How to Grow Impatiens: A Beginner’s Guide
How to Grow Impatiens?
To grow impatiens, choose a partially shaded location and plant them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Make sure the soil is moist and well-drained, but they can also tolerate heavy shade.
Water the plants regularly, once a week for garden beds and more frequently for containers and hanging baskets.
Fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks for container plants, and incorporate a slow-release fertilizer into flower beds before planting.
New Guinea impatiens require more direct sunlight than standard impatiens.
Prune the plants to promote new blooms, and be aware of diseases like downy mildew, which can be managed through sanitation and removing infected plants.
Impatiens can be grown from seeds or cuttings, but they are typically not repotted as they are discarded at the end of the season.
Watch out for pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites, and be mindful of factors that can affect blooming like too much sun or over-fertilization.
Key Points:
- Choose a partially shaded location and plant impatiens after the danger of frost has passed
- Make sure the soil is moist and well-drained, but impatiens can also tolerate heavy shade
- Water the plants regularly, once a week for garden beds and more frequently for containers and hanging baskets
- Fertilize with water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks for container plants and use slow-release fertilizer for flower beds
- Prune the plants to promote new blooms and manage diseases like downy mildew through sanitation and removing infected plants
- Impatiens can be grown from seeds or cuttings, but they are typically not repotted at the end of the season. Watch out for pests and factors that can affect blooming.
Did You Know?
1. Did you know that impatiens are also called “touch-me-not” flowers? This peculiar name comes from the fact that the seed pods of impatiens can explode upon touch, dispersing seeds in every direction.
2. Contrary to popular belief, impatiens are not just annuals; there are also perennial varieties. Perennial impatiens can survive and thrive for multiple years, providing a vibrant splash of color to your garden year after year.
3. Impatiens flowers are fantastic natural healers! When applied topically, the juice from impatiens flowers can help relieve itching caused by mosquito bites, poison ivy, or other skin irritations.
4. While impatiens are known for their love of shade, there are a few varieties that can tolerate full sun. These sun-tolerant impatiens usually have slightly smaller leaves and a more compact growth habit compared to their shade-loving counterparts.
5. Want to attract butterflies to your garden? Plant impatiens! These charming flowers are known for their ability to lure butterflies with their nectar-rich blooms, making your garden a haven for these beautiful creatures.
Growing Impatiens In Partial Shade: Ideal Locations And Planting Options
Impatiens are popular annuals known for their colorful flowers and long bloom period. They are an excellent choice for partially shaded locations, making them ideal for gardens, containers, hanging baskets, and beds. These plants have glossy, medium-green leaves and flowers that range from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, available in a wide variety of colors.
When it comes to planting impatiens, it is important to choose the right location. These plants perform best in moist, well-drained soils in partial shade. They can also tolerate heavy shade, but they may not flower as profusely in these conditions. It is recommended to plant impatiens outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. If you purchase plants from a greenhouse, they should be acclimated to outdoor conditions before planting.
For impatiens growing in garden beds, they may need to be watered once a week during dry weather. On the other hand, impatiens in containers or hanging baskets require more frequent checking and watering. It is important to water them when the soil surface is dry to the touch. Fertilization is also necessary for these plants, with container plants being fertilized every 2 weeks using a water-soluble fertilizer, and flower beds incorporating a slow-release fertilizer before planting.
- Impatiens are popular annuals with colorful flowers and a long bloom period
- Ideal for partially shaded locations, such as gardens, containers, hanging baskets, and beds
- Glossy, medium-green leaves and flowers ranging from 1 to 2 inches in diameter
- Choose moist, well-drained soils in partial shade for best performance
- Impatiens can tolerate heavy shade but may not flower as profusely
- Plant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed
- Acclimate greenhouse plants to outdoor conditions before planting
- Water garden bed impatiens once a week during dry weather
- Containers and hanging baskets require more frequent checking and watering
- Water when soil surface is dry to the touch
- Fertilize container plants every 2 weeks with water-soluble fertilizer
- Incorporate slow-release fertilizer into flower beds before planting.
Managing Downy Mildew In Impatiens: Resistant Varieties And Best Practices
One of the significant challenges impatiens face is downy mildew caused by the water mold Plasmopara obducens. Older varieties of impatiens are highly susceptible to this disease, but newer varieties like Beacon™, Bounce™, and Imara® XDR series are resistant. It is essential to choose resistant varieties to prevent the spread of downy mildew in your garden.
Controlling downy mildew with fungicides is not practical in landscape plantings. The best management strategy is sanitation and removal of infected plants. It is important not to place infected plant material in home compost piles. To minimize the risk of downy mildew, avoid planting susceptible varieties of common garden impatiens in areas that had a downy mildew problem the previous year.
If you are looking for alternative shade-tolerant plants, wax begonias, pansies, lobelia, torenia, caladium, and coleus are excellent options. These plants can add color and interest to shady areas while avoiding the risk of downy mildew.
- Choose resistant varieties of impatiens
- Practice sanitation and remove infected plants
- Avoid placing infected plant material in home compost piles
- Avoid planting susceptible impatiens varieties in areas with previous downy mildew problems
- Consider alternative shade-tolerant plants like wax begonias, pansies, lobelia, torenia, caladium, and coleus
Watering And Fertilizing Tips For Healthy Impatiens Plants
Proper watering and fertilization are crucial for the health of impatiens plants. They thrive in moist, well-drained soil and require at least two inches of water per week. During hot temperatures, they may need even more water. It is important to keep the soil consistently moist to avoid wilting.
When it comes to fertilization, container-grown impatiens should be fertilized every 2 weeks using a water-soluble fertilizer. Flower beds can benefit from a slow-release fertilizer incorporated into the soil before planting. Regular fertilization enhances flowering and keeps the plants healthy.
- Impatiens thrive in moist, well-drained soil
- Require at least two inches of water per week
- Increase watering during hot temperatures
- Container-grown impatiens should be fertilized every 2 weeks
- Use water-soluble fertilizer for container-grown impatiens
- Incorporate slow-release fertilizer into flower beds before planting
Exploring New Guinea Impatiens: Features, Propagation, And Care
New Guinea impatiens are a distinct variety, native to New Guinea and introduced to the United States in 1970. They have green, bronze, or variegated leaves and large, showy flowers that can reach up to 3 inches in diameter. These plants are available in various colors and are highly tolerant of downy mildew.
Most New Guinea impatiens are propagated through cuttings. You can purchase them at greenhouses and garden centers. To propagate impatiens with cuttings, clip a plant shoot that is four to six inches long with leaves. Remove any lower leaves, flowers, and seed pods. Place the cutting in water in a bright but indirect sunlight area, changing the water every few days. Once the cutting has developed roots, plant it in potting soil or a mixture of soil and vermiculite or perlite. Grow the cutting in a bright area out of direct sunlight, keeping the soil moist. Gradually expose it to sunlight before planting it outdoors after the last frost date in spring.
Common Problems And Pests: Tips For Pruning And Troubleshooting
Impatiens plants can face several common problems and pest infestations, especially in humid and crowded conditions. They can be affected by viruses, fungal blights, and rots. Insects such as aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, slugs, snails, and spider mites can also cause damage to these plants.
To address these issues, it is recommended to regularly prune back leggy stems to stimulate branching and promote new bud growth. If you notice reduced blooming, it could be due to factors such as too much sun, not enough water, or over-fertilization. Over-fertilization can also cause impatiens to become leggy. It is important to provide the right conditions for these plants to thrive and address any problems promptly.
- Regularly prune back leggy stems to stimulate branching and promote new bud growth.
- Check for reduced blooming, which could be a result of too much sun, not enough water, or over-fertilization.
- Provide the right conditions for impatiens to thrive and address any problems promptly.
Impatiens plants can be affected by viruses, fungal blights, and pests such as aphids, mealybugs, thrips, whiteflies, slugs, snails, and spider mites. To address these issues, regularly prune back leggy stems, check for reduced blooming, and provide the right conditions for the plants to thrive.
Maximizing Blooms: Propagation Methods And Care For Impatiens
There are multiple ways to propagate impatiens, including seeds, nursery seedlings, and cuttings. Growing impatiens from seeds can take several months for them to mature into flowering plants. To plant impatiens from seeds:
- Fill small pots or cell packs with moistened seed-starter mix or potting soil.
- Plant one or two seeds in each pot or cell, about 1/2 inch deep, and cover them with the mix.
- Place the pots in a warm location out of direct sunlight, with a temperature between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Once germination occurs in 14 to 21 days, remove the covering and position the seedlings in a sunny window or under fluorescent lights.
- Fertilize every two weeks using a water-soluble fertilizer.
- Harden off the seedlings before planting them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
Impatiens can also be propagated from cuttings, which is easier and faster than growing them from seeds. To propagate impatiens from cuttings:
- Clip a plant shoot that is four to six inches long with leaves.
- Remove any lower leaves, flowers, and seed pods.
- Place the cutting in water in a bright but indirect sunlight area, changing the water every few days.
- Once the cutting has developed roots, plant it in potting soil or a mixture of soil and vermiculite or perlite.
- Grow the cutting in a bright area out of direct sunlight, keeping the soil moist.
- Gradually expose it to sunlight before planting it outdoors after the last frost date in spring.
It is worth noting that impatiens plants are typically not repotted as they are usually discarded at the end of the growing season. However, in warmer climates, impatiens can be perennial, but they may be prone to mites and other pests when moved indoors. Before bringing the plants indoors, it is recommended to cut back the stems to promote healthy growth.
- Propagation methods for impatiens include seeds, nursery seedlings, and cuttings.
- Growing impatiens from seeds takes time for them to mature into flowering plants.
- Plant impatiens seeds in small pots or cell packs filled with moistened seed-starter mix or potting soil.
- Germinate the seeds in a warm location with a temperature between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After germination, move the seedlings to a sunny window or under fluorescent lights.
- Fertilize the seedlings with water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks.
- Harden off the seedlings before planting them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
- Impatiens can also be propagated from cuttings, which is faster and easier.
- Clip a plant shoot that is four to six inches long with leaves.
- Remove lower leaves, flowers, and seed pods from the cutting.
- Place the cutting in water, changing the water every few days.
- Once roots develop, plant the cutting in potting soil or a mixture of soil and vermiculite or perlite.
- Grow the cutting in a bright area, keeping the soil moist.
- Gradually expose the cutting to sunlight before planting it outdoors in spring.
- Impatiens are usually discarded at the end of the growing season and not repotted.
- In warmer climates, impatiens can be perennial but may face pests when moved indoors.
- Cut back the stems before bringing the plants indoors to promote healthy growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do impatiens grow best?
Impatiens thrive in environments with moist, well-drained soils and prefer partial shade. The ideal location for impatiens is where they can receive 2 to 4 hours of filtered sun during the day or morning sun and afternoon shade. They can also tolerate heavy shade, although they may grow taller and bloom less abundantly in these areas. Ultimately, finding a balance between light and shade while ensuring adequate moisture and drainage will result in the best growth for impatiens.
How do you start impatiens to grow?
To start impatiens growing, begin by planting the seeds in a seed tray filled with a moist, well-draining potting mix. Cover the tray with a clear plastic or glass lid to create a greenhouse effect and maintain humidity. Place the tray in a warm location, around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, and ensure the soil remains consistently moist. After 14 to 21 days, once germination occurs, remove the covering and transfer the seedlings to individual containers filled with potting soil. For optimal growth, provide the seedlings with ample sunlight by placing them in a sunny south window or using supplemental lights.
Can impatiens grow in full sun?
While classic bedding Impatiens such as the Accent series have a preference for partial shade, they can indeed tolerate full sun conditions under certain circumstances. However, it is essential to ensure they receive an abundance of water to combat the potential heat stress from the direct sunlight. With copious amounts of water, these impatiens can thrive and maintain their vibrant beauty even in full sun, showcasing their adaptability and resilience.
What is the best time to plant impatiens?
The ideal time to plant impatiens is in late spring, once the soil has reached a temperature of at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Planting them in moist, well-drained soil in a shady or semi-shady location will ensure their successful growth. It is crucial to avoid planting them in soil that is still too cold, as this can cause them to struggle throughout the entire growing season. To allow for proper growth and development, space the impatiens plants 10 to 12 inches apart.