Impatiens

How to grow Impatiens in a garden

Starting from a seedling or potted plant:

1. Choose a position which is suited to the variety chosen.  
2. Ensure the soil is well-draining and the area is protected from winds.
3. Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
4. When planting into prepared garden bed, ensure seedlings are well spaced – at least 30 to 40cm apart.
5. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down. Form a doughnut shaped raised ring around the plant, creating a well so that water will go where it’s needed most.
6. Water in gently and keep soil moderately moist at all times.
7. Mulch with an organic mulch such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw to a depth of 5 - 8cm, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
8. Feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Starting from seed:

• Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5 cm tall, then plant into the garden.
• Alternatively, sow direct where they are to grow in rows or in scattered clumps around the garden. Cover with a 1mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist. Just be sure to enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food prior to sowing.

How to grow Impatiens in a pot

Starting from a seedling or potted plant:

1. Choose a pot at least 200mm wide with adequate drainage holes.
2. Position pot in an aspect suited to that variety and keep protected from winds. 
3. Fill the pot with a quality potting mix such as Yates Nature's Way Organic Flower Mix.
4. Remove the plant from the container. Position in hole and backfill, gently firming down.
5. Water in gently and keep mix moderately moist at all times.
6. Feed with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost, apply Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.

Starting from seed:

• Fill starter pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Sow seeds, lightly cover with mix, firm down and gently water in well. Keep moist at all times and place in a warm and sheltered position until seedlings have grown to 5 cm tall, then plant into the pot.
• Alternatively, sow directly into the pot where they are to grow. Cover with a 1mm layer of Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Lightly firm down and keep moist.

Growing tips

• Cut back after flushes of flowers to promote bushy growth habit.
  
  
• Water regularly at the base of the plants to prevent diseases.
  
  
• These plants are not overly fond of frosts. Some varieties can tolerate light frosts. Check the plant label for further details.
  
  
• Some varieties available are:
  
  Busy Lizzie (I. walleriana)
  Best grown in part shade with protection from the harsh afternoon sun - ideally morning sun. Grown mainly as an annual plant. 

Impatiens 'New Guinea' 
Great for pots or garden beds  and more resistant to downy mildew which can affect the ‘Busy Lizzie’ variety. Great for part sun to full sun with protection from the harsh afternoon sun.  These plants are easy to propagate from cuttings.

SunPatiens 
Great for full sun to part shaded areas. Available in compact, spreading or vigorous growing varieties.