Impatiens are often used as bedding and hanging plants. These beauties, sometimes known as Busy Lizzies, are low-maintenance and don’t require pinching! Impatiens is a Latin term that describes how its seeds shoot out of its pods when they are mature (a minor touch may cause a ripe impatiens seed pod to burst open and disseminate its contents).Â
Impatiens walleriana and Impatiens hawkeri are the two most common types of ornamental impatiens. Although they appear to be distinct, growing them is similar. I. wallerina cultivars are less sun-tolerant than New Guinea hybrids, which have giant leaves.Â
Impatiens flower: Overview
| Genus name | Impatiens spp. |
| Common name | Impatiens, Touch-me-not plant, Busy Lizzie, Patient Lucy, Sultana |
| Plant type | Annual, houseplant |
| Soil | Fertile, moist and well-draining |
| Soil ph | Slightly acidic, 6.0-6.5 range |
| Light | Part sun, shade |
| Height | 1 to 3 ft |
| Width | 1 to 3 ft |
| Flower colour | Blue, orange, pink, purple, red, white, yellow |
| Foliage colour | Blue/Green |
| Season features | Fall bloom, spring bloom, summer bloom, winter bloom |
| Special features | Suitable for containers, low maintenance |
| Propagation | Seed and stem cuttings |
| Problem solvers | Groundcover |
Where to grow Impatiens flowers?
Impatiens should be grown in humus-rich, wet, well-draining soil with a pH of 6-6.5. They should be planted in shady or semi-shaded areas, 10-12 inch apart. Impatiens thrive in planters as long as the soil is friendly and there is excellent drainage.Â
How and when to plant Impatiens flowers?
Dig a hole the same size as the plant’s container when planting impatiens. Carefully remove the plant from its container and loosen the roots. Fill the hole with dirt and water well—plant impatiens after the last frost in your region.
Plants should be spaced 6-12 inch apart to allow for low-growing blossoms. The plants will grow higher if they are closer together. Impatiens will perform as a supporting actor for taller, showier blooms if they are kept low.
How to care for Impatiens flowers?
These lovely plants are simple to grow; however, remember that impatiens are tropical. Your impatiens will turn to mush as the first cold arrives. They may, however, be overwintered inside. If you choose, bring pots or collect cuttings before the temps drop too low.
Impatiens are low-maintenance plants. Impatiens will grow and thrive without much care as long as they are planted in the proper light, maintained hydrated (but not overwatered), their soil remains wet, and they are trimmed to keep them from getting tall.
Light
Plant impatiens in a location that will provide 2-4 hours of partial morning light and afternoon shade. They flourish in the shade of trees or among bushes or shrubs that shield them from direct sunshine. Impatiens may be cultivated in full shade, but the plants will be less prolific.
Water and soil
Give impatiens good, well-drained soil before planting them. Any general-purpose potting mix will suffice in pots. If you have thick clay in the ground, add some organic matter like compost to soften it and add nutrients.
Impatiens should be watered regularly and kept damp but not soggy. Overwatering makes them prone to illness. Impatiens are not drought-resistant, and the plants will swiftly wilt if the conditions are long-lasting. Fortunately, they recover quickly after being hydrated. So, if you encounter an impatiens that appears beyond hope, give it some water and watch how quickly it recovers.
Humidity and temperature
Impatiens grow at temperatures ranging from 20℃ to 30℃ during the day and 15 to 18℃ at night. They can become wilted if exposed to hot temperatures for an extended period. Give them some water, and they should recover shortly. Impatiens thrive under high humidity.
Fertiliser
Fertilising before planting generally provides sufficient nutrition for annual impatiens to withstand the season. Perennial cultivars require fertilizing once growth restarts in the spring and extra treatments every six to eight weeks during the growing season. An all-purpose, balancing fertilizer, such as a 13-13-13 or 10-10-10 combination, can be used.
Pruning
Impatiens should be trimmed after they reach around 3 inches in height to prevent them from growing lanky. This typically happens in the middle of summer, but they can be clipped whenever their colors fade, and they start to appear spindly. For the finest blooms and color, keep impatiens plants short and bushy.
Pest and diseases
When cultivating impatiens, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. Downy mildew is a very damaging fungus. Downy mildew can be difficult to detect in its early stages. It usually starts by turning the leaves yellow and causing them to drop off or die. This can eventually grow more dramatic, with sections of the leaves becoming brown and lifeless. Downy mildew is distinguished by the presence of downy white spores on the undersides of leaves.
Downy mildew is difficult to control once it has occurred; therefore, choosing resistant types before planting is the best way to avoid it. If you notice powdery mildew, the best way to prevent it from infecting other plants is to kill the plants and any trash around them.
Tips to propagate Impatiens flowers
Cut a 3-6 inch non-flowering stem from a healthy plant with at least two leaf nodes to propagate impatiens. These stems can be planted straight in the ground or in a planter.
Toxicity
This plant is mildly poisonous, and if ingested, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Although touching Impatiens is not harmful, consuming the plant can cause digestive problems.
Read also: Impatiens Balsamina Flower
FAQs
Is it possible to keep impatiens indoors?
They provide a beautiful, low-maintenance indoor alternative for only a few weeks.
How long do the blossoms of impatiens last?
Busy Lizzie, also known as impatiens, is a fragile plant with long-lasting flowers that constantly bloom throughout the summer and fall, frequently until the first frost.
Do impatiens enjoy the sun and heat?
In those conditions, they perform best in the early light and midday shade.
When is the ideal time of year to plant impatiens?
Plant them in late spring, once the soil temperature has reached at least 15℃.
How tall can Impatiens grow?
Compact impatiens can grow to be 10 to 16 inch tall.
When are impatiens in season in India?
In India, the most significant time to grow Impatiens is during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to September.
How can you make impatiens grow taller?
Trim the top third of the plant to encourage bushier growth and more blossoms.
What distinguishing characteristics do impatiens have?
It grows in a spreading mound to a height of approximately two feet (61 cm), with leaves, stems, and flowers that are usually soft, easily broken, or bruised.
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