Impatiens

How to grow impatiens in a garden

From Seed:

1. As seeds are very fine, carefully and thinly spread the seed into trays of Yates Seed Raising Mix. Gently press down and lightly water with a fine mist spray. Do not cover these seeds as they need light to germinate.
2. Keep trays in a warm place and retain moisture by covering with glass or plastic cling wrap.
3. While the seeds are germinating, choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to part shade with well drained soil. Dig in some Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser before planting.
4. Plant seedlings into your prepared garden bed, ensure the seedlings are well spaced – at least 30 cm apart. Water in well.
5. Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, sugar cane or pea straw.
6. Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Established plants:

1. Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to part shade with well drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
2. Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
3. Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. 
4. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed.  Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.
5. Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
6. Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
   
    

How to grow impatiens in a pot

From seed:

1. Choose a pot at least 200 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun to part shade.
2. Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. 
3. Sow the seeds directly into the pot by pressing them lightly into the mix and water well. Do not cover these seeds as they need light to germinate.
4. Keep pot in a warm place and retain moisture by covering with glass or plastic cling wrap.
5. Water gently and keep moist through germination period.
6. Once the seedlings have grown at least 5 cm, place a light layer of organic mulch, such as bark chips, sugar cane or pea straw around the base of the plant.
7. Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

Established plants:

1. Choose a pot at least 200 mm wide and deep. Position in full sun to part shade.
2. Fill the chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. 
3. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots. 
4. Position in hole and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
5. Feed every 1 to 2 weeks with Yates Thrive Roses and Flowers Liquid Plant Food.

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 or full sun, but with protection from the harsh afternoon sun. Grown mainly as an annual plant. See table for sowing guides.

Impatiens 'New Ginea' 
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, but sheltered from the harsh afternoon sun.  These plants are easy to propagate from cuttings.

SunPatiens 
Great for full sun to shaded areas. Available in compact, spreading or vigorous growing varieties. See here for further details