Types of impatience and plant care at home

Impatiens is a low herbaceous plant of the balsam family that is grown at home for its bright, unusual flowers. Under natural conditions, it grows in the tropics and subtropics of Africa, it is also cultivated in the temperate latitudes of Europe and America. It also has other names: impatiens balsam, light, touch-sensitive, wet Vanka. This flower is suitable even for beginners, as it is unpretentious and grows quickly.

Varieties of impatience

The flower is a short bush, up to 60 cm in height. The leaves are small, have a uniform green color. Shepherd's flowers appear in late spring and continue to replace each other until the end of the warm period. In nature, there are several varieties of impatiens, but breeders have bred a huge number of varieties:

1. Waller is a branched bush on which small flowers of different shades of red are formed. Its height reaches 60 cm, but on the basis of this species, mix varieties were bred: symphony (with red and pink flowers), futura (bright flowers), King Kong (round bush with large bright flowers), novet (plant up to 15 cm in height), colorpower dark red (bright red bloom), lavender flame (red and pink flowers).
2. Hawker is a variety that is distinguished by oblong lanceolate leaves and large flowers. Bushes grow tall and sprawling under good lighting conditions.
3. Niamean is not like the other varieties. The flowers of impatiens are fused and look like large beans of red, yellow, or a combination of both. A variation of it is corduroy, which blooms with light beige flowers of an unusual shape.
4. Petersa is a species with dark green leaves on long petioles. The bush is tall and not very sprawling, its flowers have a familiar shape, color in different shades of red and pink.
5. Iron-bore is an annual shrub, often used to decorate flower beds and house plots. The leaves are large, oblong. The petals of individual flowers are curved outward and painted in red, pink, burgundy colors.
6. Balsamic is another variety that is grown as an annual flower bed decoration. He does not tolerate frost. The buds are large, bright, each of them contains a large number of petals.
7. Tamarinda are small houseplants that bloom for several years. The leaves and flowers are large, the bushes themselves are lush. There are two main varieties of this variety: white (with white flowers) and purple blue (with red and bright crimson buds).

The plant is also called ampelous impatiens. This means that it is grown in hanging pots or vases. When properly cared for, it forms a solid ball of leaves and flowers that fall down the edges of the flowerpot.

Planting and care rules

Impatiens can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. In place of the buds, fruits appear, each of which contains a large number of seeds. They can be stored at room temperature and can germinate for another 6 years. Apical cuttings about 6 cm in length are also suitable for reproduction. They are left in water until they take root and then transplanted into soil.

Even a beginner can handle planting and caring for an ampelous impatience. The plant thrives in general store soil and any other soil type. A deep, but not too wide container is suitable for it.Drainage is laid out at the bottom, since moisture should not accumulate in the pots. For better flowering, the bushes should be fed mineral fertilizers during the growing season. In the warm season, they are added to water for irrigation.

Flowers are also unpretentious to lighting. They grow both in the sun and in the shade of other plants, but it is better to choose well-lit areas. So in the photo, the impatiens looks bright, and its flowers grow large. This plant is thermophilic, the most comfortable temperature for it is 20-25 degrees. When the temperature drops to 13-15 ° C, it can freeze and die.

Bushes feel comfortable in high humidity. On sunny days, it is recommended to spray them with water from a spray bottle.

Impatiens are ornamental flowers that are easy to grow in your home or garden. Breeders have bred a huge number of varieties that differ from each other in size, leaf shape and petal color. Under natural conditions, the plant grows in tropical climates, so at home it needs to create similar conditions. It does not tolerate frost, so even in winter you need to monitor the temperature. With proper care and maintenance, the bushes bloom almost the entire warm season, and some representatives can release new buds right up to November.

Video about picking seedlings of impatiens