Choosing Healthy Impatiens

When you're ready to plant impatiens, first of all start with good quality plants! Some growers grow them in shade and some in full sun. After years of growing impatiens commercially and planting tens of thousands of them, I prefer them to be grown in full sun or light shade. Although impatiens are usually thought of as a shade plant, they can thrive in full sun, especially in the winter time. Sun grown plants tend to be fuller and stronger and have more flowers. And you can put sun grown plants into a shadier situation with no ill effects, whereas if you buy an impatien grown in heavy shade and plant it in a sunnier location it may sun burn. So here's what to look for:

• Plants should be compact (not leggy), with relatively large, dark green leaves. Plants with long internodes (the space between sets of leaves) have been grown in too much shade or too close together. You want symmetrical, kind of dome shaped plants.
• The plants should have flowers. Impatiens grown in the proper amount of light with the proper amount of fertilizer will start to have flowers very young.
  
• Check for insects. The most common pest on impatiens is caterpillars. Look for caterpillar damage and check the undersides of the leaves. They will usually be small green or grey caterpillars.
  

• Most important! Look for signs of fungus. Fungus will kill your impatiens faster than anything. If you see a lot of empty, water-logged looking pots among the plants for sale those were probably impatiens that rotted off. Look at the bottom edges of the plants. If you see rotten leaves or bare stems, there is probably fungus among the plants. Also look for black looking stems or brown spots on the leaves. If there are signs of fungus among the plants, I would buy elsewhere.

Generally, just be observant and use common sense. Buy from a nursery that looks clean and organized, where the plants look healthy, cared for and well spaced. Don't shop for price alone. I usually buy annuals in 4 to 41/2 inch pots. Smaller sizes, like the 18 packs are often too small and have a lower survival rate. Larger sizes like 6 inch cost a lot more and with impatiens there is only about 2 weeks difference. So unless you need them to be large now for some impending occasion, 4 inch are usually best.

Most of these tips will apply as well for all annuals including begonias, petunias and other winter flowers.

Next time we'll discuss the right way to plant them for maximum success.