Baby’s breath (Gypsophila) can be used for so many different kinds of floral arrangements – mason jar centerpieces, pew arrangements, flower crowns, bouquets, bad vases, boutonnieres, etc. Once the pieces from the one stem of baby’s breath is bunched together, you can see that a little goes a long way. That one stem could be enough for a mason jar centerpiece. If you want a more full arrangement, you will need 2 stems. For a full bouquet, 5-7 stems. A boutonniere will only take a fraction of a stem. Depending upon the head size, a flower crown will require between 4 and 6 stems.

Baby’s Breath is the popular filler found in mixed bouquets. Gypsophila is important in the flower industry and is commonly used as a filler, creating a softening effect as well. The flowers are tiny, depending on the variety between 3 – 10mm in diameter, and there are 1000’s on each branched stem.

Gypsophila is commonly used in the USA to decorate children’s hair at occasions such as weddings.

WHOLESALE BUYING ADVICE

For maximum vase life, purchase Gypsophila when about one-third to one-half of the florets are open. Check bunches for brown, shriveled and dried-out blooms as well as signs of wilt/water stress.

Gypsophila has became one of the most-asked-for filler flowers of the year.

Gypsophila is a filler flower and otherwise known as Baby’s Breath. Gypsophila is commonly used in the floristry trade to create a softening effect because of the numerous, tiny flower heads on each stem.

There are many varieties of Gypsophila available with the main difference being the flower head size – for example, Million Stars Gypsophila is a small headed variety. Gypsophila Perfecta and Double Time are larger headed varieties.

Gypsophila Flowers For Florists – Wholesale

In the wholesale flower markets gypsophila is sold in wraps of 25 stems and To get the best from your wholesale cut gypsophilia please read the care instructions below carefully:

• Cut the stems at a 45 degree angle with a sharp knife.
• Fill sterilised buckets with luke warm water and add flower food.
• Place the gypsophlia in the buckets.
• Leave over night to condition before using.

Gypsophila Flowers For Florists – Advice

Flower

Desiccation/brown flowers/Botrytis

Description: the flowers turn brown.
Reject: if more than 50% of the total number of flowers shows this phenomenon.

End of flowering

Description: the flowers shrink.
Reject: if more than 50% of the total number of flowers shows this phenomenon.

Flowering percentage

Record: the flowering percentage is the ratio of the number of opened buds and
the total number of buds. This is to be estimated before the stem is rejected.

Stem

Bending

Description: the stem bends.
Reject: when detected.

Drooping

Record: the stem droops down to the table.

Foliage

Desiccated foliage

Description: the leaves dry out and turn grey/brown.
Reject: if more than 50% of the total leaf area and/or 50% of the total
number of leaves is affected by this phenomenon.

Yellow foliage

Description: the leaves turn yellow.
Reject: if more than 50% of the total leaf area and/or 50% of the total number of
leaves is affected by this phenomenon.

VASE-LIFE EXTENDERS

PREPARATION
Unpack Gypsophila immediately upon its arrival, and check flower quality. Remove stem bindings and any leaves on the lower portions of the stems, then rinse the lower stems under tepid running water.

HYDRATION AND NUTRITION
Recut stem ends with a sharp blade, removing at least 1 inch of stem, and immediately dip or place them into a hydration solution, to help the flowers take up water more quickly and easily (Gypsophila is easily water stressed). Then place stems into sterilized containers with 3 to 4 inches of lukewarm (100 F to 110 F) properly proportioned flower-food solution.

REFRIGERATION
Refrigerate baby’s breath at 33 F to 36 F and 90 percent to 94 percent humidity, and allow these flowers to take up water for at least two hours before designing with or selling them.
Caution: Gypsophila can easily contract Botrytis (gray mold), a fungal disease, during
cold storage if the blooms are wet and/or if the humidity level in the cooler is too high. Never store containers of Gypsophila in plastic bags for extended periods of time.

ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY
Babys breath is extremely sensitive to ethylene and will display symptoms of wilt when exposed to the gas. Check with your suppliers to ensure an ethylene inhibitor is administered at the farm or during shipping. Also, keep these flowers away from sources of
ethylene (fruits and vegetables, decaying flowers and foliage, automobile exhaust, cigarette smoke) in your facilities.

CARE EXTRA
Bacterial contamination of the vase solution, which plugs stem ends and causes the flower-food solution to become smelly, occurs rapidly with these flowers, so change the flower-food solution, wash the containers, and recut the stems every other day. To help slow this contamination, place Gypsophila stems into a bleach solution (about 20 drops, or 1/4 teaspoon, per quart of water) for several minutes between the hydration solution treatment and the fresh-flower food solution.

 

All Fresh Cut Flowers