The Edellieschen, also known by the botanical name Impatiens New Guinea, quickly steals the show from other plants with its colorful flowers, compact growth and beautiful foliage. But in winter you lose out
Is the Edellieschen winter hardy?
The Impatiens New Guinea is not hardy because it comes from tropical East Africa and cannot tolerate frost. Temperatures below 10 °C can damage the plant. For long-term cultivation, the Edellieschen should overwinter indoors.
Origin in East Africa – frost is a foreign word
It's tropical and warm in his homeland. The Edellieschen, which belongs to the genus of jewelweed, originally comes from East Africa. There it grows preferentially in damp locations, between rocks and in mountain forests. In its homeland it is cultivated perennially. In this country, the Edellieschen is considered an annual when it is planted outdoors. The reason: It cannot tolerate frost.
Even temperatures below 10 °C can become critical
But it's not just frost that harms the Edellieschen. Even temperatures below 10 °C, as they often prevail in spring and early autumn, can scare this prissy plant. If it is permanently cooler than 10 °C, the Edellieschen should be put inside, if possible. This is usually the case from mid/late October.
Put it in in September or say goodbye to the plant
The choice is yours: If you want to keep your Edellieschen for several years, it's best to put it in in September. If not, you can say goodbye to this plant and compost it in October.
If you want, you can plant or sow the plant again next year. You can harvest your own seeds in August, dry them and grow them at home in the spring from March.
Wintering at home – how does it work?
Wintering at home is easy. The Noble Lieschen should be overwintered at a temperature between 15 and 20 °C. The location in winter should be bright. But direct sunlight shouldn't reach there.
Care during the winter period
Winter time does not mean a closed season for you. Even in winter the Edellieschen needs some care:
- check regularly for pests (e.g. spider mites)
- check regularly for sources of disease such as fungi
- fertilize subtly every 4 weeks (use liquid fertilizer (€13.00 on Amazon))
- water little but enough
- remove old leaves and flowers
Tip
After overwintering, the Edellieschen can be repotted in spring and planted out from May, when frost is no longer expected.
