How to Care for Impatiens Plant
A single, potted impatiens plant brings a bright spot of color into your home. If you have extremely limited outdoor garden space, the plant fits nicely in a hanging basket or a small shelf that gets a little sunshine. Native to mountains of Africa, the species name was once sultani, after the Sultan of Zanzibar. Now known as Impatiens walleriana, the annual is a shade-loving plant that thrives in moist, rich soil. Mass plantings of impatiens grace landscapes in areas that get little sunshine. As a container plant, impatiens offers blooms from early spring until late autumn. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Set the potted impatiens plant in a north-facing windowsill where it will receive light during the day, but no exposure to direct sun rays. The plant may also be placed near other windows, but away from direct sunlight. Outdoors, set the pot in a spot where it receives a couple hours of sunshine in the early morning or partial shade throughout the day.
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Water the impatiens plant whenever the top 1/4 inch of soil dries out. Place the plant on a tray or small dish. Pour water on the dirt, not the leaves and flowers, until the water runs through the drainage hole and appears in the tray. Allow the plant to sit for several days until the top layer of soil is dry again so that the roots remain moist, but are not sitting in soggy soil.
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Fertilize the impatiens plant every other week. Use a commercial, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, even if you have the plant outdoors. Mix the fertilizer according to the manufacturer's label instructions and apply when you do the routine watering.
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Cut stems that become excessively long to keep the plant bushy and promote flowering. If a stem extends 1 to 2 inches beyond the impatiens plant's natural form, clip it back with scissors. Pick up and discard flowers after they have faded and fallen from the plant to prevent attracting insects.
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Protect your impatiens plant from extreme temperature fluctuations. Bring an outdoor plant inside overnight if the temperatures dip down toward freezing levels. Indoor plants may wilt if the temperature becomes too hot or cold, so adjust your thermostat accordingly if you are going to be gone for an extended period of time. Keep the impatiens away from heater registers and air-conditioner vents.
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Examine the impatiens routinely for insect pests. At the first appearance of aphids, whiteflies, mites or other pests, spray the plant with natural insecticidal soap. Continue spraying every other day until all signs of the pests are gone.
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Tips & Warnings
Impatiens flowers come in a wide variety of colors ranging from bright reds and oranges to clear white and soft pink.
Select a double-flower impatiens plant for a houseplant with intense color.
In winter when the plant stops producing blooms, discard the impatiens and the soil it was grown in to prevent the spread of any disease that may have been harbored in the soil or roots.
New Guinea impatiens is a different type of plant than common Impatiens walleriana; it grows to a larger size and requires significantly more sunlight.
References
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