Care for Impatiens
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•Young plants should be potted upon arrival.
Do not keep the plants too long in the box.
Water dry plants before potting.

•Pot sizes are 4.5 to 6 inch. For small plants, also 4 inch pots can be used.
•Potting date depending on the sales date
•20-30 plants/m² if 4.5 to 6 inch pots are used.
•The density of the plants depends on the season, variety and target of the cultivation.
Avoid too high a density as Impatiens New Guinea tend to form long internodes.


Growing medium:

Use a growing medium
• with a high air/water ratio
• giving good drainage
• growing medium with clay has following advantages: good buffering, good moistening
• stable pH 6 - 6,5 leads to compact plant habit.


Pinching and Growth Retardants:

Plants do not require pinching unless a very large plant is required. Pinching will delay maturity by 3-4 weeks.
The effect of growth regulators is negligible.

Irrigation:

Impatiens New Guinea originate in tropical regions and have a high water requirement. Compact plants with a higher bud count can be produced by restricting water but plants should not be allowed to dry out, or wilt.

Feeding:

 During the first 2/3 of the cultivation:     ratio N-P-K-Mg: 1-1-1-0,5
During the last 1/3 of the cultivation:    ratio N-P-K-Mg: 1-1,5-2-1
EC should be around 1.2, not higher than 1.8.
Higher EC leads to more compact plants.
Because of the short cultivation period, do not use depot fertilizers.

Light:

Impatiens New Guinea require medium to high light levels.
Shading from 35-40 Klux.

Temperature:

First 4 weeks of cultivation: 68 °F
Then 65°F day and 62°C night
Ventilation temperature 4-6°F higher
Reaction to negative Diff. is very high.


Humidity:

Too high air humidity leads to soft plants and risk of Botrytis and infestation with Tarsenomid mites. Cultivate with ventilation.

Too dry air (approx. 50%) leads to stop of growth and to higher risk of infestation of spider mites.

P&D Control:

Impatiens New Guinea hybrids are very sensitive to a great number of pesticides.

A lot of pesticides cause growth retardance and damaged foliage. This also depends on the varieties.

Take measures for plant protection in the morning, so that the plants can dry by the evening.



All recommendations are made with regard to the best of our knowledge. We cannot accept any responsibility for the correctness of this information. Please pay attention to the indications and the publications of the local plant protection authorities and advisory services.