Trying to overwinter flowering plants indoors can be a bit of a project, often requiring more space and effort than most of us have to spare. That’s why so many gardeners just head to the nursery every spring to buy fresh annuals. But here’s a little secret: you don’t have to keep buying them! It’s actually super easy to propagate your own Busy Lizzies (Impatiens) right at home.
Growing from Seeds: The “Explosive” Method
There’s a reason Impatiens are sometimes called “Touch-Me-Nots.” Once the flowers fade, they produce seed pods shaped like little candle flames. When they’re ripe, even the tiniest touch makes them explode, scattering seeds everywhere! If you want to catch those seeds before they disappear into the garden soil, you’ll need a specific technique.
Here’s how to harvest them like a pro:
- Cup your hand completely around a single seed pod.
- Give it a gentle squeeze to trigger that “pop.”
- Because your hand is closed around it, the seeds will land safely in your palm instead of shooting across the yard.
- Spread the seeds out flat on a paper towel to let them dry thoroughly.
- Once dry, store them in a glass jar in a cool, dark place until you’re ready to plant.
How to Start Your Seedlings
Growing Impatiens from seed is a breeze, and your windowsill is the perfect spot for it.
For the best results, keep these tips in mind:
- Start your seeds indoors around early March.
- These guys are “light germinators,” meaning they need light to sprout. Just press them gently into the soil surface—don’t bury them!
- Keep them at a steady room temperature between 65°F and 72°F (18-22°C).
- Pro tip: Cover your starter pots with a bit of plastic wrap to keep the humidity levels consistent.
Just remember to wait until the danger of frost has completely passed before moving them outside to your flower beds or balcony. Busy Lizzies are definitely not fans of the cold!
Propagation via Cuttings: The Way to Get Exact Colors
Since different varieties of Impatiens love to cross-pollinate, growing them from seeds can lead to some “surprise” colors. If you want a new plant that looks exactly like the parent, taking cuttings is the way to go. You can do this as an alternative to (or alongside) overwintering the entire mother plant.
Here’s the step-by-step:
- In the fall, snip off a few cuttings about 4 inches long from your favorite plant.
- Place them in starter pots with potting mix and keep them at room temperature indoors.
- Give them about 4 weeks, and you’ll start to see those first roots forming.
