Growing Conditions for Impatiens

Sun

• Impatiens grow best with little to no sun, making them a popular selection for shade gardens. Tuck among ferns and hostas for extra color in shaded areas. Regular impatiens are not to be confused with New Guinea impatiens, a cultivar created for full-sun gardening, that grows larger and has shinier foliage.

Soil

• Grow impatiens, like most annuals, in rich, well-draining soil that has been worked with amendments such as compost or manure to a loose, powdery consistency. Impatiens are hardy plants that will bloom from frost date to frost date in even neglectful situations, but a solid foundation of nutrients will provide you with the best quality. Container-grown impatiens should be planted in new, quality potting soil and watered daily for best results.

Care

• Impatiens are heavy feeders, so regular applications of a slow-release, water-soluble fertilizer is needed. Like all annuals, impatiens last only one growing season and have shallow root systems as the plant's energy is not spent in root growth but in seed production. Even garden bed-grown impatiens will need more regular watering than the perennials around them.