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Impatiens claeri

Pot size -- You may start your plant in a 1 gallon pot, and then transfer it to a 3-5 gallon pot when it's rooted through, 6-12 months later.  Use a pot with drainage holes.

Soil -- Like most Impatiens, Impatiens claeri likes moist, rich, well-draining soil.  A good mix is 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite or coarse horticultural sand.

Transplanting -- Before repotting, water the soil if it feels dry.  Transplant carefully to avoid breaking apart the soil ball.  Don't pack the soil down after repotting.  For the first week after repotting, do not feed, and give no direct sun.

Watering -- Aim to keep the soil evenly most most of the time, but not soggy.  You may want to use a moisture meter probe, which you can buy for about $5 at most garden and hardware stores.  Don't let the pot sit in a tray of water.

Lighting -- Impatiens claeri is tolerant of a wide range of lighting, from bright shade to sun.  It seems to prefer either filtered sun throughout the day, or bright shade + morning or late afternoon sun.  It does not need a lot of light to thrive.  In warmer temperatures, give it afternoon shade to keep it cool.

Your Impatiens was grown in filtered light and should be acclimated to direct sun slowly, over a period of 2-3 weeks. 

Climate -- Your Impatiens does best with temperatures above 50 degrees.  Cool nights (below 60-65 degrees) will encourage flowering.  The plant can tolerate dips in the 40s but may perish from freezing temps.  I have heard of it regrowing from the roots after being frozen to the ground, but i wouldn't count on this. 

Over about 40% humidity is recommended.  Indoors, if the air is too dry, consider using an ultrasonic room humidifier, which you can buy inexpensively at places like Home Depot and thrift shops. 

Fertilizing -- Your Impatiens likes average amounts of fertilizer. Feed about every 4 weeks during periods of active growth using an all-purpose fertilizer at 1/4 the recommended dose the first 6 months, then 1/2 strength after that.

It's normal for an older leaf to occasionally turn yellow and drop, but if it seems excessive, the plant may need more fertilizer, particularly nitrogen.  Also check that the soil is moist enough down in the root zone.

Pruning --  Feel free to shape your plant as it grows.  If you want a tall, tree-like look, remove some of the branches at the base of the plant.  If you prefer a compact, dense plant, pinch off the growing tip of a branch, and it will respond by growing side branches.  Try not to remove more than 10-20% of the foliage in a week. 

Pests to watch for -- Scale (little brown disks on the stem - very hard to see!), aphids, spider mites (tiny "dots" under the leaves), whitefly, mealy bugs. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email me. 

Enjoy your plant!

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