Care and Growth of New Guinea Impatiens
A flower that is worth mentioning is the new guinea impatiens. I have worked with these flowering plants over the years and have seen the beauty and flavour new guinea impatiens brings. These garden beauties can really give that POP when planted in masses in assorted colours in the garden area, used as an undergrowth around coconut palms and other trees, in containers, low hanging baskets and so on.
New Guinea Impatiens can be grown in full as well as partial sunlight. Caution should be taken however because if the soil is allowed to dry out your Impatiens will wilt but a good drink of water or soaking will cause your plant to bounce back, therefore, it is good to ensure that the soil is moderately moist at all times.
Botanical Name
Impatiens hawkeri
Common Name
New Guinea Impatiens
Growing New Guinea Impatiens
Soil Type
When growing new guinea impatiens like other garden plants, the first thing to consider is the soil type. These garden beauties prefer a soil that holds moisture and has good drainage. New Guinea Impatiens loves a soil Ph of 6.0-6.5.
Watering Methods
As mentioned earlier new guinea impatiens loves moisture but be very careful when giving your impatiens a drink because overwatering can cause root rot, so ensure that the soil remains moderately moist at all times.
How to fertilize?
The use of a water-soluble or quick-release fertilizer once a month is sufficient in keeping your impatiens blooming beautifully.
Pruning Procedures
Pruning is so important in the life of garden plants and so it is with new guinea impatiens. Plants which are leggy meaning they have lost most or all of its leaves and plants that are overgrown at this point should be trimmed. The removal of brown and discoloured leaves, old flowers and other plant parts will keep your impatiens healthy and attractive. Remove these plant parts by pinching with your fingers this procedure will encourage new bloom causing your plant to become fuller.
Garden pests of new guinea impatiens
Keep an eye out for these garden pest which may seek to wreak havoc on your new guinea impatiens.
- Snails
- Slugs
- MealyBugs
- WhiteFly
- Aphids
For snails and slugs handpicking and disposing of them or the use of snail bait will offer some help. For mealybugs, whitefly and aphids the use of insecticidal soap will help. When using chemicals read and follow the label because the label is the law.
Diseases of new guinea impatiens
There are a few diseases of new guinea impatiens which includes
- Powdery Mildew
- Root Rot
- Botrytis Blight
Powdery mildew shows up or appears as a coating on the leaf surface. This mildew can be either grey or white. Impatiens that are infected experience leaf drop, the growth of your plant will also be stunted. Control measures include ensuring at all times that your garden area is clean and clear of debris including leaves has have fallen and is resting on the soil’s surface.
Another method of controlling powdery mildew is to water your impatiens early enough so your plants can have sufficient time to dry. Watering too late in the evening will encourage disease because with moisture remaining on your plant and as night falls will create the right condition for powdery mildew. In serve cases treatment such as organic fungicides and neem oil may offer some help. When using chemicals read an follow the label because the label is the law.
Root rot is caused by poor drainage, therefore, it is important to know your garden soil type or at least know how to make soil improvements so that your impatiens do not fall victim. Impatiens that are suffering from root rot develops mushy black stems and roots. Control measures include replacing the soil with fresh garden soil that has good drainage, adding compost will also help in building your soil to be the right fit for your new guinea impatiens.
The soil of new guinea impatiens that are planted in containers should have good drainage, the pots must also have drain holes to allow excess water to run off.
Botrytis Blight
Botrytis Blight is encouraged by weathers that are chilly at nighttime or humid weather. Signs of botrytis blight appears as wilted stems and leaves, rotted buds and blooms which are discoloured. To avoid the onset of this disease when installing new guinea impatiens plants should have a spacing of 8-12 inches this will give good air circulation also remove yellow leaves and diseased bloom.
Impatient Varieties
Here are a few varieties you can try.
- Paradise rose flair
- Sunstanding hot pink
- Painted paradise orange
- Sunstanding cherry red
- Magnum Red
- Sunstanding Salmon
The final word
Installing these garden beauties can really give that WOW and colour POP that will bring that much-needed flavour to your garden and landscapes so why not go for it you have nothing to lose I assure you, you will be glad that you did, make your garden the talk of the neighbourhood to be admired and enjoyed both by family and friends.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.
Thank you for this wonderful article that really brings me back to my childhood. My grandmother had the most beautiful flower gardens when I was a kid and Impatiens were a big part of it. Back then, I never really understood the work it took to make it flourish. You give such great detail in how to care for them that it will be helpful to even the most novice of gardeners! Thanks again!
Hello Steve, your interest with garden plants is really great and as you know plants has so many benefits that we just can’t survive without them. So happy I can help and I am looking forward of hearing from you God’s willing of your garden success. Have a good day.
Hi Norman – thanks for sharing this great article. New Guinea Impatiens is a delightful addition to any garden and fits in well with the cottage style planting that I have. I love the variety of colours available, especially the violet and pink shades. Here in the UK they flower right up until the first frost of the winter season. All the best, Diane
Hello Daine thanks so much for your kind words. These plants are pretty amazing and can do wonders in the garden. The flavour and soft touch that new guine impatiens brings to a garden area is so wonderful. So happy that I could help and wishing you all the best of success.
Awesome post. This is really educative, In this coming new year I’ve been thinking of designing my garden with flowers and with all these information I think this is the right choice.I even learnt a new botanical name today,time to put my brothers into test.This has to be shared, and I will strongly do that. Thanks for this useful information.
As always Lok it is my pleasure I am so happy that I could help and as always all the best to you and have a good day.
Hi Norman,
Awesome article, I really enjoyed the reading!
I want to decorate my garden with flowers and I didn’t have any idea of what to choose. It’s the first time I hear about the New Guinea Impatiens. Those flowers are beautiful! The good thing about them is that they can be grown in both full and partial sunlight. Anyway, I just would like to know if the New Guinea Impatient exist in other colors? Or they are available only in purple?
Thank you very much for this useful post!
Hello Daniella so happy to see you, these garden plants are pretty amazing and come in many colours. Installing new guinea impatiens in your garden will work wonders. Thanks a million for your kind word and I am so happy that I could help. all the best of success and have a good day.
With its high temperatures, and dryness, generally South Africa , would not seem to be a suitable place, to grow these plants.Do you think that with careful preparation and watchfulness, these could be overcome?
I have visited several ornamental gardens, and have been delighted, by the mass displays, of these ground hugging type plants.
To get the full effect, of the mass displays, of these type of flowers,one needs all the varieties one can get,such as the 6 varieties mentioned.
One needs to to work carefully, and take all the precautions mentioned, in preparing and keeping your soil right, for these plants
Hello Robert so happy to meet you. They are many keys to meeting a plants requirements, once these requirements are meet you will have good success. Yes with good preparation you will be well on your way. Thanks so much for sharing and wishing you all the best of success.
What I liked about your review on these flowers is you gave practical suggestions on where to place and / or plant these flowers for best effect.
One of the crucial factors to having a successful garden of flowers and plants is to be able to know when they all need water. Not all plants need water everyday and so it is imperative that your condition of keeping the flowers moist at all times, but not to over-water them, is a great tip. I know I struggle to know how much water to give an orchid, for instance. These flowers are quite fickle and one needs to know just how much or little to give them.
The variety of colours gives a great array bringing brightness and happiness to the garden. Thank you for your extensive review of this flower, I’ve learnt a lot from reading it and am now well informed.
Edu
Hello so happy to hear from you, all it takes is knowing how just like any other field of work and you will be sure of success. I am so happy that I could help and thanks for your kind words. Wishing you all the best of success.