My goodness what gorgeous impatien plants! I grew them about 10 years ago when living in Southern Calif. and I loved looking for the plump ready to burst pods and harvesting the seeds. I waited for the seeds to dry and then would plant indoors on windowsill that stayed warm but no direct sun and got tons of baby plants this way. Gave away many babies. Ones I planted in my garden usually always grew very well and healthy. The color variety here that gardeners have posted are beautiful! I now live in Northern Calif. and new gardener up here very different climate, but I do have shaddy warm areas I think they may do well in. Anyone have extra seeds they want to swap or can send SASE... Cindy : )

Unless the seed is very very fine, I find this method works OK. I use fly-screen material (if you know what I mean - it is not wire but is some sort of pliable mesh these days). I cut a small piece, maybe a square or a circle and carefully enclose an un-ripe seed pod so that when it opens, the seeds will be caught inside. You need to do this carefully and use a light material so as not to weigh the seed down or break the flower-stem. You can double up the material if needed to make it a bit denser for smaller seeds. I find the easiest way of securing it firmly round so there are no gaps is with a small paper-stapler. If the combined weight is still a bit much, you may be able to support the pod's stem with a small stake as well. On trees or vines, I also mark the pod's location by sticking on a tag of fluro coloured duct tape, but really anything like that will work just as a reminder where it is - a bit of plastic bag, ribbon, wool. The advantage is, that the "wire" mesh is see-through so you can follow the progress of the pod and hopefully catch the seed if it ripens early. It is light and airy so the plant receives normal conditions and you do not risk the pod becoming wet or mouldy.

oh, here is a picture showing a little droop... hope it works Here is a link that might be useful: ng imp

By the way, Kaye.....cactus is not a particularly good choice either because USUALLY it is too wet :) (why do we all live here -lol!) What is doing great in my yard right now - zinnias, salvia, roses, ginger, caladiums (would be good for shade and you can't beat them for a mass of striking color - even the white varieties), coleus (another goodie for shade.). Sorry about your NG's - it's very disheartening to spend a lot of time (and money) and have the plant not survive. Lynn