Crop details

Gypsophila (baby’s breath)

Gypsophila paniculata

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Quick stats

Family	Caryophyllaceae
Typical harvest	6.0 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	9
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	perennial
Days to harvest	365
Main uses	Cut flower filler in bouquets and arrangements, dried flower and decorative use.
Pollination	insect
Origin / where it grows	Cool-season floriculture crop grown in highland/temperate areas, often under greenhouse or net-house conditions.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	10–20 °C
Rainfall	600–800 mm/yr
Altitude	1200–2600 m
Best pH	6.5–7.5
Soil type	Well-drained, light to medium-textured loams or sandy loams; prefers “sweet” (near-neutral) soils and is sensitive to waterlogging.
Row spacing	40 cm
Plant spacing	20 cm
Planting depth	2 cm
Seed rate	0.5 kg/ha
Nursery days	35

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is perennial, which means once you plant it, the same plant can keep producing for many years. You can normally start harvesting about 365 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for cut flower filler in bouquets and arrangements, dried flower and decorative use..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by insect. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Cool-season floriculture crop grown in highland/temperate areas, often under greenhouse or net-house conditions. It is grouped under: Oil & Industrial.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 600 to 800 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2600 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6.5 to 7.5. It does well in well-drained, light to medium-textured loams or sandy loams; prefers “sweet” (near-neutral) soils and is sensitive to waterlogging.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 40 centimetres apart, and leave about 20 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 2 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 0.5 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Nursery period: If you raise seedlings in a nursery, keep them there for about 35 days before transplanting to the main field, when they are strong and healthy.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Use healthy, uniform seedlings or rooted cuttings. Plant on raised, well-drained beds with neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Firm around roots and water in well.

Transplanting: Transplant during cool hours; avoid planting too deep to protect the crown. Provide temporary shade or mist in hot, dry conditions after transplanting.

Irrigation: Keep soil moist but never waterlogged. Use drip or micro-irrigation to avoid wetting foliage, which encourages diseases. Reduce irrigation slightly before harvest to reduce lodging.

Fertigation: Apply balanced NPK with emphasis on Ca, Mg and micronutrients for strong stems and branching. Use frequent, light fertigation pulses rather than heavy doses.

Pest scouting: Check regularly for aphids, thrips, leaf miners and spider mites, especially on tender shoots and flowering stems. Monitor for crown and root rots and botrytis on stems.

Pruning: Pinch young plants early to encourage branching and more flowering shoots. Provide netting or simple support to prevent lodging of fine stems.

Harvest: Harvest when 30–50% of florets on a branch are open and white, depending on market preference. Cut in the cool of the day with sharp tools and avoid crushing stems.

Postharvest: Immediately place stems in clean water or preservative, pre-cool and hydrate well. Grade into bunches with uniform stem length and floret opening, then sleeve and store in cold chain.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal at planting	0	NPK 17-17-17 + compost	160 kg/ha (plus 5–8 t/ha compost)	N: 27, P₂O₅: 27, K₂O: 27	Broadcast and incorporate thoroughly into raised beds before transplanting seedlings or cuttings.
2	Early growth topdress	30	CAN 26% N	90 kg/ha	N: 23, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply along rows on moist soil or via fertigation in smaller, frequent doses.
3	Flowering K boost	70	Sulfate of potash (SOP)	80 kg/ha	N: 0, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 40	Apply during main flowering periods to strengthen stems and improve spray quality; use SOP to avoid chloride stress.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	40	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	60	kg/ha
N	Early_growth	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Early_growth	10	kg/ha
K₂O	Early_growth	40	kg/ha
N	Production_flush	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Production_flush	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Production_flush	50	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
White gypsophila selection	KE	365	Fine, dense sprays of white florets suitable for export bouquets and fillers.
Tintable gypsophila type	TZ	365	Good structure for tinting/dyeing for coloured arrangements and bouquet work.
Local gypsophila/flower filler type	UG	365	Adapted to local highland conditions, used by florists as filler and dried flowers.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17 + compost	160	Apply and incorporate into raised beds prior to planting to provide base fertility and organic matter.
Vegetative/branching	CAN 26% N	90	Apply 3–5 weeks after planting or deliver via fertigation to support branching and canopy build.
Flowering quality	Sulfate of potash (SOP)	80	Apply during key flowering phases to enhance stem strength and floret quality while avoiding chloride buildup.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Aphids	pest	Clusters on soft shoots and flower stems, honeydew and sooty mould, distorted growth.	Maintain weed control, use biological control agents where possible and apply selective measures only when thresholds ar...
Thrips	pest	Scarring and flecking on small florets, brown tips and reduced decorative quality.	Use sticky traps, maintain hygiene, net or screen vents, and implement IPM controls focusing on buds and flowers.
Spider mites	pest	Fine webbing on undersides of leaves, speckling and bronzing, dried foliage in heavy infestations.	Avoid severe water stress, maintain good humidity balance and introduce predatory mites where feasible.
Leaf miners	pest	Serpentine mines in leaves, cosmetic damage and reduced photosynthesis.	Remove infested leaves, keep weeds low, and use traps and targeted IPM tools as needed.
Cutworms and small caterpillars	pest	Chewed stems and leaves near the base, cut seedlings, occasional bud damage.	Good field sanitation, weed control and early intervention when damage is first observed.
Crown and root rots	disease	Stunted plants, yellowing, wilting, rotten crown/root tissues especially in poorly drained spots.	Ensure excellent drainage, avoid over-irrigation, raise beds and rotate away from problem sites.
Botrytis (grey mould)	disease	Grey mould on stems, florets and foliage in cool, humid conditions; postharvest decay.	Avoid overhead wetting, improve ventilation, harvest dry stems and maintain cleanliness in production and pack house.
Fusarium / vascular wilts	disease	One-sided wilting, yellowing and brown vascular tissue in stems and roots.	Use clean planting material, avoid reusing contaminated beds and rotate crops in affected blocks.
Nutrient/physiological disorders	disorder	Weak, lodging stems, pale foliage or chlorosis between veins, small or uneven sprays.	Balance fertilization (especially Ca, Mg, Fe and B), avoid excessive N and maintain appropriate EC and pH in irrigation...

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Open-field / low-input gypsophila	3	2	4	Represents modest stem biomass; in practice, growers often track stems/ha (~150–250k stems).
Greenhouse / net-house managed	6	4	8	Good fertigation, support and pest management; 250–400k stems/ha/year depending on system.
Intensive export floriculture	9	6	12	High plant density, precise fertigation and year-round production with strong quality grading.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	High-altitude floriculture belts	New beds can be established much of the year where irrigation is available; cooler months favoured for establishment.	First marketable stems usually 4–6 months after planting, with successive flushes and near year-round production under protected systems.
TZ	Northern and southern highlands suited to floriculture	Plant when temperatures are moderate and irrigation is assured, commonly in cooler seasons.	Continuous harvest once stands are in production, with best quality in cool, bright periods.
UG	Highland and cooler mid-altitude areas with floriculture potential	Plant at onset of reliable rains for open systems or any time under irrigation and mild temperatures.	Regular cutting of stems once plants reach production, with peaks in cooler, drier seasons.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Highland floriculture zones with cool nights and good irrigation infrastructure	High
TZ	Northern/southern highlands and irrigated mid-altitude valleys suited to cool floriculture crops	High
UG	Highland and cooler mid-altitude zones with reliable water supply and good drainage	High