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Florida Gardening

Are you growing Impatiens from Seed?

Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)

13 years ago

I see the seed packets of impatiens in the store and they are a lot cheaper than trays of annuals - but I wonder how much luck anyone had at actually getting them to germinate. Is anyone growing impatiens from seed? Do you toss the seeds into the bed? Or do you germinate them indoors and/or in some kind of planting tray? I just wonder what kind of success or failure I might have with seed packets.

Thanks!

Carol

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Comments (4)

SusieQsie_Fla
13 years ago
Hi Carol
I've never purchased seeds, but all my impatiens plants pop up in my garden from the seeds of last year's plants. Whenever I come across the tiny seedlings, I pry them out of the soil and plant them in pots til I see what color they are.

I bet they are super easy to grow from seed since they do it so readily on their own.

Let us know if you try it.

Susie
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
Original Author
13 years ago
Susieqsie, are you particular about your colors? That is too funny, because so am I! LOL! So I am guessing they don't always come true from seed. Which colors do you keep and which do you eliminate? Still giggling....
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Hmmm, well that's odd because you say the other seedlings are growing well. The only thing I can think of is how far away are the fluoro. lights. I normally keep mine about 2-3 inches above the top of the plants and adjust the height of the lights as the plants grow taller (have a hook and chain set-up -- not fancy but hey it works). You could try setting them out in the sun during the cooler weather (but harden off over a period of days - see my reply to Dave from Michigan's post) to see if that helps, but keep in mind impatiens prefer warm conditions so not sure if outside during this time of year is the best idea. Might be worth a try to see what happens, though.
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When the flower drops it off, it will develop a small pod, much like balsam, if its ripe it will burst open when you touch it, the seeds have to be brown to be ripe, not white. Around this neck of the woods, the pods will start forming in late summer, early fall. Not every variety of impatients does set pods though, but I know the red ones do and so do the white. Another way to propigate them is to cut them back, set the stems in water, they will develop roots. Good luck. Alberta
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I planted 3 packets of impatiens seeds (each packet in a different container), about 4 weeks ago, into pots, using moist potting soil, that were covered with plastic and used bottom heat. I used bright fluorescent lights. House temp was about 20 c (70 f ?) after about 1 week, one pot germinated. Time went by, and the other two pots showed no life... Until a couple of days ago. Now there are many small seedlings in the "lifeless" pots. Conditions seemed identical, only the flower colours differed. Anyway, if at first there is no progress, don't give up hope.
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not under humidity dome. Biggest cause of dampening off which i constantly fight. Two days ago spent all day at an annual grower that supplies all of west MI Home Depot. green houses as big as foot ball fields. Asked all kinds of questions. There starting mix is 80% peat, 12% vermiculite, 8% pearlite. Fanatical on hygene and eliminating pathogins. Even had to step on Chlorex soaked pads before entering green houses. Both for controlling disease to seedlings and for eleminating any disease as they ship across state lines. They do not cover seeds, was told almost all seeds germinate uncovered as they do in nature, My guide said no problem getting impatients going. Start New Guiney from cuttings, just stick into same potting mix and NO hormone powder---too harsh. The whole secret is humidity, heat and light They heat from bottom to 72. Air circulation important in eliminating dampening off, also keeping surface dry and using a sterile mix, They don't even use trays over again. Send to plastic recycler to grind up and remold. more efficient than a Chlorine wash. they Add 2% chlorine to water as they have well water. City water is 3.5% also use both a basic and acidic liquid fert added to misters and drip system. . I'm starting to add 2% chlorine as i have well water and have sterilized all starting medium in the microwave 3 min until it reaches 200. I am experimenting with some impatient seeds in a wet paper towel/plastic bag in a sunny window. This will determine rate of germination
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katkin_gw
13 years ago
I have them reseeding too and plant them in new spots. I love the doubles. :o) I also root them to make more of my favorites.
SusieQsie_Fla
13 years ago
Carol
I also root them, like Katkin, when I find a really great color and the plant is in a place (like a park or yard) where it is okay to snag a cutting.

I get alot of "spent" plants from snow birds that have seedlings in the soil in the pots, so sometimes I just don't know what color they are. And I don't like all the wild, bright colors mixed up together, even though I love them separate and enmass. So for me, I like to keep reds and oranges away from pinks and lilacs.

But I can't comment on if they come true or not . . . I never paid that much attention to them the way I do with crossing my hibiscus colors.

My faves are the deep, rich purples. The only time I've ever eliminated any was when I got nine-hundred red babies, so I potted 'em all up as soon as they bloomed (even with only two leaves!) and gave 'em to my Sunday School class kids to give to their Mom's for Mother's Day.

Sorry 'bout the exaggeration!

Susie

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