How to grow and care for Impatiens wallerana (Busy Lizzie Plant) Indoors
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Photo Credit: Nurserylive
Botanical name: Impatiens wallerana
Family: Balsaminaceae
Synonym: Impatiens sultanii
Common names: Busy Lizzie, Balsam, Sultana, Impatiens
Impatiens wallerana Description
Impatiens wallerana 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 in Impatiens wallerana are oval and may be all-green, bronze, red, mahogany or red-edged with white.
The Impatiens wallerana blooms 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).
Impatiens wallerana Size
Impatiens wallerana plants are compact and may grow to a height of 2 ft with straggly and fleshy stems.
Impatiens wallerana 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.
Impatiens wallerana Origin
Impatiens wallerana belongs to the family Balsaminaceae and is native to to eastern Africa from Kenya to Mozambique.
Buy beautiful and healthy Impatiens wallerana from Etsy.
Impatiens wallerana (Busy Lizzie Plant) Care Indoors
Impatiens wallerana Light Requirements
Impatiens wallerana grows best under bright light away from direct sunlight. Check out this guide on understanding light for houseplants.
How to Water Impatiens wallerana
Water Impatiens wallerana thoroughly during the hot season and maintain the soil moist at all times.
Reduce watering during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to avoid getting soggy soil as it can lead to root-rot disease.
Avoid wetting the flowers of Impatiens wallerana as it can lead to rotting. Water from the bottom instead. Read more on how to water houseplants.
Temperature for Busy Lizzie Plant
Average warmth with a minimum of 150C is ideal for Impatiens wallerana. Read more on understanding temperature for houseplants.
Humidity for Impatiens wallerana
Impatiens wallerana grows best in humid conditions. To raise humidity for your Impatiens, set the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
Fertilizer (Feeding) for Impatiens wallerana
Feed Impatiens wallerana with a water-soluble, phosphorous-rich fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season.
Withhold feeding during the growth season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to feed houseplants.
How to Prune Impatiens wallerana
Prune Impatiens wallerana by removing dead blooms and leaves to maintain your plant neat and tidy.
To encourage the growth of a bushy plant, pinch the growing tips of your Impatiens wallerana regularly.
With time, the Impatiens wallerana will become leggy. Cutback the stems and use them to propagate new Impatiens.
How to Repot Impatiens wallerana
Impatiens wallerana do not require very frequent repotting as the plant prefers to be root-bound to enhance flowering.
Repot Impatiens wallerana at the beginning of the growing season only when the plant becomes extremely root-bound.
Ensure 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.
Impatiens wallerana (Busy Lizzie Plant) Propagation
Impatiens wallerana can be propagated at the beginning of the growing season from seeds or stem cuttings.
How to propagate 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 of the Impatiens wallerana plants.
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 wallerana plants to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.
How to propagate Impatiens wallerana from stem cuttings
Take 4-6 in. stem cuttings from a healthy Impatiens wallerana 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 place.
Maintain the soil moist until new growth emerges and avoid waterlogging sa it can lead to rotting of the Impatiens wallerana plants.
Allow the new Impatiens wallerana plants to be well established before transplanting after which routine care can begin.
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Impatiens wallerana (Busy Lizzie Plant) Problems Indoors
Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) leaves
Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) leaves are due to three possible causes.
One possible cause of Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) leaves is prolonged exposure to low temperatures. Maintain an average warmth for your Impatiens wallerana and protect the plant from cold draughts.
The second possible cause of Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) leaves is irregular watering. Maintain the soil for your Impatiens moist at all times and do not allow the soil ball to dry out.
The third possible cause of Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) leaves is severe pest infestation. Regularly inspect your Impatiens for pests and carry out timely pest control measures.
Impatiens wallerana wilting leaves
Impatiens wallerana wilting leaves are due to underwatering. Water your Impatiens thoroughly and maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season.
Impatiens wallerana becoming leggy
Impatiens wallerana becoming leggy in young plants is due to inadequate light. Move your Impatiens to a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light away from direct sunlight.
Aging Impatiens wallerana become leggy as they grow. Cutback the stems and use them to propagate new plants or discard them.
Impatiens wallerana rotting stems
Impatiens wallerana rotting stems are due to overwatering especially cool, shady conditions will cause the stems to start rotting.
Reduce watering for your Impatiens during the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist as growth is minimal at this time.
Impatiens wallerana not blooming (flowering)
Impatiens wallerana not blooming (flowering) is caused by too frequent repotting. Keep your Impatiens root-bound to encourage blooms.
Impatiens wallerana poor flowering
Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is due to four possible causes.
one possible cause of Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is too little light. Move your Impatiens to a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light away from direct sunlight.
The second possible cause of Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is poor feeding. Feed your Impatiens with a water-soluble, phosphorous-rich fertilizer every 2 weeks during the growing season and withhold feeding during the cold season.
The third possible cause of Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is cold temperatures. Maintain an average warmth for your Impatiens and protect the plant from cold draughts.
The fourth possible cause of Impatiens wallerana poor flowering is too frequent repotting. Do not repot your Impatiens unless it is extremely root bound. Repot into a pot that is only one size larger to avoid overpotting.
Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) flowers
Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) flowers is due to four possible reasons.
One possible reason for Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) flowers is too little light. Move your Impatiens to a brighter spot and ensure it is receiving bright light away from direct sunlight.
The second possible reason for Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) flowers is too dry air. To raise humidity for your Impatiens, set the pot on a wet pebble tray. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
The third possible reason for Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) flowers is that the soil is too dry. Water Impatiens thoroughly and maintain the soil moist at all times during the growing season and reduce watering in the cold season to maintain the soil slightly moist.
The fourth possible reason for Impatiens wallerana losing (dropping) flowers is that it is infested by spider mites. Regularly inspect your Impatiens for pests and carry out timely pest control measures.
Impatiens wallerana pests
Impatiens wallerana pests; 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 houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests.
Impatiens wallerana diseases
Impatiens wallerana is prone to root-rot disease which is promoted by soggy soil and leaf spot disease. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to other houseplants and treat it appropriately for the diseases.
Is Impatiens wallerana toxic?
Impatiens wallerana is non-toxic to humans and pets. The plants are safe to grow in the home.
