Impatiens Flowers
Saturday April 21, 2007
Impatiens flowers are one of the dominant bedding plants in North America. 
Their popularity is partly due to their ability to inject vibrant color into those difficult shady areas of the landscape. But impatiens flowers are victims of their own success: "serious" gardeners often refuse to plant them, precisely because of their popularity. Nonetheless, versatile impatiens flowers are also favorites for container gardens, ranging from hanging baskets to window boxes.
Read article: Impatiens Flowers
Photo ©2006 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)
Their popularity is partly due to their ability to inject vibrant color into those difficult shady areas of the landscape. But impatiens flowers are victims of their own success: "serious" gardeners often refuse to plant them, precisely because of their popularity. Nonetheless, versatile impatiens flowers are also favorites for container gardens, ranging from hanging baskets to window boxes.
Read article: Impatiens Flowers
Photo ©2006 David Beaulieu (licensed to About, Inc.)
Comments
I have grown impatiens that are 2 feet 4 and a half inches tall. Is that unusual?
Somewhat, but a lot depends on growing conditions.
I brought my hanging pot of impatents in for the winter. Are they dangerous for pets?
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Web site lists impatiens as poisonous, saying the stems, leaves and roots, if ingested, can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Although their Web site seems geared more to people than to pets, I, personally, wouldn’t let my pets nibble at impatiens (or any plant I wasn’t sure about, for that matter).
Dear Consultant:
Could you please tell me if impatiens will survive indoors? I have some my deck and would like to bring them in before the frost.
Thanks
karen
You can get a little more enjoyment out of them by bringing them in. But I wouldn’t expect them to flower through the winter. I’ve never known them to perform especially well as flowering houseplants.
Ive placed all my impatiens in a small greenhouse,will they stay in bloom all winter?
Phil,
Assuming proper growing conditions, they should re-bloom. If they stagnate at some point or get out of control, give them a good “haircut” with a pair of scissors — that will rejuvenate them.
planted 6 flats of impatiens a week ago looked great weather got in the mid 40s in the evening now they look somewhat wilted and the flowers are gone will they come back i treated them with miracle grow
Rather than fertilizing them with Miracle-Gro, I would have given the impatiens a good “haircut” — i.e., cut them back.
My impatiens in my window boxes stopped growing about this time last year. I am nervous about this happening again. My nearby barrels of them are flourishing. What is bugging some of these plants?
1) After the initial planting of impatiens, should they be cut back for fuller growth? 2) Should they be fertilized?
I’ve always had good luck with impatiens but this year they have not flourished. Some look yellowish, small leaves, not flowering much.
Help!
Alison,
Since one planting of impatiens is growing in window boxes and the other in barrels, the difference could be based on container size. Specifically, maybe the impatiens in the window boxes (the smaller container type, with less soil to retain water) aren’t getting enough water. Just a guess.
Considering the condition of your impatiens, yes, I would cut them back and lightly fertilize them (half of what the package’s instructions say).
My impatiens were doing great after coming back from last winter. Now they are being devoured by caterpillars. Are they a host plant for them? If not I’m going to spray them with seven dust so my plants can thrive again.
This is a somewhat unusual problem for impatiens plants, but you may want to read this post about caterpillars on impatiens for some tips.
I have one impatiens plant in a pot on my desk and it still blooms now and then. Is there anything in particular I need to do to it to keep it healthy? It was originally just a sprout in a plastic cup some student at my school abandoned, and I brought it home and repotted it, not knowing what it was until it bloomed. But I’d like to keep it indoors.
I’ve never grown impatiens flowers as houseplants. The most I can do is supply you with the general rules of thumb about growing such plants as houseplants, as discussed within the following link:
Houseplant Care
My daughter gave me one impatiens in May 2005. I always kept it in a pot inside where it grows almost out of control and constantly blooms. Unless I seriously cut it back it can get about 3 plus feet tall. My husband jokes that it will turn into a tree! How often should I fertilize it? Right now I tend to only do it about 2-3 times a year.
Alis,
You relate that your impatiens “grows almost out of control and constantly blooms.” If I interpret that comment correctly — i.e., that you’re happy with how your impatiens is growing — then I must conclude that you’re already doing a good job fertilizing the impatiens and should continue fertilizing as you have been. If I’m misinterpreting you and you’re actually unhappy that your impatiens is growing so vigorously, just cut back on that “2-3 times a year” fertilizing scheduling you’ve been on.
Hello,
I found you while looking for an impatiens picture. And I am amazed.
My impatiens journey started with them as an indoor plant! It was almost ten years before I found out that they love being outside. For 23 years in the same house the plants moved from in to out and back again.
I live in the western side of Michigan.
I live in Sacramento, CA. I see beautiful, thriving, beds of Impatiens all over turn, but I am unable to grow them myself. I’ve tried 3 years in a row now. I use good organic soil, fertilize occassionally with Miracle Gro, and plant in a partly-shaded area. Why don’t my Impatiens grow like everyone elses? Help!
Katie,
Could be you’re overwatering or underwatering your impatiens.
My new guinea impatiens are being eaten down to the stalk by something. I haven’t seen any mites, spiders, or caterpillars. All the leaves and flowers have been demolished. What could be doing it?
I have impatiens that are full of tight blooms, they are not opening, what could be the problem? The plants are 2 feet tall, healthy folage a ton of blooms that will not open. af
Anita,
Not sure if this holds true with impatiens, but I know that, when the buds fail to open on rose of sharon, it can be because of too much water — or not enough. During rainy summers, rot can set in and ruin the flower bud (although you may not notice it from the outside). The same effect can be produced by excessive watering, if you water overhead. Conversely, during dry summers, flower buds may be damaged from drought and fail to open.
I have planted my impatients outdoors. They are sprouting nicely, but I’ve noticed the flower pedals get white spots on them within a few days after sprouting. Is this common?