How to Care for Double Impatiens

With their glossy foliage and long-lasting, delicate blooms, impatiens are a popular bedding plant. Double impatiens, growing to heights of 10 to 12 inches, are even showier than regular impatiens, with colorful,symmetrical blooms that grow above the compact foliage, appearing somewhat like miniature roses. Although double impatiens are often believed to be shade-loving plants, they'll be at their best with two or three hours of sunlight every day.

Things You'll Need

• Compost or well-rotted manure
• Commercial potting mixture
• All-purpose liquid fertilizer

Instructions

1. Work an inch of compost or well rotted manure into the top inch of soil when planting double impatiens outdoors. Impatiens grown in containers or window boxes should be planted in a good quality commercial potting mixture, and not garden soil, which will become hard and compacted.

2. Plant double impatiens in filtered or dappled sunlight. Although impatiens will grow in full shade, they won't bloom at their best without a bit of sunlight. Avoid planting them in hot afternoon sun which will fade the colors of the blooms and wilt the soft stems.

3. Keep the soil consistently moist, but never soaked. A deep soaking once a week is better than shallow watering, and will build a healthy root system. Impatiens grown in containers will dry out quickly and will need to be watered more often, especially in warm weather.

4. Feed double impatiens once a month with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer, following the manufacturer's directions. Container-grown double impatiens should be fertilized every two weeks.

References

• Iowa State University: Growing Impatiens in the Home Garden
• Bachman's: Impatiens
• Flower Gardening Made Easy: Growing Impatients in Your Garden