Am I Taking Good Care Of My Impatiens?

Did you planted your impatiens in partial to full shade?

Did you planted your impatiens in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter?

Do you water your impatiens regularly?

Do you feed your impatiens regularly?

Do you overwinter your impatiens indoors?

Do you deadhead your impatiens when the flowers fade?

Do you keep your impatiens free of pests and diseases?

Although with sufficient water impatiens can be grown in partial sun in northerly regions, their great virtue is that they thrive in the shade. They're among the relatively few readily available, inexpensive flowering plants that will put on a great floral display even when grown in full shade.

Grow impatiens flowers in well-drained soil enriched with organic material. The soil must drain well to avoid becoming boggy from the frequent watering that impatiens require.

Impatiens in the ground will need at least 2 inches of water every week. If the temperatures rise above 85 F, they will need at least 4 inches of water per week. Impatiens plants in containers will need watering daily, and watering twice a day when temperatures rise above 85 F.

The impatiens flowers will look best if regularly fertilized. A water-soluble fertilizer can be used every two weeks throughout the spring and summer. Another option is a slow-release fertilizer used at the beginning of the spring and again halfway through the summer.

Impatiens are tropical plants that will turn to mush at the first light frost. Bring them indoors if you plan to keep them over the colder months. They are fine in humid weather.

Impatiens do not need to be deadheaded. They self-clean their spent blooms and will bloom profusely all season long. If your impatiens plants start looking leggy late in the summer, use scissors to trim off the top third of their vegetation. This will promote the emergence of new blooms and improve the overall appearance of the plants.

Good job! You are taking good care of your impatiens.

Although generally not so vulnerable to diseases and parasites, occasionally you’ll notice an invasion of red spider mites and aphids on your impatiens. A light misting of insect soap twice a week will knock the pests out before they get a chance to deform your plants. Avoid overwatering or planting in poorly draining soil as wet soils can lead to root rot.