Impatiens are one of the most popular flowering plants for hanging baskets. Their colorful blooms and easy care make them an excellent choice to adorn porches, patios and balconies Follow these tips to keep your impatiens thriving all season long in hanging baskets
Choosing the Right Basket
Picking the ideal hanging basket sets your impatiens up for success. Consider the following when selecting a basket:
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Material – Baskets come in plastic, metal, clay or woven materials like wicker. Plastic baskets are affordable but tend to look cheap. Metal baskets are very durable but can get hot in the sun. Clay provides a classy look but is heavy. Woven baskets offer a natural style but may rot over time.
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Size – Standard sizes for impatiens baskets are 10-14 inches wide and 8-10 inches deep. Bigger baskets can get very heavy when filled with soil and plants.
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Drainage – Excellent drainage holes are crucial to prevent soggy soil Baskets with wire mesh lining provide the best drainage
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Hanging mechanism – Choose a sturdy hanger that makes watering and maintenance easy without tipping the basket over.
Selecting Impatiens Varieties
With thousands of impatiens varieties, selecting the right plants for your hanging basket can be overwhelming. Here are key factors to consider:
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Sun exposure – Standard impatiens thrive in shade and do poorly in full sun New Guinea impatiens tolerate more sun but appreciate afternoon shade Be sure to match the variety to your light conditions,
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Color – One of the best features of impatiens is the wide spectrum of bright colors available. Mix and match shades to create stunning combos.
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Growth habit – Compact types like Accent Premium stay trim and tidy while vigorous growers like Super Elfin XP spread nicely. Blend habits for dimension.
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Downy mildew resistance – Choose resistant series like Beacon or Imara to avoid disease issues plaguing old-fashioned varieties.
Planting Your Basket
Proper planting gives impatiens a healthy start:
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Fill basket with well-draining potting mix enriched with compost or slow-release fertilizer.
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Carefully remove impatiens from flats, disturbing roots as little as possible.
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Space plants 6-12 inches apart depending on variety. Plant densely for fullness.
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Settle soil gently around roots and water thoroughly after planting.
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Consider mixing in shade-loving companion plants like begonias, coleus and fuchsias.
Caring for Your Impatiens
Hands-on care is minimal but important for impatiens hanging baskets:
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Watering – Check soil daily and water when top inch becomes dry. Early morning watering is best.
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Fertilizing – Feed every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Slow-release fertilizer at planting time also works.
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Deadheading – Pinch off spent blooms to encourage new flowers.
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Grooming – Remove yellow leaves and trim back wayward stems to keep plant compact.
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Insects & diseases – Watch for pests like aphids and thrips. Dispose plants with downy mildew immediately.
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Overwintering – Take cuttings in late summer or move basket to a sheltered spot outdoors.
7 Key Tips for Growing in Containers
Impatiens also thrive in pots and window boxes. Follow these tips for success:
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Select a container at least 8-12 inches deep with drainage holes.
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Use a quality potting mix and add compost for nutrition.
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Plant impatiens transplants after the last spring frost date.
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Place container in a shady spot protected from hot midday sun.
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Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated.
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Apply balanced fertilizer every 4-5 weeks.
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Mix in compost at planting and replace some mix yearly.
Common Problems and Solutions
Despite their easygoing nature, impatiens can sometimes run into problems:
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Wilting – Drooping leaves often indicate under-watering. Check soil and water as needed.
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Leggy growth – Too much shade leads to stretched stems. Prune back or move to a sunnier area.
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Few blooms – Encourage more flowers by pinching off spent blooms regularly.
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Downy mildew – Toss plants at first sign of disease. Start with resistant varieties to avoid.
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Insects – Hose off pests or use insecticidal soap if infestation is severe.
Enjoying Impatiens All Season Long
With proper basket selection, planting, care and troubleshooting, it’s easy to keep impatiens baskets thriving. Their cheery flowers will brighten any outdoor space from spring through fall. Give these tips a try for picture-perfect impatiens hanging baskets this season!
Where to Plant Impatiens
- Impatiens prefer humus-rich, moist, and well-drained soil.
- Choose a location with some shelter from the wind.
- Soil pH should be slightly acidic, in the 6. 0-6. 5 range, but they are not picky. You won’t have to change the soil to change the pH unless it is very far from that zone.
- If you put impatiens plants close together, they will grow taller, so give them enough room. They can grow anywhere from 6 to 30 inches tall. Plants in flower beds should be 8 to 12 inches apart to keep them bushy and low to the ground.
- Mix in compost or a slow-release fertilizer before transplanting.
Planting, Growing, and Caring for Impatiens
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For some reason, impatiens are one of the few annual plants that can bloom in shady areas. This makes them great for hanging baskets or porch pots. Learn how to plant, grow, and care for impatiens.
Impatiens are very popular as both a bedding and hanging plant. Also called “Busy Lizzies,” these beauties are low-maintenance and don’t even need pinching! The genus name, Impatiens, is a Latin word describing how its seeds shoot out of its pods when ripe (the slightest touch can make a ripe impatiens seed pod burst open and scatter its contents).
Ornamental impatiens are primarily from two groups, Impatiens walleriana and New Guinea impatiens, Impatiens hawkeri. The two look different, but growing them is pretty much the same. I. wallerina cultivars are less tolerant of sunshine than the New Guinea hybrids, and the latter has larger foliage.
Most types of impatiens grow to be short to medium height, 8 to 15 inches tall. However, some types can grow to be 30 inches tall. They are perennials in frost-free areas but are grown as annuals or houseplants everywhere else.
Use impatiens for a splash of all-season color in any area that receives partial shade. Immature plants like impatiens do best in hanging baskets, window boxes, or deck railing planters because their roots are shallow and they don’t grow very tall. They also work well in the “filler” role in larger containers. Read Next.
Impatiens are usually purchased from a nursery or as liners (small starter plants) from an online vendor. Most impatiens thrive in filtered or partial shade. Protection from the hot afternoon sun will help to maintain their colors. Some newer varieties grow well in sunny areas.
Impatiens – How to grow and care for it
FAQ
Do you have to deadhead impatiens?
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Do impatiens like sun or shade?