COMMON NAME:
► Impatiens: Sunpatien, Bounce, and New Guinea
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
► Impatiens
GROWER HINTS:
► ‘Sunpatiens’ are a newer hybrid that can take more sun than traditional impatiens varieties. They still have a lot of color and long lasting blooms, and look like a cross between traditional impatiens and New Guinea impatiens. They also aren’t susceptible to impatiens downy mildew.
►’Bounce’ impatiens are another newer hybrid that look similar to the traditional impatiens walleriana, but aren’t susceptible to the impatiens downy mildew. They also recover, or ‘bounce’ back, very well from heat or dry weather.
► New Guinea impatiens have much bigger single flowers and dark large green foliage. They also have the biggest color selection. They are really shade plants, although they can take a few hours of sun in the early morning or late afternoon. They also aren’t susceptible to impatiens downy mildew.
GROWTH HABITS:
► When the weather gets cold in the late fall, your impatiens will start to lose its inner leaves. If it doesn’t freeze during the winter, then you have a good chance of getting another year of beauty! Start to feed as soon as it gets a little bit warm. Soon you should see some new leaves begin to grow from the bare inner branches. After your plant is actively growing, then it is safe to prune back those ‘leggy stems!’. It is ok to cut them back up to Labor Day, otherwise wait until spring when you see new leaves
SHADE/SUN:
► Impatiens are a light shade plant; this can also mean direct sun for a couple of hours during the early morning or late afternoon. Coastal areas, regular impatiens in the ground can learn to take full sun. They will need more nitrogen than normal. Generally, the hotter and drier it is, the less direct sun they can take. New Guinea impatiens like 2 to 3 hours of soft sun, but aren’t pretty in full sun. Experiment to find out just how much they will take in your area. The more light they get without burning, the more blooms they will have.
FEEDING AND WATERING:
► Watering: They require plenty of water, daily, when grown in pots. Establish your own schedule by watching to see when they wilt; then water often enough to prevent them from wilting. Fertilizing: Use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks for fastest results or use a time release fertilizer. New Guinea impatiens DI NOT like to be over fertilized. For them, stay away from high nitrogen fertilizers. Start to feed again after new growth begins to appear in the spring.
FLOWER/FOLIAGE COLOR(S):
► Differs by variety but generally white, pink, red, and orange with lovely combinations. Foliage of New Guineas is very pretty and flowers are much larger with very intense colors.
SEASON(S) CARRIED AT WEIDNERS:
► Spring/Summer
CONTAINER OR GROUND?
► Pot or container, basket, or in the ground are all good choices.
PARTICULAR PESTS:
► Impatiens are easy and mostly pest free. Traditional impatiens walleriana are susceptible to the impatiens downy mildew, which will kill the plant in most cases. The Sunpatien, Bounce, and New Guineas are not susceptible to the impatiens downy mildew.
