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More than 1,000 different species of impatiens make up all but one specie in the familyBalsaminaceae(the other is the monotypic , or single - species genus , Hydrocera triflora ) .
Out of this wide - ranging genus comesImpatiens hawkeri(im - PAY - shenz HAWK - er - i ) , normally called the New Guinea impatiens after its aboriginal reach of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands .
New Guinea Impatiens potted at Disney World EPCOT, Orlando Florida | image: PlantCareToday.com
New Guinea impatiens ( sometimes also called touch - me - not or just impatiens ) is a wonderful , long - blooming perennial that ’s often grown as an yearbook .
After an initial give out attempt to introduce New Guinea impatiens to the US in the early 1970s .
The plant has become the source of numerous cultivars ( Sunpatiens ) and is now one of the most common specie of impatiens throughout the US .
New Guinea Impatiens potted at Disney World EPCOT, Orlando Florida | image: PlantCareToday.com
Some of these cultivars include :
New Guinea Impatiens Quick Care Tips
New Guinea Impatiens Care
Size and Growth
These works tend to be on the modest side , normally only reaching a rounded 12″ to 18″ inches tall .
When grow as a perennial , the plant will last for several class .
It has with child benighted immature foliage when liken with the common impatiens , which are oblong to lanceolate .
The leaves of New Guinea impatiens may turn burgundy , stay a dark immature , or have variegated leafage .
The leaves are arrange in an opposite or whorled pattern and have serrated edges .
New Guinea Impatiens Flowers
New Guinea plant tends to bloom early , live from late leap through summer like a coloured yearly and potentially everblooming when raised as a perennial .
Larger Flowers of New Guinea Hybrids : The colorful blossom , like the leaves , are prominent than other common species and have 4 to 5 petals in an raiment of colors , include :
The flowers of raw Republic of Guinea impatiens bring about small , rib , volatile seminal fluid capsules .
Light and Temperature
This impatiens enjoy full sun to partial spectre but will have fewer blooms if they get too much or too piddling sun .
A nice spot where the plant gets full good morning sunshine and partial afternoon shade tends to work best for outdoor plant .
It ’s possible to grow New Guinea impatiens as an outdoor perennial in USDA zones 10 to 12 .
head off planting them outdoors as an yearbook until night temperature persist above 45 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Indoors ( or when taking potted perennials outside ) , place for daytime temperature between 70 ° and 85 ° degrees Fahrenheit and overnight temperatures of 55 ° to 65 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Bring potted specimens indoors if the forecast predicts a drop below 55 ° degrees Fahrenheit or any peril of icing .
you may also develop your impatiens as an indoor plant in a hopeful pip indoors .
Watering, Moisture, and Feeding
It ’s best to check your impatiens have evenly , systematically damp soil , as they are not drouth - resistant .
Avoid permit the soil to dry out completely , as this can cause loss of flowers and potential wilting . However , overwatering can lead to root rot .
A skillful principle of thumb for potted plant is to wait until the territory is dry about 2″ inches down .
Water the soil directly ( drip mould irrigation ) , avoiding a top - down approach to boil down the risk of fungous infections .
You ’ll require to pour slowly , address the whole r of the pot until water set about to ooze from the drain hole .
trim back watering in dusty temperature .
Feed your impatiens a accomplished water - soluble plant food in the lowest battery-acid and charge per unit listed on the software , preferably after lacrimation .
For outdoor plants , go with slow - release fertilizer mixed into the soil when planting .
What Soil Type Do New Guinea Impatiens Enjoy?
This plant prefers rich , loamy , well - debilitate grunge . Potting filth with hatful of organic matter works really well , and orchid mixes are a great choice .
The pH is n’t important , although your impatiens will thrive when the soil has a mildly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5 .
When planting outdoors , add together mess of compost or other constitutional matter to the grease and top it off with some mulch .
If transplant outdoors as an one-year , verify the plant life sits at the same soil level as it did in its wad .
repeated specimens will benefit from a dirt change every other year .
Grooming And Maintenance
Beyond weed , this plant life has low maintenance essential when raise as an yearly .
As a perennial , prune out dead leave for a better visual aspect . Keep overgrown and leggyImpatiens found compact with even pruning .
How To Propagate Impatiens
Propagating this plant through semen is generally discouraged if you have a cultivar for two reasons :
That enjoin , stem cuttings of Impatiens are incredibly easy to propagatefrom , both fromImpatiens hawkeriand from any non - trademarked cultivars .
film editing is the easiest propagation method acting for your newfangled guinea impatiens .
New Guinea Impatiens Pests or Diseases
New Guinea impatiens are very unfearing plants with moderate hotness leeway and opposition to flossy mould .
However , overwatering can leave this plant overt to several problems , such as fungal blight , powdery mold , various forms of rotting , and smirch virus .
While the usual pests ( aphids , caterpillars , mealybugs , spider mite , thripid , etc . ) can infest impatiens , they ’re not a major threat .
As with all impatiens , touch - me - not are non - toxic to cats and dogs but may stimulate mild diarrhea and vomiting if human race or pets ingest the industrial plant .
That say , the plant is edible if cooked properly .
Impatiens HawkeriUses
New Guinea impatiens produce a lot of nectar , making it a pure addition for butterfly stroke gardens or pull in beneficial insects and pollinator like butterfly , bees , and hummingbirds .
The leaves are traditionally mixed withPlectranthus scutellarioidesand used as a rub to reduce labour pains and are also cooked and grant as a remedy for tum aches .
They look fantabulous as stand - alone plant in outside containers . Disney World uses this democratic bedding plant in aggregated plantings landscape with great winner .
New Guinea impatiens also make a great pairing with begonias , caladium , and genus Funka .
When spring up as a perennial , they look stunning in hanging baskets , planters , or on a ledge . As an annual , it ’s perfect for seasonal flower seam and shade borders .
It also create a nice houseplant if you have asunny south - facing windowpane with lots of bright sun .
convey your impatiens indoors during the wintertime is a bully way to protect them and brighten up your home through the blue winter calendar month .
