I have a few gypsophila plants in a rectangular garden pot.
Problem 1: They all have very weak stems and are falling over, without my sticks and toothpicks they would just be lying down on the soil. Some of them do have part of their stems that are a bit sturdier up top, but they are still weak near the base. The bigger/taller ones show evidence of growing at angles, every new growth is at an angle to the previous section below, so the stalks are not straight even if they were sturdy and able to support themselves. I have used a few sticks to give them some support. For most of them I've taken to burying the weak-ass stringy stems under the soil and hope that the upper sturdier stems would keep growing and that'll be that. Did I make a mistake with that move?
Problem 2: For the bigger/taller ones, their leaves are so brittle! Just bumping into one of them while tending to a nearby seedling caused the leaf to bend and break. Like when you snap the palegreen/whiteish part of a boy choy, you know?
None have flowered yet. The smallest is around 7cm above the soil and the tallest is around 20cm above soil. They were sowed in the first month of Winter. They share the same pot with violas. I've taken care not to over-water them, at least I hope so. I know gypsophila doesn't like too much water. I've drilled extra holes under the pot for drainage. They have been in direct sunlight most of the time but I always move them to a shelter during rain or wind.
Can someone help me understand why they're like that and what I should do please?
