period: early autumn to early spring. After seedlings are planted and survive, pinch once to encourage more branching. When plant height is above 20 cm, reduce irrigation amount as appropriate; slight drought can promote flowering, generally blooming in mid-to-late May. In cold regions, spring sowing is suitable; in areas where the soil does not freeze, autumn sowing can be done. The optimal germination temperature is 21-22°C. Seedlings emerge in 7-10 days. After planting, pinch when about 8 nodes have grown; when side buds grow to 5-10 cm, remove buds, keeping strong ones and removing weak ones. Water frequently in the early planting stage; appropriately control water when flower buds begin to form.
Planting conditions Suitable growth temperature
Best growth at day temperature 25°C; if above 30°C, with too long a time or too many days, it easily increases the probability of deformed flowers. Night temperature is best at 10-15°C; if below 10°C, combined with short days in autumn and winter, it can easily cause dormancy or clustering.
Demand for sunlight
For most commercial varieties, the critical photoperiod for flowering is about 12-18 hours. Long-day treatment itself only effectively induces flower spike differentiation, while more long-day treatment can obtain more flowers. And a longer photoperiod can not only promote earlier flowering, but also make flowers larger. However, Bristol Fairy's demand for long light is not as sensitive as other varieties such as Perfecta diamuna; it can flower with 12 hours of light. This is one of the reasons why this variety has become the main variety for professional production in Taiwan, China.
Demand for light intensity
Light has an extremely profound effect on whether Baby's Breath flowers, especially in winter it is more obvious. If summer Baby's Breath is given 80-24 Klux illuminance, all plants can flower; the difference is that the less illuminance the plant receives, the relatively fewer flowers it sets. In winter, plants given 58 Klux can all flower; while those given 24 Klux cannot flower even if continuously given a 24-hour full-light period.
Demand for soil
Generally, well-drained slightly alkaline calcareous soil or gravelly loam is best.
Demand for water
Seedling stage has relatively high water demand. After pinching, sufficient water and nutrients are still needed so that the plant can gradually transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, that is, entering the bolting stage (flowering stage). Until the small flower spikes emerge and petals grow out, water should be slightly reduced to prevent reduced cut flower quality and stem strength, and also to promote neat flowering. Especially in the high-temperature and humid summer season, whether water is controlled appropriately is often the main factor determining the success of Baby's Breath cultivation.
Cultivation techniques Planting
First, from the perspective of cultivation techniques, the planting field must use a good drainage system. In addition, weeds in the field need to be cleared thoroughly, and the soil turned twice. For fields with less fertile soil, fertilizer should be applied in advance. Box-style cultivation with a width of 2.5-3 m and unlimited length is best, and soil clods should be broken up and the soil surface leveled for easy management. Select small seedlings about 15 cm tall for the seedbed, 2-3 plants per clump, transplant at 20 cm × 30 cm plant and row spacing, about 8000-10000 plants per mu, planting slightly deeper is beneficial for increasing roots, and choose cloudy and rainy days or sunny afternoons for transplanting; after planting, water to retain moisture, and generally new roots will regrow in 3-5 days. Afterward, according to weather conditions, apply 1%-2% urea or compound fertilizer solution together with watering, which is beneficial for rapid growth. Prune according to tree shape and growth height to increase crown diameter. Generally in 6-8 months, it can grow into large seedlings about 30 cm tall, which can then be used for landscaping projects. The larger the plant shape and crown diameter, the higher the price.
Breeding tips
Baby's Breath prefers cool conditions and grows best under conditions of sufficient sunlight and air circulation. The suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C. Above 30°C or below 10°C, it easily causes rosette-like clustering, only growing stems and not flowering. The soil should be loose, rich in organic matter, with moderate water content, pH around 7.
Cutting propagation
March to May
After using rooting powder or 500 mg/kg naphthalene acetic acid, carry out cuttings on a seedbed with 1:1 perlite and rice husk ash as the medium, keep warm and moist, and roots will form in about 25-30 days. Because cuttings are relatively difficult to root, tissue-cultured seedlings are now mostly used.
Choose a plot with loose soil and good drainage, apply sufficient base fertilizer, using 10 kg nitrogen, 7 kg phosphorus, and 14 kg potassium per 100 sq m; the amount of base fertilizer should account for 60%-70% of the total fertilizer. Planting should be shallow, and soil should be gradually banked up later. Planting spacing should be about 50 cm.
Side branches. When side branch leaves unfold, keep 3-4 side branches and remove the rest. The seedling stage requires more watering to keep the soil moist, and combined with watering, apply a thin fertilizer about every 10 days, mainly nitrogen fertilizer. During the seedling stage, loosen soil and bank up soil frequently to ensure the soil is loose and breathable and the root system develops well. At the same time, pay attention to timely weeding.
Bolting stage management
June to August
Bolting stage. During this period, apply heavy fertilizer and water, reduce the proportion of nitrogen fertilizer, increase the amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and at the same time apply more quick-acting fertilizers such as calcium nitrate and plant ash. Stop nitrogen fertilizer 45 days before flowering (late bolting stage), control water, and use 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate for foliar topdressing once a week. Baby's Breath must be cultivated with strict rain protection; watering should also be dry rather than wet, and it especially fears waterlogging. In the rainy season, pay more attention to smooth drainage inside and outside the greenhouse.
During the flowering period, to prevent weak branches, strictly control water and fertilizer, and appropriately carry out foliar topdressing. In the plum rain season, prevent Phytophthora disease; after summer rain, promptly spray with 500 times chlorothalonil to prevent common Baby's Breath diseases such as Phytophthora and gray mold. In hot and dry seasons, Baby's Breath is susceptible to red spider mite damage.
September to December
After September, artificial electric lighting supplementation is needed to meet the long-day conditions for winter flower production, so as to induce flower bud differentiation and shift vegetative growth to reproductive growth. Commonly use all-night lighting or late-night lighting (22:00 to 2:00), and ensure light intensity is 50-100 lux. Winter flower production also requires maintaining a temperature above 15°C; low temperatures below 10°C easily produce rosette-like clustered leaves and cannot bolt normally.
Cutting and marketing
There is no fixed standard for cutting Baby's Breath flowers. The international market mostly uses weight as the standard, generally requiring a stem to be no less than 10 grams; some cut at the base of the stem, using the entire reproductive stem as a unit. The domestic market generally requires each stem to have three branches. The appropriate time for cutting fresh flowers is when 75% of the flowers are open; if the transport distance is relatively long, it can be appropriately earlier.
Wild Baby's Breath has small single-petaled flowers and reproduces by seeds. It is a typical long-day plant; autumn sowing and spring flowering is a typical characteristic of long-day plants. Wild species of Baby's Breath have small single petals and relatively low commercial value, and are mostly used as breeding materials, rarely cultivated commercially.
Propagation methods of Baby's Breath
Gypsophila is mainly propagated by sowing seeds.
Composition: contains flavonoid glycosides, phenols, amino acids, volatile oil, coumarins
Optimal germination temperature: 15-20°C. Sowing period: autumn to early spring. Optimal growing temperature: 10-25°C. Flowering period: May to July. Seedling raising: choose loose soil to make a bed, sow in September, cover lightly with fine soil, germinate in about 10 days, move to a cold frame before winter to overwinter. Cultivation: in the following spring, transplant with soil to open ground; after the seedlings become established, pinch once to encourage more branching. Once the plants reach a height of 25 cm or more, reduce the amount of watering; slight drought can promote flowering. They bloom in mid-to-late May; this species can also be directly sown in open ground before the ground freezes in November or sown in early spring. Mainly propagated by cuttings. In spring, carry out hardwood cuttings: cut 10-15 cm lengths of mature branches from the previous year, insert them into a sand bed, and they generally root in about 30 days. During the plum rain season, softwood cuttings can be used: select the current year's tender shoot tips for cuttings, and they root in 2-3 weeks after insertion. When repotting each spring, add fresh fertile soil; during the growing period keep the potting soil moist and fertilize once every 2 weeks to encourage abundant foliage and profuse flowering. In autumn, pay attention to pruning the whole plant to maintain a good plant shape.
Propagation method: tissue culture
Using shoot-tip culture, the propagation coefficient is high, the root system grows well, and the seedling quality is good. Using tissue-cultured plantlets to produce cut flowers, the flower stems are upright, the color is pure, and the cut flower quality is high.
Cuttings
The rooting rate is not very high; it is advisable to select cuttings with 4-5 pairs of leaves, treat them with rooting powder or other auxins, and insert them into a cutting bed with perlite as the substrate. This can be done without seasonal restrictions, but the best periods are from mid-to-late March to early July and from late September to early November. When the temperature is above 15°C, they generally root in 20 days.
It can be sprayed with a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. Pests include aphids and red spider mites, which can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
Disease and pest control of Gypsophila flowers
Because this variety grows fast, the cultivation time is greatly shortened. There are few pests and diseases during the growing season. If aphids are found damaging the leaves at the seedling stage, they can be killed with a general 800-fold dilution of dichlorvos. This variety is suitable for cultivation in all four seasons, generally mainly in spring, autumn and winter. When transplanted with soil on cloudy and rainy days in summer, the seedlings generally will not die, and the survival rate is high.
Gypsophila is mainly harmed by leaf spot disease, which can be controlled by spraying with a 600-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. Stem rot and stunting disease are fatal diseases of Gypsophila; before planting, the soil should be disinfected with formaldehyde solution. Pests include aphids, mites and red spider mites, which can be killed by spraying with a 1000-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate, or with a 1000-fold dilution of dicofol and a 1500-fold dilution of fenvalerate.
Variety classification of Gypsophila flowers
At present, the following 6 varieties perform relatively well: native to the Eurasian continent. Gypsophila elegans reaches up to 50 cm (20 in) tall, is much branched, with narrow, blue-green leaves, and is widely cultivated. Common varieties include 'Carminea' (deep rose-red flowers), 'Grandiflora Alba' (large, white flowers) and 'Rosea' (light rose-colored flowers). Gypsophila paniculata reaches up to 1 m (40 in) tall, resembles Gypsophila elegans in appearance, but has thicker rhizomes, and flowers range from white to pale pink. A common variety is 'Compacta'. In recent years, all the open coastal cities of our country have successively introduced Gypsophila, with Shanghai having introduced relatively more and better ones. Yunnan and Guangdong also have many flower farms gradually going into production. There are very many horticultural varieties; at present, the world cut flower market and the varieties introduced and cultivated in our country mainly include 5 varieties.
Baby's Breath
The most widely used in cut flower production, accounting for about 80%, with small flowers. Flowers are white, highly adaptable, able to withstand summer heat and winter cold, relatively easy to cultivate, and also easy for year-round production. It can also be cultivated in summer, can bloom year-round, and the flower color is pure white.
Perfect
Large flowers, short internodes, thick and upright stems, relatively large flowers, crystal-clear white, suitable for making corsages and dried flowers. During high temperatures it easily produces rosette-like clustering, and flowering stops at low temperatures; cultivation is difficult, but the price is high.
Flamingo
A large-flowered variety selected and bred from Baby's Breath, with short internodes, and delayed flowering at low temperatures. Year-round production is relatively difficult; the plant is relatively short, grows vigorously and easily, blooms in autumn, and the flower color is pure white.
Hamingo
Flowers are pale pink, small, with slender stems, blooming in spring.
RedSea
Flowers are deep peach-red, large, with thick stems. In high-cold regions it is planted in spring and sold in autumn; the flower color is very vivid and not easy to fade. In warm regions, it can bloom from autumn to spring; it is a newly selected and bred variety.
Better varieties
(1) "Baby's Breath". It can also be cultivated in summer, can bloom year-round, and the flower color is pure white.
(2) "Perfect". Not tolerant of low-temperature weather; the flowers are relatively large, crystal-clear white, suitable for making corsages and dried flowers.
(3) "Flamingo". The plant is relatively short, grows vigorously and easily, blooms in autumn, and the flower color is pure white.
(4) "Flamingo", with slender stems and branches, blooms in spring, and the flower color is light red.
(5) "RedSea". The stems are thick, it can bloom from spring to autumn, and the flower color is peach-red. Among the above varieties in the international market, "Baby's Breath" has the largest sales volume, accounting for about 70%-80% of total Gypsophila sales.
Distribution regions and places of origin of Gypsophila flowers
Produced in the **Altai Mountains and Tashkurgan. It grows at an altitude of 1100-1500 m in riverbanks, grasslands, fixed sand dunes, stony slopes and farmland. It is also found in Kazakhstan, Russia (Siberia), Mongolia (western), Europe (western, central and eastern) and North America. The type specimen was collected from Siberia, Russia. Gypsophila has a gregarious characteristic; wild Gypsophila can often be seen in crowds beside fields, gardens or ditches, especially when midsummer arrives, when they send out one long stem after another, adorned like small white petals. Gypsophila is not a native plant, but comes from South America, and only came to China after World War II. Gypsophila paniculata is also called baby's breath, baby's-breath and chalk plant; it is an annual or biennial herb of the Caryophyllaceae family, native to Asia Minor to the Caucasus region, and prefers a cool climate.
Medicinal or dietary therapeutic value of Gypsophila flowers
The medical information and health dietary therapy information on Huahua Network is for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. For any health problem, consult professional medical personnel; for the treatment of any disease, please follow a doctor's advice.
Ultimate flower-protecting mission: to love yourself, start from reality and strictly follow a doctor's advice. Toward illness, do not be careless, do not delay, do not give up hope; face it bravely, warm the silent world with love, and care for the flower field within your heart with your heart.
The medical content on Huahua Network is for reference only and cannot be regarded as professional advice. For any health problem, consult professional medical personnel. Medicinal value
Hydrocotyle
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu', Xingzi grass
[Name] Latin scientific name: Herba Hydrocotylis
[English name] Lawn Pennywort Herb
[Chinese scientific name] Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu'.
[Chinese aliases] Po Tong Qian, Luo De Da, Xingzi grass.
[Collection and processing] Harvest in summer and autumn when the flowers and leaves are lush; wash clean, dry in the shade or use fresh.
[Chemical composition] Contains flavonoid glycosides, phenols, amino acids, volatile oil, coumarins, etc.
[Nature and flavor] Neutral in nature, bitter in taste.
[Usage and dosage] 15-25 g; for external use, an appropriate amount, mash the fresh product and apply to the affected area.
[Notes] (1) This product has the effect of dispelling wind and clearing heat. For wind-fire red eyes, it can be used together with mulberry leaves, Androsace umbellata and other medicines; for sore and swollen throat, it can be used together with Achyranthes bidentata and Ajuga decumbens, etc.; to treat snake-like sores, the fresh whole plant can be mashed, soaked in alcohol for half a day, and then applied to the affected area with a cotton ball.
[Excerpt] "Compilation of National Chinese Herbal Medicines"
Medicinal uses
Medicinal plant - Hydrocotyle
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu'
[Name]
Latin scientific name: Herba Hydrocotylis
English name: Lawn Pennywort Herb
Chinese scientific name: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu'
Chinese aliases: Gypsophila, Po Tong Qian, Luo De Da
[Plant morphology] Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is a perennial dwarf herb with an odor. The stems are slender and creeping, spreading flat on the ground into patches. Leaves are alternate, round or kidney-shaped; the simple umbel is opposite the leaves and borne on the nodes; the umbel peduncle is 0.5-3 cm long; involucral bracts 4-10, oblanceolate, about 2 mm long; each umbel has 10-15 flowers, the flowers are sessile or short-stalked; no calyx teeth; petals ovate, greenish-white. The schizocarp is slightly heart-shaped, flattened on the sides, smooth or spotted, with the central ribs slightly sharp. Flowering period is May.
It grows beside moist roadsides, grasslands, hillsides, wall bases, riverbanks and streams. It is distributed in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hubei, Shaanxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan.
[Collection and processing] Harvest in summer and autumn when the flowers and leaves are lush; wash clean, dry in the shade or use fresh.
[Chemical composition] Contains flavonoid glycosides, phenols, amino acids, volatile oil, coumarins.
[Nature and flavor] Neutral in nature, pungent in taste.
[Functions and indications] Clear heat and promote diuresis, resolve phlegm and relieve cough. Used for acute icteric hepatitis, acute nephritis, whooping cough, urinary tract stones, athlete's foot, herpes zoster, conjunctivitis, erysipelas.
Garden uses of Gypsophila flowers
Gypsophila is densely branched and full of a sense of depth, and is used as a filler flower in the art of flower arrangement, with very good application prospects. Besides being used as pot-surface decoration, Gypsophila can also be grown alone in pots as an ornamental plant to beautify balconies and rooms. It can also be used as a groundcover plant, planted on lawns or in open ground.
Comparison of the uses and functions of Gypsophila flowers
According to aesthetic principles, red and green are strongly contrasting colors, and red in particular is a stimulating tone, while white is a transitional color and belongs to the coordinating tones. Using Gypsophila as a filler material in flower arrangements can handle well the relationships of weight, density, depth, concealment and exposure, pitch, height and distance in the arrangement, making the work more layered and profound, and fully displaying a sense of depth, haziness and fluffiness. For example, simply arranging a few rose branches can certainly express their beauty, but if a bunch of Gypsophila is added, it can play an even stronger foiling role, making the theme and accessory express great harmony and fusion, with a fully integrated spirit. This is just as the folk saying goes, "However good the peony is, it ultimately needs the support of green leaves." It can be seen that it is not by chance that people with artistic cultivation love Gypsophila. Pairing Gypsophila with roses into a bouquet to give to a lover expresses that a beautiful love story can be created, with the stars of the sky as witness!
According to the widely recognized flower language in the United States: pairing red roses with Gypsophila expresses "undivided affection"; pairing carnations with Gypsophila expresses "kindness and warmth"; pairing gladiolus with Gypsophila expresses "wishing you great prospects"; pairing forget-me-nots with Gypsophila expresses "friendship forever"... These conventions are not necessarily all suitable for our country's customs, and are for reference only. For fresh flower harvesting, the flower stems can be harvested when 40%-60% of the small flowers have opened. Harvest mature flower stems with pruning shears; the stem length is 60-80 cm. After harvesting, place them in clean water to absorb water and stay fresh. After returning to the packing room, it is best to insert the bases into a preservation solution for 8-12 hours. In order to obtain high-quality fresh flowers, light and flower-forcing solution can also be used for 12-24 hours of flower-forcing treatment.
Uses
In early summer, Gypsophila produces continuous small white flowers; the flowers are abundant, delicate and evenly distributed. Like a sky full of stars, hazy and charming, and also like a tree covered with snow, clear and lovely, it is suitable for planting in flower beds, roadsides and flower hedges, and is also very suitable for potted viewing and bonsai making. Gypsophila is likewise an indispensable filler flower material in flower arrangements; inserting a few branches of Gypsophila into a bouquet immediately adds a bit of charm and beauty. Gypsophila is a flower loved by people of refined taste, and has always implied "purity, loftiness, romance, love". Hundreds of exquisite, delicate, pure white small flowers, when a breeze blows past, send out a delicate fragrance, showing even more warmth.
Selection method
Material characteristics: The snow-white, fluffy Gypsophila flowers are extremely small and light, and in floral art are often used as a supporting role, paired with roses, lisianthus and others to form a typical bouquet of love. In fact, appreciating Gypsophila alone is also very distinctive; tying it into a bunch and using it as the main flower in a vase immediately conveys a relaxed and lively atmosphere. After natural air-drying, it can also be made into dried flowers; the whole plant can be dyed or pressed, offering even more variations in use.
Key points for selection: It is best to choose plants with snow-white flower color, buds that are not dry or yellow-brown, and green, firm stems.
Overview of other information about Gypsophila flowers
Gypsophila: formerly called double-flowered Gypsophila, with small white double flowers. Often used for bouquet decoration. Sometimes also planted in schools.
Describes the dizzy feeling of seeing stars. Yuan dynasty, Zhu Kai, "Haotian Tower", Act Four: "First I'll throw you into a sky full of stars; do not blame us monks for lacking this compassionate nature." "Chuke Paian Jingqi", Volume Thirteen: "Lord Yan, rushed over and grabbed him and would not let go; he twisted around and aimed a single punch at Lord Yan's face, making it a sky full of stars, and he fell down dizzy." Let this book be more readable!
The name of a firework. "Dream of the Red Chamber", Chapter 54: "While they were talking, outside they set off one after another. There were also many scattered small firecrackers such as 'Nine Dragons Enter the Clouds', 'A Thunderclap from the Ground' and 'Flying Ten Resounds'."
Describes something dense or spread irregularly everywhere. Liu Qing, "History of Entrepreneurship", Part One, Chapter Twenty: "Like that 'sky full of stars' seedbed, there is simply no place for anyone to set foot."
Chemical composition
Contains flavonoid glycosides, phenols, amino acids, volatile oil, coumarins, etc. Flavonoid compounds include: diosmetin, luteolin, quercetin, luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucoside, acacetin 5-hydroxy-3',4',6,7-tetramethoxyflavone, acacetin, hesperidin, robinin, acacetin 7-O-β-D-galactoside.
Scientific name
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu'.
Gypsophila oldhamianaMiq
Classification
Caryophyllales, Caryophyllaceae, Gypsophila
Gypsophila, scientific name double-flowered Gypsophila. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family as a perennial herbaceous plant. Native to the Mediterranean coast. In early summer, Gypsophila blooms with continuous white small flower clusters; the flowers are abundant, delicate and evenly distributed, like a sky full of stars, hazy and charming, clear and lovely, and also like morning mist or evening haze, hence the alias "baby's-breath".
Gypsophila, Po Tong Qian, Luo De Da, Gypsophila, perennial grass.
In early summer, Gypsophila blooms with small white flowers, with continuous flower clusters. The flowers are abundant, delicate and evenly distributed, like a sky full of stars, hazy and charming, clear and lovely, and also like morning mist or evening haze, hence also called "baby's-breath". Gypsophila is petite and exquisite, plain snow-white in color, with a unique texture, light, fresh and delicate.
Also known as
Gypsophila cerastioides, Gypsophila oldhamiana, Gypsophila paniculata, G. paniculata L.
Baby's breath
Family and genus
Caryophyllaceae, Gypsophila.
Distribution and habits: native to the Mediterranean coast. It likes warm and humid climatic conditions, likes light, and fears waterlogging. Propagation and cultivation method: mainly propagated by sowing. Chemical composition: contains flavonoid glycosides, phenols, amino acids, volatile oil, coumarins. [5] Functions and indications: clear heat and promote diuresis, resolve phlegm and relieve cough. Used for acute icteric hepatitis, acute nephritis, whooping cough, urinary tract stones, athlete's foot, herpes zoster, conjunctivitis, erysipelas.
? Stem: The stem creeps along the ground, roots at the nodes, smooth and hairless.
? Leaves: Leaves are round heart-shaped, shallowly lobed, alternate, with long petioles, bluntly serrated.
? Flowers: A single umbel, axillary, with pedicels; flowers are greenish-white or tinged with pink.
? Fruit: The fruit is oblate, tea-brown; seeds are flat, semicircular.
? Characteristics: A perennial herb, with stems creeping along the ground, rooting at the nodes, smooth and hairless. Leaves are round heart-shaped, shallowly lobed, alternate, with long petioles, bluntly serrated. A single umbel, axillary, with pedicels; flowers are greenish-white or tinged with pink; the fruit is oblate, tea-brown; seeds are flat, semicircular. Its reproductive ability is probably hard to match, so it is also called "brocade everywhere".
Generally speaking, Gypsophila has extremely strong vitality, roots quickly, tolerates long-distance transport and transplanting, and has a survival rate of over 95%. Propagation generally uses cuttings; in spring, cut about 10 cm of new branches from the plant, make 3-4 into a cluster and insert them into a sand bed, spray water to keep moist, and they root in about 15 days; after another 20-plus days of cultivation, they are transplanted into soil and grown into large seedlings for sale.
Morphological characteristics: A perennial herbaceous plant, up to 90 cm tall, the whole plant hairless, slightly covered with white powder, vigorous, much branched, spreading in all directions, leaves opposite, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate.
Plant attributes
1. Ornamental flowers
In China, there are mainly two herbaceous plants that bear many small flowers, namely the annual Gypsophila elegans and the perennial Gypsophila paniculata. [Habits] It likes a warm, humid and sunny environment, is relatively shade-tolerant and cold-tolerant, and grows best in well-drained, fertile and loose loam. The cultivation soil is best a slightly alkaline calcareous loam; the roots are prone to rot. It likes warmth, avoids high temperature and excessive humidity, and the suitable growth temperature is 11-25°C.
2. Medicinal plants Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu', Xingzi grass [Name] Latin scientific name: Herba Hydrocotylis English name: Lawn Pennywort Herb Chinese scientific name: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu' Chinese aliases: Gypsophila, Po Tong Qian, Luo De Da, Xingzi grass!
[Collection and processing] Harvest in summer and autumn when the flowers and leaves are lush; wash clean, dry in the shade or use fresh. [Chemical composition] Contains flavonoid glycosides, phenols, amino acids, volatile oil, coumarins. [Nature and flavor] Neutral in nature, pungent in taste.
Plant information
Gypsophila oldhamiana (G. oldhamiana Miq.) alias: baby's-breath. Distributed in Gansu, Shanxi, Henan and other provinces, mostly self-produced and self-sold. The root is cylindrical or conical, 10-15 cm long, 2-5 cm in diameter; commercial products mostly have the brown outer skin removed, but the recessed areas of the longitudinal wrinkles have remnants, forming brown-white alternating textures. The texture is hard, not easy to break, and 2-3 rings of anomalous vascular bundles can be seen in cross-section; it has a strong bitter and astringent taste. It is often used as a substitute for Stellaria dichotoma in medicine.
Gypsophila paniculata, Chinese scientific name: Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides var. batrachium, Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides 'Pudu'; Chinese aliases: Gypsophila, Po Tong Qian, Luo De Da, Gypsophila, perennial baby's-breath. Family and genus: Caryophyllaceae, Gypsophila.
Morphological characteristics: A perennial herbaceous plant, up to 90 cm tall, the whole plant hairless, slightly covered with white powder, vigorous, much branched, spreading in all directions, leaves opposite, lanceolate to linear.
Background
Gypsophila, a plant of the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Gypsophila; wild Gypsophila has single flowers and reproduces by seeds. It is a typical long-day plant; autumn sowing and spring flowering are typical characteristics of long-day plants of Gypsophila flowers. The offspring are uniform and stable, completely retaining the excellent traits of the mother generation. Through the efforts of breeders at home and abroad, several varieties that are insensitive or slightly sensitive to day length have been improved, laying a good foundation for the year-round cultivation and supply of Gypsophila cut flowers. Today the mainstream varieties of Kunming cut-flower Gypsophila - early-maturing large-flowered (insensitive to day length) and Snow White (slightly sensitive to day length) - are two bud sport lines selected and bred by Mr. Liu Jiaxun of Yunnan Keyi Flower Company from the old variety Perfect, and they have been mass-propagated by tissue culture for production.
Situation overview
English name - Gypsophila; Gypsophila is also known as Po Tong Qian.
In China, there are mainly two herbaceous plants that bear many small flowers, namely the annual Gypsophila elegans (G. elegans, i.e. Gypsophila) and the perennial Gypsophila paniculata (G. paniculata, i.e. Gypsophila paniculata).
Native to the Eurasian continent. Gypsophila elegans reaches up to 50 cm (20 in); much branched; leaves narrow, blue-green; widely cultivated, but with thick rhizomes, flowers white to pale pink; a common variety is 'Compacta'.
Cultural background and flower language of Gypsophila flowers
Because Gypsophila looks ordinary and does not attract attention, it had long been in a state of blooming and falling without anyone paying attention. Only the girls of Tunisia, which is rich in olive oil, had a special fondness for it. It was not until the early 19th century, when a wave of flower arrangement and floral art arose among many upper-class people in Europe, that more and more flower lovers fell in love with this "lady in the inner chambers". Today, Gypsophila has risen to become one of the world's top ten fresh flowers, standing on equal footing with roses, tulips, carnations and others.
Flower color: white
Flowering period: early summer
Paired flower language
Pairing red roses with Gypsophila expresses "undivided affection";
Pairing carnations with Gypsophila expresses "compassion and warmth";
Pairing gladiolus with Gypsophila expresses "wishing you great prospects";
Pairing forget-me-nots with Gypsophila expresses "friendship forever".
Baby's breath flower meaning: purity, care, longing, supporting role, true love, a pure heart, sincere affection, caring, purity.
The flower meaning of baby's breath is longing, purity, dreams, and sincere affection. It is a favorite of those with refined tastes, carrying the meaning of "purity, far-reaching aspiration, and romance." A cluster of delicate, flawless white little flowers, loosely gathered together, like countless stars scattered across an endless night sky, hazy as mist, full of a graceful and understated beauty, and as tender and moving as a lover's breath. When a breeze passes, its light fragrance drifts in all directions, making it seem even more warm and romantic.
Symbolic meaning
Baby's breath is a flower loved by people of refined taste, always carrying the meaning of "purity, far-reaching aspiration, and romance." Its understated elegance is as sweet and moving as a lover's breath. When a breeze passes, its light fragrance drifts in all directions, making it seem even more warm.
[Representative zodiac sign] Capricorn
[Lucky zodiac sign] Virgo
[Purchasing] It is best to choose flowers that are pure white and full, with few blind branches, and stems that are fresh green and elastic.
[Vase life of cut flowers] 7-12 days
[Flower meaning] Caring, purity, joy, sincere affection.
Gifting recipients
1. As a filler with roses given to a lover, it can create a beautiful love story;
2. Paired with gladiolus and given to classmates about to graduate, it means "a bright future."
Type: Caryophyllaceae
Origin: Europe, Asia, northern Africa
Flower color: white
Flowering season: early summer
Its scientific name is double-flowered baby's breath. It belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family and is a perennial herbaceous plant. It originated along the Mediterranean coast. The leaves are pinkish-green, and in early summer baby's breath blooms with continuous round clusters of small white flowers. The blooms are abundant and delicate, evenly distributed, like a sky full of stars, hazy and enchanting, fresh and lovely, like morning mist or evening haze, hence it is also called "xia cao." The pure white and charming baby's breath is like twinkling stars all over the sky. Between the twinkling, it seems to reveal a gentle, alluring smile. Baby's breath is an annual herbaceous plant with many branching stems, lance-shaped leaves, and flowers blooming at the tips of each slender branch, numerous as stars, with an extremely soft and beautiful flower shape. In Western floral design, baby's breath is often regarded as "versatile," because it can be freely paired with all kinds of different flowers, without stealing the spotlight, while still expressing its own elegance and loveliness in due time, without losing its own style. This quality is not something other flowers can surpass.
Baby's breath is delicate and exquisite, with a plain, snow-white color. Its unique texture is light, airy, and fine, like a baby's breath, with a trace of joy in its tranquility. So in the West, baby's breath has a very lovely name, called "Baby's breath"!!
The flower meaning of baby's breath is longing, purity, dreams, and sincere affection. It is a favorite of those with refined tastes, carrying the meaning of purity, far-reaching aspiration, and romance. A cluster of delicate, flawless white little flowers, when a breeze passes, its light fragrance drifts in all directions, making it seem even more warm and romantic.
Giving you a bouquet of elegant flowers paired with baby's breath, under a sky full of stars, I softly tell of my endless love for you. Let the starlight bear witness to our love, may we stay together in this life, loving each other for a long, long time, until forever...
Because baby's breath looks rather ordinary and does not attract attention, it long remained in a state of blooming and fading unnoticed. Only the girls of Tunisia, a country rich in olive production, had a special affection for it. By the early 19th century, as floral arranging became popular among many upper-class people in Europe, more and more flower lovers fell in love with this "lady in seclusion." Today, baby's breath has risen to become one of the world's top ten cut flowers, standing on equal footing with roses, tulips, carnations, and other famous flowers.
In floral art creation, baby's breath is generally used as a filler for the main flowers, and is often called the "bridesmaid flower." With its support, the main flowers become even more brilliant. Like a supporting role in a movie, only with the foil of the supporting role does the protagonist become more vivid and full. Protagonist and supporting role depend on each other and bring out the best in each other, so that the theme's ideas can be expressed most vividly. Using baby's breath as a foil can handle relationships in floral arrangements such as heavy and light, sparse and dense, strong and subtle, hidden and exposed, bending and upright, high and low, and far and near, making the work more profound and the theme more prominent.
Watching over love, longing, purity, dreams, sincere affection, supporting role, yet indispensable, the love that willingly plays the supporting role. Purity, far-reaching aspiration, romance, warmth.
[Symbolic blood type] Type A baby's breath bonsai
[Representative zodiac sign] Capricorn
[Lucky zodiac sign] Virgo
[Purchasing] It is best to choose flowers that are pure white and full, with few blind branches, and stems that are fresh green and elastic.
[Vase life of cut flowers] 8-12 days
[Gifting recipients]
As a filler with roses given to a lover, it can create a beautiful love story
Paired with gladiolus and given to classmates about to graduate, it means "a bright future."
Baby's breath flower meaning, flower meaning, legend, legend one
In Greece, there were two very close sisters.
They lived happily together every day, with no secrets between them.
One day, a young man came to this small mountain village, severely injured and collapsed by the roadside.
The younger of the two sisters saved this young man.
In his daze, the young man remembered a pair of gentle eyes watching over him, hoping he could survive.
The younger sister asked the older sister to look after the young man, and then went to fetch a doctor.
During this time, the young man woke up and mistakenly thought it was her older sister who had saved him.
That night, the older sister said to the younger sister: "I have fallen in love with that young man."
The younger sister thus watched the two of them become a couple, living happily together every day.
Seeing her older sister's happiness, the younger sister hid her love for the young man again and again.
Until one day, Ares came searching for the young man and arrived at this small mountain village.
He threatened the young man to appear by threatening the lives of the whole village.
Her older sister was afraid and begged the young man to leave the mountain village.
Just as the young man agreed to the older sister, the younger sister drugged the young man unconscious, then disguised herself as him.
She was killed by Ares.
Her blood stained the entire mountain village red, and the girl's soul remained suspended in the night sky.
With her last strength, she erased the young man's memories and prayed that her older sister would give the young man happiness.
When the flower goddess learned of this, she merged her scattered soul into the grassland where the young man had fallen unconscious.
Thus, that grassland became covered with mottled white petals, which is baby's breath.
The flower meaning of baby's breath is: purity, care, love, supporting role, true love, a pure heart.
Most of the famous flowers pursued today serve as the "protagonist" in displays. But baby's breath, famous around the world for many years, is a rare and precious "supporting role." In the 1980s, when floral arranging reached the height of art, baby's breath rose to become one of the world's top ten cut flowers, standing on equal footing with famous flowers such as roses, tulips, and carnations, and flower lovers abroad regarded this as a fair move. Baby's breath has upright flower stems, spreading branches, lance-shaped leaves, sessile opposite leaves, bright pinkish-green leaf color, and dense flower buds. When in full bloom, each branch produces countless small white flowers like beans, each with 5 petals, forming clusters of cymes, giving off a faint fragrance, like stars dotting and hanging all over the sky. If you look into the distance, it is like morning mist or evening haze, winding through the air, a vast blur, so it is also called "xia cao." Based on these characteristics, baby's breath looks like a nun in white, plain and unadorned. This ordinary, unremarkable appearance makes it hard for people to say at once exactly where its beauty lies. It is said that in Tunisia, rich in olive production, girls always hold deep affection for it and often gather it from the wild to arrange at home. When someone asked them why they liked this little flower, they answered: "I love its purity and simplicity, without any pretense." After the 19th century, this flower gradually spread to countries around the world, and more and more people appreciated it. Especially in 1935, an American horticultural expert bred a new variety called "double-flowered baby's breath" from the original single-flowered variety. Its appearance is very much like round white pearls, like stars twinkling in the sky. Coupled with the vigorous rise of the artistic floral arranging trend in both East and West, people truly came to recognize the extraordinary elegance revealed by baby's breath.
Legend two
To be precise, baby's breath is not a kind of flower, but a kind of grass, a grass that can bloom with small white flowers in spring. Legend says baby's breath was a young shepherd. Every day he drove his flock to graze on the grassland, living a leisurely and carefree life. One day, a father and daughter moved onto the grassland and made a living by herding horses. Before long, the young man and the young woman were together herding sheep and horses by the only small river on the grassland. The water and grass by the river were abundant, and the flocks and herds all liked to stay there. The young man and the young woman also liked to stay there, soaking their feet in the water and watching the white clouds and blue sky above. But one day, a local tyrant came to the grassland, took a fancy to the young woman, and planned to seize her as a concubine. The betrothal gifts were forcibly piled up at the young woman's home. The next day she was to be taken away. The young woman vowed never to submit, and the young man prepared to set out with her overnight to escape from this place. At night, they ran toward the small river, where a small boat was moored that could carry them across. But the local tyrant got wind of it and came after them with his household servants. The young man and young woman finally reached the small river. The young man let the young woman get on the boat first, and just as he was about to board, he was struck in the heart by an arrow from a wicked servant. The young man fell in a pool of blood. The young woman wanted to get off the boat to save him, but the pursuers had already caught up. The young man urged the boatman to set off. The boatman sighed and pushed off with his pole. Watching the boat leave safely, the young man closed his eyes with a smile, and his soul slowly drifted into the sky, unexpectedly turning into stars all over the sky, illuminating that boat sailing at night. The next day, the young man's body strangely disappeared, and only the river water suddenly grew full of many tiny grasses, covered with many white flowers. From then on, people called this plant baby's breath.
Baby's breath flower pictures