A Detailed Guide to Impatiens Propagation Methods and Seed Dispersal

Impatiens is a flower plant that is not prized as rare but is very unique, and its cultivation method is not very difficult, which is an important reason most flower lovers choose to grow it. Its main propagation method is sowing, and it grows very fast; in just a few months it can go from seed to bloom. Let us take a closer look together.

Impatiens Propagation Methods

Impatiens is commonly propagated from seed, usually sown from March to September, with sowing in April being most suitable, so that it can bloom in early to mid-June, and the flowering period can last more than two months.

Scatter the seeds evenly into the furrow, cover with soil and press down lightly, then water. After sowing, keep the soil moist; at a temperature of around 25°C, seedlings begin to emerge in about 5 days, with a seeding rate of 500 grams per mu. When the seedlings grow 2-3 leaves, transplanting should begin, and afterwards they can be gradually planted in the ground or potted for growing on.

How Impatiens Disperses Its Seeds

The seeds of impatiens are all inside a pod; when ripe, the outer shell bursts open on its own, ejecting the seeds and self-sowing for reproduction.

What Uses Does Impatiens Have

1. Ornamental value: It is widely cultivated in gardens across our country and is a commonly seen ornamental flower. Impatiens is like a crane's crest and resembles a colorful phoenix, graceful in posture and charmingly lovely. The fragrant and showy red impatiens and the delicate turquoise impatiens both open in the morning, which is the best time to admire impatiens. Because its flower colors and varieties are extremely rich, impatiens is a commonly used material for beautifying flower beds and flower borders; it can be planted in clumps, in groups, and in pots, and can also be used as a cut flower for growing in water.

2. Edible value: Impatiens is cultivated in all provinces north and south in China. When people boil meat or stew fish, they add a few impatiens seeds, making the meat easy to soften and the bones easy to tenderize, with a distinctive flavor. The tender leaves of impatiens can be blanched in water and then mixed with oil and salt as a cold dish.

3. Other uses

① Dyeing use: In India, the Middle East and other places it is called HENAA henna; it naturally contains a red-brown pigment, and Middle Eastern people began growing this plant very early, using its sap to dye their nails and adorn themselves. It is recorded that Cleopatra used henna to dye her hair. The famous Indian body painting also uses it for coloring.

② Snake-repelling use: Huang Yongzhao, a researcher at the Chongqing Natural History Museum and a Chinese expert on amphibians and reptiles, says that impatiens can also repel snakes.

How to Grow Potted Impatiens

I. Cultivation methods

1. Soil:

For potting soil for impatiens, mix 1 part garden soil, 1 part sandy soil and 0.5 part leaf mold evenly, and lay broken tiles at the bottom of the pot to aid drainage. After potting, water it and place it in a ventilated, shaded spot; after 3-5 days, move it to a ventilated place with plenty of sunlight.

2. Light:

Impatiens likes light and also tolerates shade; it is best to receive at least 4 hours of scattered sunlight every day. In summer, shade it to prevent excessively high temperatures and scorching sun exposure.

3. Temperature:

The suitable growing temperature for impatiens is 6-26°C, and during the flowering period the ambient temperature should be kept above 10°C. In the severe cold of winter it should be brought into a greenhouse to prevent freezing.

4. Watering:

During the growing period, impatiens needs attention to watering, keeping the potting soil moist often; especially in summer, water more, but there must be no waterlogging or long-term overly wet soil. When there is a lot of rain, attention should be paid to drainage and flood prevention, otherwise the roots and stems are prone to rot.

5. Fertilizing:

Since the growing medium for impatiens has already been given sufficient base fertilizer, after potting it only needs 1-2 applications of dilute fertilizer water during the growing period, to prevent excessive vegetative growth, which would otherwise affect the plant's shape and reduce its ornamental effect.

6. Pruning:

When impatiens seedlings are 30-40 cm tall, the old leaves on the lower part of the stem should be removed promptly, and the growing tip pinched off, which can make it branch more; removing flowers at the base at any time will encourage the tops of each branch to bloom successively.

7. Pests and diseases:

Impatiens commonly suffers from powdery mildew, which harms the plant's leaves, flowers, fruits and other organs. In the early stage of the disease, spray with a 70% thiophanate-methyl 1000-fold solution or a 50% carbendazim 1000-fold solution.

II. Points to note

1. Fertilizing

Fertilizer for impatiens can only be placed in the potting soil, not close to the plant's root system or stem, as it easily burns the roots.

2. Pests and diseases

The roots, stems and leaves of impatiens are all prone to diseases and pests, so check them promptly.

3. Prevention and control of pests and diseases

Common diseases: powdery mildew, brown spot, damping-off, ring spot, etc.

Common pests: root-knot nematodes, sphinx moth larvae.

Impatiens seeds can generally be harvested after the flowers form fruit, but its seeds have one characteristic: as soon as a hand touches the fruit shell it bursts open, which leaves many flower lovers unable to collect its seeds normally. I have a simple method for collecting its seeds, which is to put a plastic bag over the fruit before it ripens.