Since I live in NY, my limited experience with I. tinctoria may be relevant to NJ. I received a plant from a very kind source in spring, and potted it up in store brought miracle gro "container mix" plus perlite to improve drainage. The plant grew well during the cooler weather of spring, and also got lopsided, so the end of the main stem tilted and I was able to air layer it by burying part of it in a pot. I did not injure the stem, but I did notice little bumps on the underside that gave me the idea to try and root it. I was successful, and now have two plants. Our summer has been relatively cool and moist, which is what this plant seems to like, but some of the hard rains we have had did damage leaves on the plant, and some muggy weather caused some dieback after I transplanted the bigger one into a significantly larger pot. Right now it is shooting more sprouts from the base, and hopefully is making tubers. Neither plant has flowered yet, but I have hopes for September, which should bring more of the weather it likes. I got a cutting last summer from another generous person while I was visiting California, and despite my very best efforts (recutting, rooting powder, fungicide, etc) , it melted instead of rooting. Never had such trouble trying to root an impatiens. My plants are in pots on the ground in a semishaded area, where they get mainly morning sun, and a bit in the very late afternoon. It is a thirsty plant. Oddly its close cousin I. flanaganii, which I brought back as a cutting from a nursery while in S. Africa years ago, has never given me any grief as far as growing or propagating goes. It is reluctant to flower well, though, but this year it is doing the best I have ever seen, again probably because the weather is cooler than normal. I. flanaganii will grow during our warmer summers too, but sulks and aborts flower buds, but still makes plenty of red potato like tubers, which can be left in the pots and kept in a cool place for winter, or taken out, washed, dried, and put in ziplock bags in the fridge (NOT freezer). I. tinctoria seems to grow well in England by all accounts, so it may be a challenge in much of the USA. Good luck, Ernie DeMarie z6/7 Tuckahoe NY _www.geraniosgarden.blogspot.com_ (http://www.geraniosgarden.blogspot.com/) In a message dated 8/18/2008 4:17:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, bonaventure@optonline.net writes: Can anyone on this list kindly share their experiences with Impatiens tinctoria, a plant that I again will order from Annie's Annuals and try to keep alive this time. Bonaventure Magrys New Jersey _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/ **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/… )