The “Busy Lizzie”—or as we usually call them here in the States, Impatiens—definitely lives up to its name! These hardy little garden favorites are absolute workhorses, blooming non-stop from spring all the way through October. If you want to keep that color popping for months on end, there are a few green-thumb basics you should know. Here are my favorite tips for keeping your Impatiens happy.
How long do Impatiens stay in bloom?
Whether you’ve started them from seed indoors or picked up some starts at your local nursery, these beauties are ready to hit the ground running by May. Once they’re settled into your garden beds or balcony boxes, they’ll show off their vibrant colors all summer long if the conditions are right.
The best part? Whether you’re growing pink, purple, orange, or red varieties, these plants are pretty low-maintenance. Give them a good spot and some decent nutrients, and they’ll keep those new buds coming.
Pro tips for even more blooms
A little TLC goes a long way. If you treat your Impatiens right, they’ll reward you with an even more spectacular floral display.
Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
- If you’re planting in pots or window boxes, make sure to add a drainage layer of pebbles or broken terracotta at the bottom. These plants hate “wet feet” (root rot), and drainage is key.
- Use a high-quality, nutrient-rich potting soil.
- The “sweet spot” for location is partial shade. Too much deep shade will result in fewer flowers, but they aren’t big fans of the scorching midday sun either. If you do have them in a sunnier spot, just make sure the soil never completely dries out.
- Keep them protected from frost, heavy downpours, and harsh winds.
- Feed your plants with a liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
- Pinch off wilted flowers regularly. This “deadheading” encourages the plant to put its energy into growing new blossoms.
- If you’re planning on bringing them inside to overwinter, give them a quick check for any hitchhiking pests first.
One last insider secret
Did you know that Impatiens are sometimes called “Touch-me-nots”? That’s because their seed pods are like little spring-loaded traps that burst open at the slightest touch! You can actually use these seeds to propagate your own plants. Just scatter the seeds onto fresh soil, keep them moist, and give them plenty of light to grow your own starts for next year.
On the flip side, if you want the plant to focus entirely on flowers rather than seeds, just snip those little pods off as soon as you see them.
