The New Guinea Impatiens is a tropical beauty originally from East Africa. Moving from a scorching hot continent to our chilly winters is definitely a bold move! You might be wondering: can it handle the frost, even if it’s shivering? Or is a cold snap a death sentence for this summer bloomer?
New Guinea Impatiens can only stay outdoors as annuals
The New Guinea Impatiens (botanically known as *Impatiens neuguinea*) simply won’t survive the winter if left outside. Even a “mild” winter is an impossible hurdle for this plant. The reason is pretty simple: temperatures below 50°F (10°C) are already life-threatening for these tropical natives.
While they grow as perennials in their homeland, they can only be treated as annuals in a typical garden bed here. If you want to keep yours alive for several years, you’ll need to grow it in a pot. There’s really no way around it, as outdoor frost protection just isn’t enough for these sensitive plants.
Potted plants are easy to overwinter
Smart gardeners plant their New Guinea Impatiens in containers right from the start. This makes it super easy to switch up their location whenever the weather turns. But don’t worry—if you have some in the ground, you don’t have to let them die off in the fall. Just dig them up and pot them before the cold hits. Use a high-quality, nutrient-rich, and well-draining potting soil.
When to start overwintering
Since these plants have zero frost tolerance, you might need to act as early as September if the fall weather gets gloomy. Bring your pots inside as soon as temperatures dip below 50°F. If a few warm, sunny days pop up afterward, it’s perfectly fine to let them soak up some sun back outside temporarily.
Quick Tip:
If you don’t have room to keep them inside, you can always grow New Guinea Impatiens from seed in the spring. Some hybrid varieties even produce viable seeds you can collect yourself!
The perfect winter home for your Impatiens
*Impatiens neuguinea* likes its winter quarters a bit warmer than most other plants. Ideally, its indoor spot should look like this:
- Temperatures between 60°F and 68°F (16°C–20°C)
- As much light as possible
- Bright morning sun
- Protection from harsh midday sun
- No cold drafts
Quick Tip:
Sudden changes in environment cause stress and can weaken the plant. Pick your winter spot carefully so you don’t have to move it again until spring.
Winter care: Keep it simple
Even though your Impatiens is taking a little “winter break,” it stays evergreen, so it still needs some TLC.
- Promptly remove spent blooms and old leaves.
- Water regularly, but much less than you did in the summer.
- Avoid waterlogging (no soggy feet!).
- Check for pests, especially if your indoor air is dry from the heater.
- Mist the plant occasionally or use a humidifier as a preventative measure.
- Keep feeding it with liquid fertilizer, but only once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Moving back outside
Wait until mid-May (after the last frost) to move your New Guinea Impatiens back outdoors. To get it looking its best, give it a good pruning in March or April. This encourages bushy, branched new growth. You can cut back up to 60% of the stem length. If your plant is staying in its pot, spring is also the perfect time to repot it if it has outgrown its home.
