WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Gypsophila paniculata, WUCOLS IV

How often to water baby's breath in California

In July in the Central Valley, established baby's breath in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.9 gallons a week. Baby's breath is a mounding perennial, 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. From early summer into fall it covers itself in masses of tiny white flowers on thin, branching stems. It grows from large, fleshy roots that resent disturbance and wants full sun with sharply drained, neutral to alkaline soil. It self-sows freely and is invasive in parts of California.

PerennialRated for 4 of 6 zones

How often to water baby's breath, month by month

Your city
Plant width
2 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for baby's breath and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 3 to 4 inches down around the crown signals that baby's breath is ready for a soak
  • Wilting stems and slowing bloom in a long dry spell can indicate the deep roots need water
  • Yellowing stems and a soft crown in soggy soil can indicate overwatering, since it wants sharp drainage
  • Fewer new flowers after the first flush often mean the plant needs cutting back, not more water
  • Seedlings appearing around the clump show self-sowing, not a watering need

How to water it

  • Water at the base of the clump, soaking deeply so moisture reaches the long, fleshy roots
  • Let the top several inches of soil dry before the next soaking
  • Plant in full sun in sandy or loamy, well-drained soil that is neutral to alkaline
  • Leave established plants undisturbed, since digging around them damages the fleshy roots
  • On grafted double-flowered plants, cut back above the graft union after bloom

Through the seasons

Keep new plants moist until they root in, then water deeply and less often. Established plants draw on their deep, fleshy roots and handle dry spells, taking a deep soak once the soil has dried well. Flowers run from early summer into fall, and cutting back after the first flush encourages more. The north-central coast is its one low water zone in WUCOLS. In the Central Valley, on the south coast and in South Inland, it rates moderate water. Both the high desert and the low desert are marked as not suited to it. Coastal and valley rain usually carries the dormant roots through winter.

In pots

Baby's breath can grow in a deep container, which also makes it easier to keep seed from spreading. Use a pot deep enough for its fleshy roots, with a gritty, well-drained mix. Check the mix 2 inches down every few days in summer heat and water when it is dry there. Water until excess drains, then empty the saucer. Cut stems back after flowering for another flush. In winter, water lightly while the top is dormant and the roots rest.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.671.32.02.70.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.671.32.02.70.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Baby's Breath: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.150.40.780.78––
Feb0.210.650.810.87––
Mar0.351.091.151.3––
Apr0.471.521.41.61––
May0.582.081.611.95––
Jun0.642.481.742.29––
Jul0.642.671.982.51––
Aug0.62.391.862.33––
Sep0.51.81.491.86––
Oct0.351.181.151.33––
Nov0.190.560.840.9––
Dec0.120.340.650.68––
Year4.817.1115.518.41––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like baby's breath. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

DahliasDahlia spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernsNephrolepis cordifolia (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyDayliliesHemerocallis spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBegoniasBegonia & ssp. & cvs. (shade in the desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCalla LiliesZantedeschia aethiopica SHADE IN DESERTmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBicolor MonkshoodAconitum cammarummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGarden MonkshoodAconitum napellusmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCarpet BugleAjuga reptans (shade)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySnowdrop WindflowerAnemone sylvestrismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain SandwortArenaria montanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySwamp MilkweedAsclepias incarnatamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyOrange MilkweedAsclepias tuberosamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGreater MasterwortAstrantia majormoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHardy BegoniaBegonia grandismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWax BegoniaBegonia semperflorensmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than baby's breath in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

AgapanthusAgapanthus orientalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGeraniumsPelargonium x hortorum and cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyIrisesIris germanicalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyYarrowAchillea millefolium (non-native hybrids)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain AlyssumAlyssum montanumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver SageSalvia argentealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPurple MulleinVerbascum phoeniceumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilvery YarrowAchillea clavennaelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFern Leaf YarrowAchillea filipendulinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCalifornia Native YarrowAchillea millefolium (CA native cultivars)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWoolly YarrowAchillea tomentosalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPerennial HollyhockAlcea rosea cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyMountain Lady's MantleAlchemilla alpinalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes baby's breath, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water baby's breath in summer?

In July, established baby's breath in loam needs a deep watering about every 5 days in the Central Valley, about every 7 days on the south coast and about every 6 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does baby's breath need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established baby's breath needs about 0.3 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for baby's breath change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates baby's breath separately for each of the six California climate zones: low water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Is baby's breath invasive in California?

Yes. It self-sows freely and is considered invasive in parts of California and elsewhere in North America. Cut stems back after flowering to limit seed, and avoid planting it near open land or beaches.

Does baby's breath irritate skin?

It can. Handling it can irritate the skin, and repeated handling may irritate the eyes, nose and sinuses. Wear gloves when cutting large amounts for arrangements.

Why shouldn't I move my baby's breath?

It grows from large, fleshy roots that are easily damaged. Established plants are best left in place. If you want more, start new plants rather than dividing old ones.

Can you overwater baby's breath?

Yes. It needs well-drained soil, and a crown kept soggy can rot. Water deeply, then let the soil dry well.

How do I get more flowers from baby's breath?

Shear the stems after the first flowering to encourage another round. On grafted double forms, keep your cuts above the graft. Keep the soil from drying out completely while new stems grow.

More plant watering guides

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Sources