Impatiens flowers are among the brightest and most colorful flowers I’ve enjoyed growing.
These plants are some of the most popular bedding annuals you can find.
In this article, I will explain all I’ve learned about the Impatiens plant and its flowers, how to care for them, how to overwinter them, and what to be cautious about.
Impatiens Briefly Defined
- Scientific Name: Impatiens walleriana
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11 otherwise annual
- Native Countries: Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe
- Other Common Names: Touch-me-Not, Sultana, Bizzy Lizzy
- Bloom Colors: White, red, pink, orange, purple, and yellow
Impatiens are tender perennial plants, meaning they live more than two years. The “tender” part means they can’t survive extremely cold temperatures.
The Impatiens flowers have an extended bloom time – I’ve found it lasts for the entire growing season.
I learned that they don’t have a strict or rigid growth habit, so you don’t have to tend to them as frequently as other plant/flower species.
These bright and colorful flowers come in almost any shade you can imagine, with the most common being red, pink, orange, and violet.
Popular Varieties of Impatiens
One popular variety of Impatiens is the Impatiens hawkeri. This New Guinea variety grows up to 16 inches tall and comes in a wide variety of colors.
Another type of Impatiens is the Impatiens x SunPatiens series. This variety has larger 3-inch flowers, comes in unique color shades, and can grow from 3 to 4 feet tall.
The SunPatiens series is also a hybrid of New Guinea impatiens and the standard variant.
The Impatiens walleriana “Imara XDR” is another variety with a special resistance to pathogens, which is great for overall plant health.
Another notable Impatiens variant is the Impatiens walleriana “Beacon” series, which features colors similar to standard Impatiens flowers. It’s highly resistant to downy mildew diseases.
Proper Impatiens Care Requirements
In my experience, taking care of Impatiens involves checking multiple factors. These include sunlight needs, soil type, pH, watering amount, fertilizer, and climate/temperature.
Sunlight Needs
While Impatiens typically do well in shaded garden centers, I’ve found that they still need some sun. Ideally, this should be in the early morning, transitioning into shaded areas in the afternoon.
Ensure they don’t receive a full sun dose during the peak daylight hours, as this can cause sun damage, wilting, or other heat-related issues.
If you leave it in a shady spot or full shade with minimal light touch, it may struggle to reach its full potential for flower growth and bloom. However, it will still grow relatively well.
Preferred Soil Type
Impatiens’ best soil type is one with good drainage and plenty of organic matter.
I strongly recommend planting Impatiens in well-drained soil since you’ll be watering it a lot.
If you place it in window boxes, make sure that the boxes have adequate drain holes at the bottom.
Impatiens also have a shallow root system, meaning the soil must not be too densely packed for nutrients and water to consistently reach the roots.
Soil PH Requirement
The Impatiens plant requires the soil’s pH to be around 6.0 to 6.5, which is slightly acidic.
Appropriate Watering Amount
Most Impatiens species require 2 inches of water per week to grow well in regular weather. If temperatures rise above 80 degrees, you may need to water it twice as often.
If you live in a sunny area and are growing your Impatiens plants outdoors, I recommend watering them more often.
Impatiens plants generally need moist flowers and leaves to grow well.
Whether your Impatiens are potted houseplants or planted outdoors in flower beds, make sure they have adequate drainage. Without it, the frequent watering will lead to soggy soil, which is bad for growth.
Fertilizer Needs
Just like any other plant, Impatiens grows best with a water-soluble fertilizer. This is especially ideal if your plants are in containers or baskets.
If that doesn’t work for you, I’ve discovered that a slow-release fertilizer applied through parts of spring and summer will work just as well.
These are ideal for larger garden beds since they typically need more space.
Impatiens’ Preferred Climate and Temperature
Any gardener who wants healthy plants must ensure they can provide the right temperature window.
In my experience, Impatiens can be a sensitive plant when it comes to both heat and humidity.
Impatiens plants prefer consistent moisture, as overly dry climates can wilt the plant. Thankfully, Impatiens can bounce back quickly with the right humidity.
When it comes to temperature, Impatiens flowers are not very resistant to either extreme heat or extreme cold. Long dry spells with high temperatures can also cause the plant to wilt.
Extremely cold temperatures can kill Impatiens, which you should consider if you live in an area with harsh winters.
Fortunately, you can bring your plants, pot and all, indoors to keep them safe during winter.
How to Overwinter Impatiens
Impatiens are not cold-resistant, and I’ve found they will typically die out at the first danger of frost.
If your Impatiens grow inside a container, you can bring it indoors and place it in high-quality potting soil. Make sure to cut the plant back by 1/3 or 1/2.
Acclimate the plant to the indoors by placing it in a brightly lit indoor environment like your window.
Direct morning light is ideal for keeping the plant healthy through the winter.
Ensure to water the plant only if the top layer of the soil gets dry, and don’t fertilize the plant during the entire winter season.
You can start transitioning the plant back to the outdoors when the temperature outside gets warmer. Do this by placing it outside for an hour at a time, gradually increasing the time.
How to Grow Impatiens From Seeds
The best time to prepare seeds is 10 weeks from the last frost date. The first step is filling a seeding tray with a seed-starting mixture.
Sprinkle the seeds on top lightly, ensuring they can still be hit by light. This will ensure the seeds can germinate and easily get into the soil.
After sprinkling the seeds, place a thin plastic sheet or a clear plastic covering over the tray. Keep the area moist, as the seeds will germinate in about three months.
Impatiens Pests and Diseases
Downy Mildew
The standard breed of Impatiens was hit with downy mildew in 2004, which killed off much of the breeding stock across North America.
This mildew is characterized by whitish-gray patches on the underside of leaves.
Unfortunately, I’ve found that the best way to deal with this disease is to remove the infected plant and destroy it.
Bacterial Leaf Spot
Bacterial leaf spot causes reddish brown spots to form on leaves, while the base of stems can turn brown and rot.
This can be remedied by carefully removing the infected parts.
Root Rot
Stem or root rot can form in wet soil with poor drainage and plenty of debris and foliage covering the stem.
The only way to prevent the spread is to remove and kill the whole plant.
Mites and Aphids
Impatiens attract many pests, like aphids. If you notice signs of aphid or mite damage on your plants, treat them with insecticidal soap or neem oil followed by a strong stream of water.
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