Busy Lizzie (Impatiens wallerana) Care Indoors, Propagation and Problems
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Busy Lizzie (Impatiens wallerana) grows best in bright indirect light (dappled light), warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season.
Impatiens wallerana also called Balsam, Sultana or Impatiens Busy Lizzie are popular flowering plants which will bloom almost through out the year when given the proper care. Pinching out the tips of young plants encourages growth of a bushy plant.
The leaves are oval and may be all-green, bronze, red, mahogany or red-edged with white. Busy Lizzie flowers are very attractive and will brighten up any space with their striking colors.
The genus name 'walleriana' is in honour of a British missionary, Horace Waller (1833–1896).
Botanical name: Impatiens wallerana
Family: Balsaminaceae
Synonym: Impatiens sultanii
Common names: Busy Lizzie, Balsam, Sultana, Impatiens Busy Lizzie
Origin
Impatiens wallerana belongs to the family Balsaminaceae and is native to to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique.
Size
Sultana are compact and may grow to a height of 2 feet with straggly and fleshy stems. On account of its spectacular flowers, Impatiens like Mandevilla Plants are some of the best plants for the front porch or entrance.
Varieties
Impatiens wallerana are a popular group of flowering plants which include the green leaved Impatiens holstii and Impatiens sultani and the red-leaved Impatiens petersiana.
In recent years, breeders and plant hunters have been responsible for hundreds of new varieties of Busy Lizzie plants. An example is the F1 hybrid which is a range of small and compact plants with a mass of blooms which partly or almost entirely cover the leaves.
Toxicity
As indicated by ASPCA, Impatiens wallerana is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow in a home where there are cats and dogs.
Where to Buy
Impatiens Busy Lizzie are an excellent addition for your plant collection, check them on Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Busy Lizzie Indoor Plant Care
Busy Lizzie Plant flourishes in bright light away from direct sunlight, average warmth of 15-240C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season.
Impatiens wallerana care requires regular pruning to keep it neat and tidy as well as encourage a bushy growth. Repotting is only needed when the plant becomes extremely pot-bound as it blooms best when root-bound. Keep reading for more details on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.
Light Requirements
Busy Lizzie Plant grows best under bright light (filtered light). Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can cause scorching of the foliage.
If the light is too little, it will result in no or poor flowering. Where the natural lighting is not enough, you may instal a grow light to supplement it. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
Rotate the pot regularly to make sure that the plant receives light on all sides for uniform growth to prevent lopsided growth.
Watering
Water your Busy Lizzie Plant thoroughly during the growing season while allowing the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings to maintain the soil moist at all times.
Decrease watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time but do not let the soil dry out completely.
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can result in root-rot. Avoid wetting the flowers as it can lead to rotting. Water from the bottom instead.
Temperature and Humidity
Average warmth within the range of 15-240C is ideal for Busy Lizzie Plant. Keep it away from drafts to prevent leaf drop.
Impatiens wallerana grows best in humid conditions. Above average humidity of 60-70% is perfect for this plant. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You may also grow the plant in the humid areas in the home. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Potting Medium
Busy Lizzie Plant soil should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for these plants.
Fertilizer
Feed your Balsam with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season. Do not feed in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.
Pruning
Pruning Impatiens wallerana involves removal dead blooms and leaves to maintain the plant neat and also discourage pests and diseases. To encourage the growth of a bushy plant, pinch the growing tips regularly. With time, the plant will become leggy. Cutback the stems and use them to propagate new Impatiens.
Repotting
Busy Lizzie does not require very frequent repotting as the plant prefers to be root-bound to enhance flowering. Repot the plant at the beginning of the growing season only when the plant becomes extremely root-bound.
Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil is free-draining soil to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot disease. Take a look at these pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Propagation
Impatiens wallerana propgation can be done at the beginning of the growing season from seeds or stem cuttings.
Growing Impatiens wallerana from seeds
Sow the Impatiens wallerana seeds in moist free-draining soil and cover the set up with clear polythene to create warm and humid conditions inorder to hasten germination and establishment.
Place the set up in a warm, brightly-lit place and maintain the soil moist thorough out.
Ensure the rooting container has adequate drainage to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can cause rotting.
Allow the new Impatiens Busy Lizzie to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.
Impatiens wallerana propagation from stem cuttings
Take 4-6 inches stem cuttings from a healthy Impatiens plant and ensure they have at least 2 leaf nodes.
Insert the cuttings in moist free-draining soil and place the set up in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight.
Maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges and avoid waterlogging as it can lead to rotting of the plants.
Allow the new Impatiens plants to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.
Impatiens wallerana Problems
Busy Lizzie Plant problems include leaf drop, lack of blooms, poor flowering, dropping flowers, wilting, rotting, leggy growth, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for a detailed account on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Pests
The common pests in Impatiens wallerana are spider mites, mealy bugs, aphids, whiteflies and thrips all of which cause the leaves to be disfigured or discolored. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants and treat it for the pests. Learn how to identify and control pests in houseplants.
Diseases
Busy Lizzie Plant is prone to root-rot and leaf spot disease which are prevalent in wet and damp conditions. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other plants.
Losing (dropping) leaves
Impatiens Plant losing (dropping) leaves is due to three possible causes. One possible cause is prolonged exposure to low temperatures. Maintain an average warmth of 15-240C and protect the plant from cold drafts. Check out this guide on understanding temperatures for houseplants.
The second possible cause of Busy Lizzie Plant losing (dropping) leaves is irregular watering; either underwatering or overwatering. Maintain the soil consistently moist during the growing season and slightly moist in the cold period but do not allow the soil ball to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants.
The third possible cause of Busy Lizzie losing (dropping) leaves is severe pest infestation. Regularly inspect the plant for pests and carry out timely pest control measures.
No blooms
One reason for lack of blooms in Impatiens is too frequent repotting or potting it into an excessively large pot. Keep the plant root-bound to encourage blooms. Repot only when extremely pot-bound into a pot only one size larger than the current one.
The second reason for lack of blooms in Busy Lizzie Plant is too little light. Move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive bright indirect light (filtered light) or instal a grow light where natural light is not adequate. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
Poor flowering
Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is due to four possible causes. one possible cause is too little light. Position the plant in a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light away from direct sunlight.
The second possible cause of Busy Lizzie Plant poor flowering is poor feeding or feeding it with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer which promotes vegetative growth at the expense of flowers. Feed the plant with a phosphorous-rich, water-soluble fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season but do not feed during the cold season.
The third possible cause of Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is cold temperatures due to cold drafts like windy windows and doors among other. Maintain an average warmth and keep the plant away from cold drafts.
The fourth possible cause of Busy Lizzie wallerana poor flowering is too frequent repotting. Do not repot unless the plant is extremely root bound. Repot into a pot that is only one size larger to avoid overpotting.
Losing (dropping) flowers
Impatiens dropping flowers is due to four possible reasons. One possible reason is too little light. Place the plant in a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light away from direct sunlight.
The second possible reason for Busy Lizzie Plant losing (dropping) flowers is too dry air (too low humidity). To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a brightly lit bathroom or other moist areas in the home.
The third possible reason for Impatiens Busy Lizzie losing (dropping) flowers is that the soil is too dry (underwatering). Water the Busy Lizzie liberally during the growing season and maintain the soil moist at all times. Lessen watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
The fourth possible reason for Busy Lizzie wallerana losing (dropping) flowers is that it is infested by spider mites. Regularly inspect the plant for pests and carry out timely pest control measures.
Wilting leaves
Impatiens wilting leaves are due to underwatering. Water the plant thoroughly and maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season.< Reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Leggy growth
Impatiens Busy Lizzie becoming leggy in young plants is due to inadequate light. Move the plant to a brighter spot and make sure that it will receive bright light. Aging plants become leggy as they grow. Cutback the stems and use them to propagate new plants or discard them.
Rotting stems
Impatiens wallerana rotting stems are due to overwatering or soggy soil especially in cool, shady conditions. Cut down on watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time. In addition, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil drains freely to prevent it from getting soggy.
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