Impatiens tinctoria
Pelarg@aol.com (Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:48:00 PDT)

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
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