Can Impatiens be used to dye nails? Growing methods and precautions

It can be seen extremely often in rural areas. This flower is colorful, and when it blooms it is lively and abundant. Whether planted on a balcony or in a courtyard, it is especially striking. What is being described is the "garden balsam" (Impatiens balsamina). It is especially friendly to novice flower growers. The seeds it produces in autumn can simply be scattered in the soil, and the next year it can grow into a large patch.

At the same time, in addition to being easy to grow, it naturally contains a kind of natural reddish-brown pigment, which can also be used as a nail dye. Moreover, in traditional Chinese medicine, it is also a medicinal herb that can treat women's abdominal pain, amenorrhea, blood stasis, and relieve pain and swelling.

Garden balsam is an annual herbaceous plant, mostly native to China, India, and Malaysia, and is very suitable for home cultivation. In terms of care, it likes sunlight, tolerates heat, and does not tolerate cold. To grow it well, it must be given sufficient light, preferably no less than 4 hours of diffused light per day, but in the hot summer it should also be appropriately shaded. Its suitable temperature is between 15°C and 30°C. As long as it does not exceed this range, it can basically bloom. In winter it should be kept above 10°C. Especially in cold or frost-prone places, it must be placed in a warm space, otherwise the potted plant will die.

In terms of watering, garden balsam follows the principle that the soil only needs to be slightly moist, but waterlogging should be avoided. The watering frequency should change according to the four seasons. It is recommended that in spring and autumn, water once every 3 to 5 days. In summer, it can be increased to once every 2 days on that basis, while in winter the watering frequency should be reduced to prevent root rot.

Generally, when purchased from a flower market, it will come with soil, but if the soil is later found to have become compacted, it should be loosened. At this time, it is recommended to choose a loose, fertile, well-draining, breathable, slightly acidic sandy soil. For the soil mix, leaf mold, sandy soil, and garden soil can be mixed together. When repotting, carefully check whether there are any overly old or overly long roots, and cut off this type of root that competes for nutrients. During cultivation, the soil should often be loosened to give the soil better air permeability, which is beneficial to root development.

As for fertilizing, it likes fertilizer but dislikes concentrated fertilizer. Applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer before flowering and during the peak flowering period can promote flowering. During the rest of the time, diluted organic fertilizer can be applied, with a topdressing once every half month to promote growth. However, note that fertilizing should be stopped in winter.