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Colorful impatiens!
Looking for a flower that thrives where others fade? If you want nonstop color in shady spots, it’s time to learn how to grow impatiens. These easy-care annuals light up porches, hanging baskets, and garden beds with vibrant blooms all season long.
Whether you’re planting impatiens in containers or filling in a shaded border, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know for healthy, happy plants.
Impatiens are very popular as both a bedding and a hanging plant. Also called Busy Lizzies, these beauties are low-maintenance and don’t even need pinching!
Of short to medium height, most impatiens varieties grow 8 to 15 inches tall, although some types reach 30 inches. They are perennials in frost-free areas but are grown as annuals or houseplants everywhere else.
Use impatiens for a splash of all-season color in any area that receives partial shade. Because of their shallow root system and low height, impatiens are ideally suited to containers like hanging baskets, window boxes, or deck railing planters. They also work well in the filler role in larger containers.
Growing
Impatiens are not fussy and, if planted in the correct location, will thrive with little effort—one of the reasons they are popular.
- The most important thing to remember about impatiens is to water them regularly. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. If the plants dry out, they will lose their leaves. If you over-water the plants, it encourages fungal diseases.
- Container-grown impatiens will benefit from fertilizer applied every 2 weeks when watering.
- Deadheading, while not strictly necessary, will improve their appearance and encourage more blooms.
Overwintering Impatiens
Impatiens are hardy in Zones 10-12, but even a light frost will kill them. If you have a favorite color you’d like to overwinter, either take cuttings or dig up the plant and bring it inside. Depending on your available sunlight and day length, a grow light may be necessary.
Propagating Impatiens
Impatiens can be easily propagated from stem cuttings—a great way to get more of a favorite color or gift it to a friend. At the end of the growing season, taking cuttings and growing them over the winter may be easier than digging up entire plants and trying to keep them alive in the house.
- Inspect your plant to make sure it is pest-free.
- Sanitize your shears with alcohol.
- Choose several strong stems and snip them 4–6 inches below the bloom.
- Remove the flower and all but the upper one or two pairs of leaves.
- Place the cuttings in a clear glass container filled with clean water. If your water is treated by your municipality, let the water sit on the counter for 24 hours first to allow most of the chemicals to dissipate.
- In a week or two, when fine white roots appear, transition the cuttings to the soil in one of two ways:
- Plant them in individual pots filled with moist potting mix.
- Add a bit of potting mix to your glass container daily until it is completely filled with soil after a week. After filling the jar with soil, remove the plants and repot.
Types
Ornamental impatiens are primarily from two groups, Impatiens walleriana and New Guinea impatiens, Impatiens hawkeri. The two look different, but growing them is pretty much the same. I. wallerina cultivars are less tolerant of sunshine than the New Guinea hybrids, and the latter has larger foliage.
- Lollipop series (I. walleriana) ‘Fruit Punch Rose’ is a compact, well-branched variety with superbly vivid colors.
- Tom Thumb Series (I. balsamina) is a dwarf variety with large, double, brightly colored flowers.
- Beacon® impatiens are highly resistant to downy mildew and will keep blooming reliably until frost.
- Swirl Series (I. walleriana) has pretty pink and orange flowers with petals in red.
Comments
Impatiens do better in areas with morning sun and afternoon shade. They grow best with day temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees and night temperatures of 55 to 65 degrees. If day temperatures are higher, providing extra shade in the hot afternoon hours, consistent watering, and protection the plants from drying winds will help reduce stress.
If you are still able to find impatiens at your local nursery, you can plant them now. They like partial to full shade so be sure to locate them where they won't burn in the sun. If it is very hot where you are, water them as soon as you see they are starting to dry out.
That could be the result of too much water, which can cause damping off. Or they may be infected with Pythium, a fungus-like microorganism in the soil that causes roots to rot, foliage to wilt, and eventual death. If that is the case, start fresh with sanitized containers, new soil, and new plants--and refrain from overwatering.
We have not been able to find any evidence that watered down green tea is able to help stimulate impatiens. For the best plants, follow the directions on this page: Provide plenty of sunlight for the impatiens and be sure to water them when the soil is dry.
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Hi Cathy,
I suspect it is a water issue. I suggest letting them dry out a bit before getting onto a regular watering/fertilizing schedule--they do like shade and moist soil, but overwatering is easy to do.