Impatiens - we just love them.
Tips in a nut shell
* Choose healthy plants with plenty of green leaves over leggier ones.
* Plant your hanging basket after the risk of frost has passed.
* Place your basket in morning sun or part shade position - away from full sun and hot dry winds
* Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Don’t let Impatiens dry out as they will wilt.
* Add a slow-release fertilizer with less nitrogen into your soil when planting. Choose a fertilizer like Osmocote over Mircale Grow
* If the season allows, once your plants have become spindly cut them back by about a 1/3 to 1/2 and refertilize for a second flush of color.
Impatiens are one of the most popular plants because of their beauty, free flowering and ease of growth. They bloom profusely until the first frost.
Impatiens thrive best between 60 degrees and 85 degrees
Impatiens love morning sun or partial shade, so keep them away from full sun positions and/or spots exposed to hot drying winds.
Impatiens do not need pinching off of dead flowers or excessive pruning – only an occasional trim from time to time to stop them getting to leggy. Impatiens will not bloom well in heavily shaded areas.
A great “indicator plant”, impatiens with their soft, fleshy stems will wilt quickly letting you know that they are in need of a watering. Keep them well-watered, but do not over-water so that the soil stays soggy.
Impatiens problems
Generally impatiens are trouble-free in the home landscape.
Diseases can include damping-off during germination, fungal blights and rots, and viruses.
Spider mites, thrips, mealybugs and aphids may infest New Guinea impatiens.
For more of how to deal with these pets check out.
Impatiens are highly susceptible to moisture stress. If the plants are allowed to wilt, their leaves can turn yellow, and they will drop leaves and flowers. Keep them well-watered, but not soggy, at all times
Fertilizing
Avoid fertilizer with higher nitrogen concentrations such as Miracle-Gro. The foliage will remain nice and green but you will have less flowers.
Make sure soil is moist when fertilizer is applied. Never use dry fertilizer on impatiens in Hanging baskets as your can easily burn the plant.
Slow release fertilizers such as Osmocote are good to use.
Varities of Impatiens
There are many new and improved varieties for hanging baskets such as the Dazzlers which are ideal in more shady spots to the Showstoppers and the newer Blitz series with their larger blooms.
Even the double varieties if impatiens have been improved to the point where they bloom well in hanging baskets and planters.
New Guineas are also well worth considering. : New Guinea Impatiens have leaves that are larger and exhibit rich green to bronzey tomes often with yellow or pink highlights.
New Guineas are often promoted for growing in sunny spots. However we suggest New Guineas will grow best where they will receive morning sun and afternoon shade.
To successfully grow impatiens in warmer climates like Florida – just reverse your seasons and plant them starting October / November.
Garden Squirrel.com
