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).