When planting in pots or planters, the new container should be about one-and-a-half times the size of the pot in which the plant currently resides. The lighting on your New Guinea impatiens sounds reasonable. Compost increases soil fe… Take a look at the leaves for any discoloration or holes that could indicate a bug problem. $12.13 Although it is not as frequently used as a landscaping bedding plant in mass plantings, New Guinea impatiens is actually better suited for this purpose than Elfin impatiens, which is the usual choice. You can also use slow release fertilizer at the beginning of the spring season and once more half way through summer. Like their shade-loving cousins the common impatiens, New Guinea impatiens form small clumps and hold their many flowers above their foliage, where they make a colorful display. Your New Guinea impatiens will be happiest with full morning sun and light afternoon shade in most areas of the northern United States and Canada. Bonide Leaf Eating Worm & Moth Killer, Thuricide Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) Outdoor Insecticide/Pesticide Liquid Concentrate (8 oz.) This plant was discovered in the jungles of New Guinea in the early 1970s. In nature, it appears in almost all colors and shades except true blue and yellow. With few pests or problems, New Guinea impatiens offer low maintenance and high performance. These plants were initially met with enthusiasm, and in the past couple of decades their popularity has soared. How to Grow New Guinea Impatiens. The latter can grow to be eighteen inches high and wide, so plan accordingly. Trim overgrown and leggy plants to keep a compact, bushy shape. However, this will add significantly to the time and effort you invest in the maintenance of your plants outdoors. Pay attention to the moisture of the plant's potting soil, and make sure that it is consistently moist.Never let impatiens dry out. They are especially attractive when creatively combined with other colorful annuals and perennial plants. Like Impatiens walleriana, the New Guinea variety of impatiens like daily watering. It’s best to provide them with full sun in the morning and sheltered afternoon shade. Some plants might be troubled with spot virus, fungal blights, rots or powdery mildew. Be careful not to keep your new plants in an area that is too dark as this can also be stressful. This Impatiens hybrid was bred from ‘New Guinea’ Impatiens, which itself was already an improvement over common Impatiens as regards heat resistance. When you plant or pot your New Guinea impatiens, be aware of the soil level. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Check your local nursery in the late spring and early summer for a variety of colors. Coddling New Guinea impatiens a bit will prevent stress and result in healthier plants with more abundant blooms and more beautiful flowers and foliage. Impatiens walleriana are the superstars of the shade garden and have been hybridized into a dizzying array of choices, including variegated forms, as well as single- and double-flowered varieties. In the flowerbed, you should water deeply at the soil level, as opposed to sprinkling. When you get them home, don’t transplant your New Guinea impatiens immediately. Be that as it may, continuous research and effort has resulted in some new varieties of New Guinea impatiens seed that are available to commercial growers but are not yet available to consumers as seed. Place your plant in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Your New Guinea impatiens will need lots of water at first to become well established in their new home. The flowers themselves should be in good shape and not wilting. New Guinea Impatiens Info Impatiens of all varieties are reliable shade-garden favorites that are hardy in most growing zones across the nation. If your New Guinea impatiens plants are in pots or containers, you can just pick them up and gently shake off the old blossoms in an area where it will be easy for you to sweep them up and dispose of them. Keep the humidity level high yet maintain air circulation by placing the pot in a plastic bag … Nonetheless, if you do occasionally forget to water, don’t despair. There is a real difference between the growth potential of compact varieties and vigorous varieties. With very little care they will brighten up any shady area. If you see wilted leaves on your plants, water them immediately. These tiny insects secrete a sugary substance made of the sap of the plants they eat. Incorporate it at a rate of a pound per 100 square feet of ground. Excessive use can result in a rapid release of nutrients during the hottest months of the summer. For fuller, shorter New Guinea impatiens… It is a notably larger plant than standard impatiens and is considered to be showier, especially in terms of its foliage. Water indoor plants when the soil begins to dry. And clean away all plant material from the soil. Carpet beetle larvae. on Oct 18, 2009. Avoid overwatering to minimize the chances of the plants developing these problems. Impatiens ‘New Guinea Group’ has exotic, vividly marked, often large leaves, and conspicuous large flowers in various shades of lilac, red, rose and orange. If the plant you are considering buying has brown roots, it is an indication that it has not been well-cared-for. Cared for properly, they provide continuous bountiful and beautiful color from early in spring until autumn. It is also a good idea to work some 20-20-20 dry, slow-release fertilizer into the soil before planting. It was termed an “All-American Selection” in 1989. Light: Impatiens flowers need shade to full sun (the more sun the better). Required fields are marked *. Best offers for your Garden - https://amzn.to/2InnD0w ----- What To Do With Impatiens in the Winter?. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) is an easy-growing annual that isn’t demanding in terms of care. Deal with them by picking them off and dropping them into a bucket of soapy water. Plant New Guinea impatiens once the danger of spring frost has passed. The very best choices are those that have a high perlite, vermiculite and/or peatmoss content. Double the size of the original pot when determining how far apart to space your new plants directly into your garden. Don’t spray your New Guinea impatiens, and don’t use a sprinkler. The foliage is ornamental as well, and can be green, bronze, or purple in colour. New Guinea impatiens shed their flowers naturally, but this can be messy. New Guinea impatiens do best with daytime temperatures of between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Early varieties were available to the public very soon after the discovery of these plants. In containers, New Guinea impatiens makes an excellent porch or deck plant. You can purchase good looking New Guinea impatiens plants as 6-pack or 12 pack liners, in small pots, in group arrangements, and in hanging baskets. Choose a well-drained location that receives full morning sun and partial shade in the afternoon. The former usually grow to be about a foot high and wide. Price: They leave tiny little holes in the leaves of your plants. These attractive plants have become a favorite for landscaping, flowerbeds, or in an outdoor container garden. New Guinea flower does this well-established favorite one better. Buy Now from Amazon. Crowding can inhibit flowering. This is usually sufficient fertilization for New Guinea impatiens grown in landscape beds. Bringing your impatiens indoors during the wintertime is a great way to protect them, brighten up your home through the dreary winter months. Bedding Impatiens provide a colourful carpet of flowers that resemble a woven tapestry and provide so many colours for the summer season. While New Guinea impatiens love sunlight for part of the day, they won’t bloom as well if they receive too much. One word to keep in mind: finicky. New Guinea impatiens are a great choice for a long-blooming flower for a sunny spot in your garden. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) is a fairly new type of impatiens that offers quite a few benefits over the traditional Elfin (Impatiens walleriana) variety.This good-looking breed sports oversized, showy flowers and variegated leaves. If you prefer the original, taller impatiens varieties, buy several six-pack containers of seedlings. Impatiens hawkeri: Also called the New Guinea impatiens, this plant has larger flowers, a variety of colors, and can tolerate full sun. If spraying with water be sure to do this on a warm, dry day to avoid encouraging fungal growth. This good-looking breed sports oversized, showy flowers and variegated leaves. One of the many wonderful things about new guinea impatiens is that they are very easy to care for and do not require a lot of maintenance. Avoid killing butterfly caterpillars as butterflies are valuable pollinators. Very often, this hardy, cheery variety will bounce right back from seemingly fatal dehydration. Begin with carefully selected New Guinea impatiens. Continued selective breeding and development of New Guinea impatiens has resulted in plants that produce large, showy flowers coupled with beautiful, variegated foliage. Outdoors, mulch also helps keep the soil cool, thus reducing stress. Reliable watering is of the utmost importance, so use of an automatic irrigation system is ideal. Take care to identify the type of caterpillars you want to control before taking action. New Guinea impatiens appreciates protection from intense, early afternoon sun that can make it scorch and wilt. These can also be purchased online or at a garden center. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to trim back and collect old blossoms occasionally. By the late 1980s, the hybrid known as Tango with orange flower color had been developed. Use a pot with drainage holes to prevent overwatering, which can cause root rot. While prized for their petite mounds of colorful blooms and easy-care growing habits, one variety is becoming is a stand-out, and that’s the New Guinea impatien. Don’t set them out until after evening temperatures are reliably above 45° degrees Fahrenheit. New Guinea impatiens are herbaceous annual flowers that typically grow to about 24 inches in height. The ideal would be to wait until evening temperatures are reliably between 55° – 65° degrees Fahrenheit and daytime temperatures are a steady 70° – 85° degrees Fahrenheit. Buy Now from Amazon. Instead, relocate them to another area. They bloom profusely until frost if these simple directions are followed. There could be a few reasons. The original plant specimens were found during an expedition conducted by the USDA and Pennsylvania’s Agriculture & Longwood Botanical Gardens. The other common form of impatiens is Impatiens hawkeri, which goes by the common name New Guinea impatiens. New Guinea impatiens are the perfect flowers to choose for shaded areas of your landscaping. Naturally, it is possible to grow them from seed; however, this is usually so difficult that it is not worth the trouble to attempt it. These short pieces of stem grow into new plants that are identical to the parent. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) produce much larger flowers than other impatiens. Fungal infestation of the roots occurs when roots do not get enough air. Water them if needed and keep them this way for several days before transplanting to their permanent location. A: Unlike geraniums, New Guinea impatiens and common impatiens can not be forced into dormancy for the winter. You can also group three or four six-inch plants in a fourteen to sixteen-inch container. You should keep the soil moist consistently but never soggy. Impatiens is also known as “Busy Lizzie,” and its name is a Latin word that describes the way its seeds shoot out of its pods when ripe (the slightest touch can make a ripe impatiens seed pod burst open and scatter its seeds). One part bleach to nine parts water is a very useful mixture. Have dog and tons of items in home… Wondering about my options, Phorid flies, or something else – apartment with no sewers or dead things, Growing Forsythia Shrubs For Lasting Beauty In The Garden, Jatropha Podagrica Care: Growing and Cultivating The Buddha Belly Plant, Zingiber Officinale Care: Learn Tips On Growing Ginger. Additionally, if the stems of your plants are getting leggy and overgrown, which happens in partial shade, you will naturally want to correct this flaw. Use water soluble fertilizer on your impatiens every two weeks through spring and summer. When cutting, trim the stems back to a leaf node and supply adequate water and fertilizer to ensure the plant recovers. Price: If you are planting directly into a flowerbed, be sure to prepare the soil thoroughly and work in a high percentage (30-50%) peat or compost for arability and drainage. They can grow up to 60 cm (2 feet) in height and produce flowers in a myriad of colours including pink, white, orange, purple and red. This should be set up in such a way that the ground is thoroughly soaked but the leaves are left dry. New Guinea impatiens are hardy plants, with no significant pest or disease problems. They will not enjoy riding around in the car as you run your errands. New Guinea impatiens care requires little pruning. If you do not wish to use these types of products, you can use a liquid soluble plant fertilizer applied every third time you water. Their pointed oblong leaves stay attractive throughout the season … Known as "impatiens", jewelweed or just touch-me-not, these plants, which come in different colors, are very common in terraces and gardens.Coming from tropical areas, in winter it is necessary to take into account some considerations for these plants so they manage to survive at low temperatures. These types of potting soil are more coarse and provide better drainage. Although their initial introduction to the United States in 1970 didn’t go well, plant breeders have since created new cultivars that have made New Guinea impatiens a common potted and landscape plant in American gardens. In terms of growing conditions, Elfin and New Guinea impatiens have similar needs when it comes to potting soil. They can be kept happily as indoor plants through the winter and transplanted outdoors in the springtime. Their leaves should be smooth and shiny, and they should possess a wealth of flowers and buds. When you allow your New Guinea impatiens to bask in the friendly sunshine of the morning hours and hide from the punishing rays of the afternoon sun, you will have a winning combination. Apply a complete water-soluble fertilizer to potted plants every one to two weeks, or every third watering. Overall New Guinea impatiens like moist soil. It is also a vigorous grower that gains more size than the old-fashioned variety and is able to fill in more space with fewer plants. Generally, impatiens like shade and moisture. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario. Naturally, you will water less in cool, damp weather than in hot, dry weather. New Guinea impatiens do well in the sun, although they can't handle prolonged full-sun exposure. A bonus for us gardeners! Once you have made your selections, take your plants straight home. Keep your plants vigorous by pinching off old flowers after they finish blooming with your fingers. New Guinea impatiens prefer consistently moist soil. This will also help encourage more abundant flowering. Remember that your New Guinea impatiens is sensitive to sudden extremes in temperature, so don’t plant it outdoors in the heat of the day. Avoid watering overhead to minimize the risk of the plants developing a bacterial or fungal disease, and cut back watering when conditions remain moist or cool. Purchase impatiens that look healthy and vibrant. Your email address will not be published. If your soil is not high quality and well-drained and/or if you do not have adequate drainage holes in planters, this will be the result. It is typically considered a more economical choice as individual plants for large plantings. If you make it too low, the roots will be exposed and will suffer. Tropical plants such as New Guinea Impatiens are usually cultivated during spring because the soil needs to be rich and warm in… Check to be sure that the root system is healthy and intact. Dry soil causes plants to suffer and drop flowers and foliage. New Guinea Impatiens are able to thrive in many parts of the garden because it tolerates and even prefers partial sun. Try Something New This New Guinea impatiens called Bounce Pink Flame ‘Balboufink’ has the look of traditional shade-loving Impatiens walleriana, but it won’t succumb to downy mildew disease. Additionally, fallen flowers can cause the development of fungal gray mold, which could kill your plants in fairly short order. Soak pots and implements thoroughly in the solution and then rinse with copious amounts of clean water to prevent potential disease of your new plants. https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/gardening-pros-cons/upsides-and-downsides-to-heirloom-planting/, https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/home-and-garden-reviews/real-green-lawn-care-review/, https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/gkh-musings/tips-for-new-gardeners/, Peters Classic 20-20-20 All Purpose Fertilizer, 8-Ounce, Bonide Leaf Eating Worm & Moth Killer, Thuricide Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) Outdoor Insecticide/Pesticide Liquid Concentrate (8 oz.). How to Grow and Take Care for Peperomia Nivalis (Succulent), Growing Heirloom Plants – Upsides And Downsides To Heirloom Planting, Starting A Garden: GKH Tips For New Gardeners, sunny south-facing window with lots of bright sunlight, LIVE: 4 Indoor Gardening Challenges and How to Solve Them. New Guinea Impatiens are able to thrive in many parts of the garden because it tolerates and even prefers partial sun. Place your New Guinea impatiens in an area that provides light shade throughout the day. Generally speaking, you don’t have to deadhead New Guinea impatiens plants. If you allow the soil to dry out multiple times, the health of the plants will suffer severely, and they will be more subject to disease and pest infestation. The right time to start pruning impatiens is mid summer or the months of July and August, once the main growing season is over. You can purchase ladybugs online or possibly at a local garden center. Peters Classic 20-20-20 All Purpose Fertilizer, 8-Ounce Reduce the frequency and amount of watering to suit the weather. In this article, we will discuss selection, planting impatiens, and the easy care of the New Guinea impatiens. If your area is receiving only light rain, continue your daily watering schedule. Alternatively, a soap solution may be used. New Guinea impatiens plants enjoy a half-day of sun and present a far more impressive showing than their humble cousins. After you have planted or potted your New Guinea impatiens, be sure to give it a generous watering and cover the soil with mulch to protect the roots and hold the moisture in. Plants that come in five-inch pots need ten or eleven inches of space all around. New Guinea Impatiens can be started quite easily from tip cuttings. If the New Guinea impatiens you are planting came in a four-inch pot, it will need a good eight or nine inches on all sides for proper growth. The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel. New guineas are, arguably, the second most popular type of impatiens. If you want to know how to winterize Impatiens, do not miss this OneHowTo article. Be sure to research the varieties you are planting and provide even more generous spacing for vigorous types of impatiens. It also makes a nice houseplant if you have a sunny south-facing window with lots of bright sunlight. If you see a sticky, black substance on your plants, suspect aphids. They require about four to six hours of afternoon shade. In addition to differences in looks, size, and hardiness, these plants also differ in propagation. The thing to remember about New Guinea impatiens is that, although it will tolerate moderate amounts of sunshine, it still thrives in light shade. Impatiens hawkeri is a larger, sturdier, brighter version of the old-fashioned favorite, Impatiens walleriana. How to Care for New Guinea Impatiens. It’s best to do your planting and transplanting in the cool, early hours of the morning or at dusk to give the plants a little time to adjust and recover without the added stress of excessive heat and sunlight. To take cuttings, use 3 or 4" tip cuttings and place them in moistened vermiculite, perlite, or other light soil mix. Instead, place them in a somewhat sheltered location in their original containers. In fact, few other types of bedding, landscape, and potted plants can rival the New Guinea impatiens in terms of popularity. Another option for ensuring your impatiens plant survives winter is to take cuttings. If you see big, chewed-up holes in your plants, your problem is probably caterpillars. Avoid New Guinea impatiens plants that seem to have damaged or rotted roots. Purchase impatiens seedlings or larger young plants. The climate in New Guinea is tropical, so this type of impatiens is not happy outside in cold weather. It might be very workable for a few indoor or container plants, though. Mix a complete slow-release fertilizer into the soil after planting outdoor plants. Apply mulch around outdoor plants during the hotter summer months to cool the soil and conserve moisture. Those that come in six-inch pots need a generous foot of space on all sides. You want well-draining soil so the plants do not sit in water. Check your plants, planters, and flowerbed regularly for pest and weed infestation. Impatiens walleriana is a seed grown plant. This is why it is so important to position your plants correctly, prepare your soil well and water with care. They bloom in summer and fall, and can be white, pink, red or orange in color. Although the New Guinea impatiens were rather spindly and unattractive when brought straight in from the wilderness, clever horticulturists soon developed very attractive, low maintenance, carefree hybrids. I’m having supernatural experiences. Here are some common pests and problems you may encounter: Various types of caterpillars may attack your impatiens. Read on to learn more. Even if your New Guinea impatiens plants appear to be dead, give them a good watering. Be careful not to allow plants to dry out and wilt frequently as this will stunt flower and foliage growth. Handpick any slugs or snails or bait them with a product containing iron phosphate. My Impatiens Plants Have Buds but Why Won't They Bloom? The downside of this is that they don’t tend to drop them in a symmetrical manner, so plants left to their own devices can begin looking rather unkempt. Cut off spent flowers to keep plants looking their best and to encourage a long season of blooming. Your email address will not be published. You'll get the most blooms by keeping your impatiens slightly pot-bound, so move up to a bigger pot only when the roots fill the pot. Summary: New Guinea impatiens care. The bigger perennial varieties are ideal to fill gaps under shrubs, for tubs and indoors. The elfin variety is a more common choice for mass landscape plantings. New Guinea impatiens will often recover as soon as they receive enough water, but repeated wilting may result in reduced foliage and flowers. Use the lowest recommended rate on the label, and if plants are dry, water thoroughly before fertilizing to avoid burning the roots. And do not look to fertilizer; New Guinea impatiens do not need heavy fertilizer. As a caveat, if your plants have been without water for a while don’t fertilize initially. New Guinea impatiens are hardy plants, with no significant pest or disease problems. If you plant these specimens in an area that does not get half a day of sun every day, your plants’ flowers will fade. There are two important steps of pruning. Pinching and cleaning helps maintain the plant’s appearance and prevents fungal infections and disease. Water container and potted plants until the water runs out the drainage holes. They will add an explosion of color in these areas from early summer to fall. Impatiens capensis and Impatiens pallida: Jewelweed and Touch-Me-Not respectively are the common names for this wildflower species of impatiens. Spread a 1-inch layer of organic compost over the soil prior to planting. Instead, get the water needs thoroughly met and give your New Guinea impatiens a chance to recover before gradually introducing fertilizer. Adjust these measurements depending upon the variety of impatiens you are working with. A thorough drench once each week is usually enough for plants grown outdoors. Use a handheld garden fork to work the compost into the soil. When placing New Guinea impatiens in the garden or in pots or planters be sure to provide plenty of growing space. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This plant can thrive in a wider variety of settings than its Elfin cousin. You can see how Impatiens got the name Busy Lizzie; they always seem to be busy flowering and have little time for anything else. Because of their impressive size and showy appearance, New Guinea impatiens are also quickly becoming quite popular as holiday plants. The best way to deal with fungus is to avoid it. The best time to water is in the very early hours of the morning so that the plants can benefit from ample water during the sunny, warm hours of the day. You may wish to establish a separate butterfly garden to provide an appropriate setting. Water: The more sun your impatiens flowers get, the more water it will need. Indeed, traditional Impatiens varieties would only thrive in the shade but wither away when temperatures increased. It should be equal with the current level of soil in your plant’s existing pot. The plant grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 12 and as annuals everywhere. Repot plants. $10.79 © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Overall, New Guinea impatiens are a great addition to any summer garden with a shady spot. This continuously flowering plant produces bright orange blooms that can be as large as 2.5 inches across. New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) is a fairly new type of impatiens that offers quite a few benefits over the traditional Elfin (Impatiens walleriana ) variety. You can purchase finished plants of New Guinea impatiens from your local nursery. Traditional Elfin impatiens is a common landscaping plant and a good choice for adding color and beauty to a partial shade setting. This belief is somewhat faulty, though. Lady bugs can also help you get spider mites under control as can specialized predatory mites. New Guinea impatiens are not heavy feeders, but they do need regular fertilization. Hawkeri is started using vegetative cuttings. Pruning is important for the plant as it promotes new growth in the plant and improves its blooming. New Guinea impatiens plants like a rich, well-drained soil so you should only use very high quality, professionally prepared potting soil. Always sterilize your clippers with rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes after each use to reduce the risk of spreading diseases from one plant to another. If you make the soil level too high, you run the risk of rotting the stem. How to Keep Your Miniature Bougainvillea Alive, Milmont Greenhouses: New Guinea Impatiens Care for the Consumer, Missouri Botanical Garden: Impatiens Hawkeri (group). If the infestation is heavy, apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) according to packaging instructions. If you plan to transplant them to a sunny full sun area, gradually acclimate them to these conditions by moving them nearer and nearer to the final location over a period of a week or more. It’s all right to plant them loosely into the pot side by side, so three to four sets should be enough. If fall or winter temperatures are expected to drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, bring your plants indoors if they are in pots. Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. ladybugs) to help you control your aphid problem. Spider mites usually attack during hot, dry spells. So can lack of moisture. When planning your garden, remember that New Guinea impatiens grow bigger and taller than Elfin impatiens. The type of impatiens we want to cover here however, although used frequently in flower beds, are even more popular as a potted plant or in hanging baskets, and that is the "new guinea" impatiens. Use of a long term, slow-release fertilizer mixed into the soil at the time of planting and applied as a top dressing twice a month should keep your plants happy and thriving. You will certainly be awarded with a riot of color all summer long. As the name already suggests, New Guinea Impatiens originate from Asia, to be more exact, from New Guinea. The ground they grow in should be rich and well-watered, yet it should also possess very good drainage capabilities to help prevent root rot and fungus development. God exists. Indoor plants may require more frequent watering. Rooting hormones can also be used to encourage root growth, but its normally not mandatory. CARE OF IMPATIENS HANGING BASKET Nothing compares to IMPATIENS for their blooming power. Less traveling and handling will result in less stress. Some good choices in fertilizer include: Use these products at a low-to-medium rate for best results. They must be brought inside and cared for as a house plant. To make the job easier, prune the plants back now so they will be correctly sized for indoor life. New Guinea impatiens can be propagated by cutting off a healthy stem and placing it in soil to take roots. This is especially important immediately after planting. Before you begin transplanting your new arrivals, make certain that all the materials and tools you plan to use are clean and free from contamination. Some plants might be troubled with spot virus, fungal blights, rots or powdery mildew. Variegation of leaves will become less dramatic and will eventually disappear. A slow drip, ground irrigation system is best. This makes them a versatile and satisfying choice for many different settings. Remember to always make your pruning cut just above a leaf node to promote strong, bushy growth. Providing Winter Care For Impatiens Written by Doityourself Staff. If you see webbing and what looks like cayenne pepper powder on the undersides of your plant leaves, you have a spider mite infestation. This method will help prevent fungal growth. If the soil dries out completely between watering, your plant may wilt or lose flowers. The best watering schedule for New Guinea is an early morning drenching. This can form a black, sooty mold. Take steps to encourage friendly fauna in your garden (e.g. Plants are very sensitive to cold and wet, and are therefore not planted out until the risk of frost is well past, and need rehousing early in the autumn. Your soil should be friable and rich with organic matter so it can hold moisture properly without waterlogging. However, they cannot tolerate soil that is soggy or too dry. New Guineas can also take a little more sunshine than can the walleriana species. How much sun do New Guinea impatiens need? Just as too little sun will have a negative impact on impatiens flowers and blossoms, too much sun can cause stunted flowers and bleached, burned foliage. Impatiens flowers do best if fertilized regularly. They tend to drop their spent blossoms naturally to make room for fresh blossoms. Soggy soil promotes root rot. How Do I Care for a Blooming Bougainvillea Plant? Unexplained wilt may be caused by fungal root rot. In fact, this plant is generally quite thirsty. New Guinea impatiens make wonderful additions to any home, porch, patio, yard or garden. Traditional or “Elfin” impatiens produce more flowers than New Guinea plants; however, these flowers are quite small when compared with the generously sized New Guinea impatiens flowers produced. When shopping look for specimens that are fully branched and well rounded. Fertilizing parched plants can result in burned roots. Transplant New Guinea impatiens in six-inch pots into nine or ten-inch containers. When the temperature climbs higher than 85° degrees Fahrenheit during the day, you may wish to add shade in the form of awnings, shade netting, and the like to protect your plants. They do not set flower buds when night temperatures reach 70° and typically go out of flower during summer or when drought-stressed. Deadhead spent blooms. Don’t purchase leggy plants or those that have dead or faded foliage. You may see small, green aphids in clusters on the tips of branches. New Guinea impatiens are a cultivar of the species Impatiens hawkeri. It’s a good idea to always keep all of your gardening supplies disinfected by cleaning them with a combination of bleach and water. New Guinea Impatiens. Caring for New Guinea impatiens is no more difficult than any other flower, as long as you keep the plants well-watered throughout the hottest parts of the year. If caught early, simply knock aphids off plants with a strong spray from the garden hose or a natural aphid spray. No deadheading is required to keep them repeat blooming for months. That’s why this variety is often referred to as “sunpatiens”. For aphids, mealybugs and whitefly remove the bugs with a strong spray of water from your hose or apply a commercial natural pesticide, such as insecticidal soap or neem oil as directed on the package. You can prune impatiens when it reaches the height of 6 inches or more. However, you may want to trim occasionally to shape and guide the plant. While Elfin impatiens thrives in full shade, New Guinea impatiens need half a day of sun every day to look their best and to thrive. Eastern exposures are often ideal. For this reason, you will need fewer plants to cover the same amount of space, so choosing New Guinea impatiens over Elfin varieties might very well end up saving you quite a bit of money. Prized by home gardeners for the colors of these blooms, which almost glow with vibrancy, New Guinea impatiens are named after their native island of New Guinea.