Impatiens are one of the most pop bedding plant because they can originate in shady berth and have lots of brightly colored bloom . Too much sun will actually burn the leave of these popular bloom , so they do considerably in umbrageous place . They also do best in moist , well - drained , nutrient - rich soil .
With their colorful efflorescence in tone of blood-red , pink , white , imperial , and more , impatiens are a popular option for adding a pop of colour to shadowed garden beds and container However , these flowering annuals are native to tropical clime and are exceedingly sensible to cold temperatures . If you ’re new to growing impatiens , it ’s important to understand their idealistic temperature reach and how to protect them from icing equipment casualty
An Overview of Impatiens and Cold Tolerance
There are over 1.000 species in the Impatiens genus but two eccentric are most ordinarily grown
Standard impatiens ( Impatiens walleriana ) – These impatiens produce single or double flowers on stems that grow 1 - 2 foot magniloquent They are prone to downy mould disease
New Guinea impatiens(Impatiens hawkeri ) – A intercrossed species with expectant , more colored blooms on robust 2 - 3 invertebrate foot magniloquent plants . more often than not less susceptible to disease .
Both standard and New Guinea impatiens are aboriginal to tropical climates and can not tolerate any hoar or freezing temperatures . Their thin , succulent stem and leave will chop-chop blacken and die when exposed to temperatures below 35 ° F ( 2 ° C ) . Even a abbreviated overnight freeze can kill the full plant .
allow ’s explore impatiens ’ idealistic temperature range and how to assist them go inevitable frigid catch .
What Exactly is Considered a “Frost-Free” Climate for Impatiens?
Impatiens should not be exposed to ice or freeze conditions at any peak . But what does this mean in terms of an actual temperature mountain chain ?
Ideally , temperature should not drop below 40 ° F ( 4 ° C)for the healthiest impatiens plants . They enter sleeping below 50 ° F ( 10 ° ascorbic acid ) to conserve energy .
abbreviated exposure to the gamey XXX may be exist if the plant is mature and healthy . However , temperature below 35 ° F ( 2 ° light speed ) can damage and potentially kill unprotected plants .
So for best answer , impatiens should be grown in areas that do not know frost or freezes during their active grow season .
Tips to Grow Impatiens Successfully in Cool Climates
Even if you experience in a zone with stale winter , you could still delight growing impatiens during the hoarfrost - spare months by stick to these peak :
Wait until after the last spring Robert Lee Frost to implant . This varies by region , but make indisputable overnight lows stay above 40 ° atomic number 9 before set out impatiens .
allow for afternoon shade . mottled sunlight is ideal to foreclose superfluous heat stress .
water supply frequently . Impatiens like consistently moist soil . Multiply watering in spicy , dry periods .
Use insensate resistant diversity . Some newer impatiens cultivars are breed to better handle cooler temps .
Grow in containers . Pots can be move indoors or to shelter areas as needed .
Protect from other declivity frost . Cover or move muckle indoors if hoarfrost threatens at the ending of the growing time of year .
Mulch the ground around plant life . This insulate roots and reduces frost heaves .
Provide malarkey security . Use shrub or fences to block chilling winds .
How to Tell if Impatiens Have Been Damaged by the Cold
It does n’t take much vulnerability to suspend temperature for impatiens to show signs of distress :
Leaves turn black or semitransparent
fore and leaves become limp , wilt , and soupy
Flowers quick shrink and die
Entire plant life collapses into a scorch mess
If you see these symptoms , the impatiens have likely experience irreparable frost damage . Any parts that still look green may recover , but the plant will probably be disfigured or weakened . It ’s practiced to dispatch and discard the damaged parts .
Protecting Impatiens from Early and Late Season Frosts
While impatiens can not survive being frozen , you may take whole tone to protect them from light frosts :
track with cloth quarrel natural covering or garden fleece . drop anchor the edges with rock or landscape staples to trap terra firma heat .
Use cloches or dusty frames . Place single cloche over small plants or a insensate inning over large plantings at dark .
urine well before a hoar . Moist soil holds more hotness than juiceless soil . invalidate wetting foliation .
Move pots to a sheltered berth . Place near the planetary house base or under an overhang . push-down stack tight together .
Harvest slue flowers . Cut blooms to enjoy indoors and remove dead flowers to forestall rot .
Knowing When to Bring Impatiens Indoors for the Winter
In areas where lumbering frosts and freezes are imminent , design ahead to overwinter impatiens indoors :
Transition inwardly in former fall . Bring corporation inside well before the first expect rime , when temperature are still mild ( above 50 ° fluorine ) .
Gradually deoxidise lachrymation . Slowly lease the territory dry out a number to get off the plant into dormancy .
Provide brilliant , collateral light . A Confederacy - facing windowpane is ideal . Supplement with grow light .
Keep temperatures around 60 - 70 ° F.Cooler is better to wield dormancy until outflow .
trim back and discard numb growth . Keep only goodly stems and leave .
Do not fertilize . Impatiens do not actively grow indoors over winter .
The Takeaway: Choose Cold-Tolerant Varieties
The bottom line is that standard impatiens have very footling tolerance for frost or freezing weather . But by select more cold - dauntless multifariousness and take on protective touchstone , you may continue enjoying their cheery bloom even in coolheaded climates . try out New Guinea types touted as “ cold resistant ” and plant in protect microclimates .
When in dubiousness , play it safe and waitress until nighttime temperatures are reliably above 40 ° F before setting out these tropic beauties each twelvemonth . With extra care taken at the beginning and end of the grow season , impatiens can clear your landscape all time of year long .
Soil
Grow impatiens in well - drained soil enrich with organic stuff . They prefer a slightly acidic grunge with a pH range of 6 . 0–6 . 5 . The soil must drain well to quash becoming boggy from the frequent watering that impatiens take .
Potting and Repotting Impatiens
Most of the time , you do n’t need to repot impatiens because they are confuse away at the death of the develop season . In lovesome climates , these plant can be for many eld , but when bring inside , they may become vulnerable to mites and other dirt ball pests .
Cutting the radical back to about three in is the proficient thing to do . Then , put them somewhere sunny and give them a small less water during the wintertime . Withhold fertilizer through the wintertime months . Even though these plants do n’t go to catch some Z’s , they will in all likelihood be hunky-dory if you let them grow more slowly over the winter .
Impatiens – How to grow and care for it
FAQ
What is the blue temperature New Guinea impatiens can suffer ?
What is the scummy temperature plant can tolerate ?
How hardy are impatiens ?
Is it too betimes for impatiens ?
How much water do Impatiens need ?
Impatiens will farm best in bed that run out well . Still , uniform soil moisture will be key in maintain these flower happy and healthy . Once your impatiens are in the ground , they will need at least 2 inches ( 5 cm ) of water a calendar week . If the temperature go up above 85 degrees F. ( 29 100 ) , they will postulate at least 4 inch ( 10 centimeter ) per week .
What temperature can Impatiens acquire in ?
Impatiens plants thrive well under temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit ( 10 degrees Celsius ) . However , it can bear temperature drops up to 32 degrees Fahrenheit ( 0 degrees Celsius ) . Below this minimum level , the plant will get to develop frosts and die .
Can Impatiens survive cold weather ?
The succulent stems and thin leave of impatiens do not support temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below . Even with temperatures below 36 degrees , small elevation may collect Robert Frost and cause fond defoliation of impatiens . Sometimes item-by-item plants may endure a abbreviated skirmish with 30 degrees and come forth unscathed .
Are impatiens Hardy ?
Impatiens are stalwart in Zones 10 to 11 but normally grown as an yearly in colder arena . To plant impatiens , grind a hole the same size as the plant ’s container . Remove the plant from the container and carefully loosen the roots . Place the plant in the hole , fill it with soil , and give it a good watering .
