NG Impatiens--I'm just sick!

14 years ago

About 6 weeks ago I prepared a 4" x 8" bed by first pulling out all the grass, weeds, etc., then lightly fluffed up the top of the bare dirt. Next, with great effort I layered 1) top soil, 2) manure, 3) mulch. Finally, I put in the 5 New Guinea Impatiens across the back, with lots of regular little Impatiens in front. Absolutely gorgeous. For a few days. Watered every day, but I'm in the heart of Houston. Yesterday the temperature was 104. No rain for many weeks. About 3 weeks ago I put up a huge unbrella to shade the bed and the little ones are managing okay, but the NGs . . . , I could weep. Is there anything else I could have done, other than NOT be suckered in by the amazing beauty of the greenhouse-raised NGs? Ideas, anyone? Further, what is a decent substitute, something with a little more heat tolerance? Many thanks in advance.

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Comments (9)

rick_mcdaniel
14 years ago
About the only thing that would have helped......is moving to a lot cooler climate.

The NG ones, while sold extensively in TX nurseries, are not gonna live past June. Period.
kaye820
Original Author
14 years ago
Or, evidently, until MID-June! Additionally, my yard is almost totally shaded! Any suggestions for a substitute? (Cactus? LOL!)
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debndal
14 years ago
Well the newer varieties of the "regular impatiens" are quite improved. Larger flowers, more heat tolerance. So, I'd make it just a big bed of those. I don't remember what they were called, but I used them last year and they were gorgeous.
rick_mcdaniel
14 years ago
Nope. I learned my lesson on those a long time ago, and I only get regular impatiens.

There are just so many things that can't take TX heat in peak summer. Those that can, are mostly tropical, and can't survive the winter. So.......you are just kinda limited to the few that can handle both.

The best annual we have ever had, is dianthus, and so far, it is holding up to the heat, but it was planted last fall, and has had all year to stabilize.
texaslynn
14 years ago
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
treelover
14 years ago
I had the same results, Kaye. Frustrating.

How about Vinca rosea? Mine likes the shade (I have the white w/rose centers) and has come back for the past several years. It seeds itself here and there, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vinca rosea
susansyd
14 years ago
I never had any luck with NG impatiens either. Regular impatiens work great but not the NGs. Have you tried torenia (wishbone flower)? They thrive in the same conditions of regular impatiens and LOVE heat and humidty. Just water them like you would your impatiens. My torenia plants are blooming now and will probably bloom into fall. They don't like cold weather. Hope this helps..:)
User
14 years ago
Pentas may be a bit too tall for you, but mine have been flowering beautifully all summer long. They're in mostly shade but get a few hours of dappled sunlight throughout the day.
maden_theshade
14 years ago
I got suckered in too...spent way too much $$$ on three little pots to put in my big decorative planter on the front porch. It gets like 30 min of sun a day there. They finally got too hot and burned up. The DH faithfully waters them still, but I don't think they are coming back. :-(

NG Impatiens--I'm just sick!

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rick_mcdaniel

kaye820
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NG Impatiens--I'm just sick!

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kaye820Original Author

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kaye820
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