UK compost
What compost for cushion baby's breath in the UK?
Gypsophila aretioides
More about cushion baby's breath in the UK
Which compost cushion baby's breath needs
For cushion baby's breath the mix to buy is peat-free multipurpose compost. Requires one of the leanest, most freely draining mixes used in alpine cultivation. Use 70% limestone grit, coarse perlite, or crushed granite plus 30% low-nutrient loam. Even slight moisture retention in winter is lethal. pH 7.0–8.5.In British garden centres the bagged growing medium is sold simply as “compost” (multipurpose, ericaceous, or loam-based John Innes), which is a different thing from the rotted garden “compost” you make in a heap — for a pot you want the bagged kind.
Peat-free compost
Buy peat-free. The sale of peat compost to home gardeners is being phased out across the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free on environmental grounds. A good peat-free multipurpose grows cushion baby's breath perfectly well; the one habit to change is watering — peat-free dries faster at the surface while still moist below, so check by feel a knuckle deep rather than trusting the look of the top.
Ericaceous or multipurpose?
Cushion Baby's Breath is straightforward: an ordinary peat-free multipurpose compost is right. For a big specimen or a pot it will live in for years, mixing in some loam-based John Innes No.2 or No.3 adds weight and holds nutrients longer. Ericaceous compost is not needed unless a plant is specifically a lime-hater.
For the full recipe, pH and drainage detail (US wording), see the cushion baby's breath soil & potting-mix guide.
Compost for Cushion Baby's Breath in the UK — frequently asked questions
What compost should I use for cushion baby's breath in the UK?
Use peat-free multipurpose compost. Requires one of the leanest, most freely draining mixes used in alpine cultivation. Use 70% limestone grit, coarse perlite, or crushed granite plus 30% low-nutrient loam. Even slight moisture retention in winter is lethal. pH 7.0–8.5. In UK garden centres this is sold simply as "compost" — the bagged growing medium, not garden-made leaf-mould — so match the description above rather than a brand.
Can I use ordinary multipurpose compost for cushion baby's breath?
Yes. A good peat-free multipurpose compost is exactly right for cushion baby's breath. For a large or long-term pot you can mix in some John Innes No.2 or No.3 (loam-based) for extra weight and staying power.
Should the compost be peat-free?
Yes. Sales of peat compost to home gardeners are being phased out in the UK, and the RHS recommends peat-free for environmental reasons. Modern peat-free multipurpose composts grow cushion baby's breath perfectly well — they dry a little faster at the surface, so check moisture by feel rather than by the look of the top.
Does cushion baby's breath need grit or perlite added?
Not essential, but a couple of handfuls of perlite in the mix improves aeration and guards against overwatering — useful on a cool, damp British windowsill where compost stays wet longer.
What pot and drainage does cushion baby's breath need?
Always a pot with drainage holes. Extremely sharply draining, lean calcareous grit. Stand it on a saucer, empty any water that collects after watering, and never leave the pot sitting in a full outer cover — waterlogged compost in a cool UK room is the commonest cause of root rot.
More cushion baby's breath care
See the full cushion baby's breath care guide, its UK watering and UK hardiness.