Are you struggling with dreary, low-light locations in the bed and on the balcony? Then the busy Lieschen is there with tireless flowers. In order for the summer flower to keep what the name promises, professional care is important. The following answers to frequently asked questions cover all relevant criteria in a practical manner.
How do you properly care for the busy Lieschen?
The busy lizard (Impatiens walleriana) is an ideal plant for partially shaded and low-light locations in the bed and on the balcony. It blooms tirelessly from May to October, but requires professional care, which includes regular watering, removing spent flowers, fertilizing and overwintering at 12-15 degrees Celsius.
Planting diligent leeches correctly
The planting time for the cold-sensitive busy Lieschen begins in mid-May. Dig the planting pits in a partially shaded location with loose, humus-rich soil and an acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.8. A distance of 20-25 cm is considered appropriate. Place the excavated material in a wheelbarrow to mix in leaf compost or ericaceous soil. Before you plant your Impatiens walleriana, the still potted root balls are dipped in soft water until no more air bubbles appear. The steps continue:
- Insert a potted young plant in the middle of each planting hole
- Fill with the optimized soil up to the bottom pair of leaves
- Press with your hands and pour with soft water
Planting in pots and balcony boxes is similar. Additionally, spread a water-bearing layer of pottery shards on the bottom of the vessel to prevent harmful waterlogging.read more
Care tips
Continuity is the key if the care of busy Lizzies is to result in a lavish display of flowers. Pamper your favorite flowers with this care program:
- Keep the thirsty Impatiens walleriana constantly slightly moist without causing waterlogging
- Spray the leaves gently with lime-free water every 1-2 days
- Clean up wilted flowers continuously
- From May to September, fertilize in the bed every 14 days, in the pot and flower box every 8 days
When winter knocks on the garden gate, put away the frost-sensitive summer flowers. In the bright winter quarters, the exotic plants survive the cold season he althy at 12-15 degrees Celsius. Water only a little. Regular spraying with lime-free water is still advisable. During this time, fertilize with diluted liquid fertilizer every 6-8 weeks. In March/April, cut the shoots back by half to two thirds and repot.read more
Which location is suitable?
In the light shade, at temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius, the busy Lieschen shows what flower power it has. However, the delicate leaves suffer fatal burns under the blazing sun. The location shouldn't be too dark either because the summer flowers here lack the energy to produce a lavish bloom. A high humidity of 60 percent or higher is ideal, as is the case near ponds and streams. Of course, the light and temperature conditions alone do not define the perfect location. A permeable, humus-rich and fresh soil with an acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.8 is essential.read more
The correct planting distance
In summer borders, you can draw picturesque flower pictures when you arrange busy lizards in small groups. A planting distance of 25 cm has proven to be ideal in practice. Cultivated in pots and flower boxes, reduce this value to 15-20 cm for a lush appearance.
What soil does the plant need?
Pay special attention to the condition of the soil, because these special criteria apply to all impatiens species:
- Loose, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and permeable soil
- A pH value in the acidic range of 5.5 to 6.8
- Fresh-moist to moderately dry
For pot cultivation, these requirements mean that using ericaceous or rhododendron soil is advantageous. Add lava granules or perlite breathing flakes to ensure good oxygen supply to the roots.
What is the best time to plant?
Plant a busy Lieschen outdoors from mid-May at the earliest, as delayed ground frosts can cause considerable damage. If the plant thrives in a bucket or balcony box, there is nothing wrong with planting it from April onwards. The only condition is that the planters are moved to a protected room at night with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius by mid-May.
When is flowering time?
A busy Lieschen has the floral capacity to bloom from May to October. Of course, this masterpiece cannot be achieved in the right location without your help. Cut off withered flowers continuously, as this is the only way the underlying buds can reach the light and develop.read more
Cut diligently correctly
Young Impatiens walleriana get to know the scissors at an early age. In order for the tropical plants to branch vigorously, they are trimmed when they have 3 pairs of leaves. During the flowering period, regularly cut off the withered flowers until just before the next bud so that the next bloom can develop. If overwintering is planned for the busy Lizzie, cut off the shoots by up to two thirds either in autumn or spring.
Water diligently
The Swiss hobby gardeners affectionately call the busy Lieschen Süüfferli. The summer flower owes this nickname to its high watering requirements. Always add fresh, lime-free water to the soil when the surface has dried out. However, there should not be any waterlogging because the exotic flower beauty reacts indignantly by dropping flowers and leaves. The pretty jewelweed finds a gentle spray of soft water on the green leaves much more pleasant.
Fertilize diligent leeches properly
The magnificent flower and leaf dress only puts a busy Lieschen on its floral legs if a constant supply of nutrients is ensured. Fertilize the plant in the bed every 14 days from May to September with acidic leaf or needle compost. A mulch layer of grass clippings or leaves is also welcome in order to constantly provide the busy soil organisms with supplies. If the Impatiens walleriana thrives in the planter, apply a liquid fertilizer for ericaceous plants weekly from May to September. During wintering, apply highly diluted liquid fertilizer every 6-8 weeks between October and April.
Pests
If vermin settle on a busy Lieschen, they are usually aphids. You can put an end to these pests with the classic soft soap solution. To do this, add 15 milliliters of pure soft soap and a few splashes of spirit to 1 liter of lime-free water. Spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves until all lice are gone.
Wintering
In view of the uncomplicated cultivation and the huge commercial supply of young plants, the effort of overwintering with all its unpredictability is not worth it. If it breaks your gardener's heart to dispose of your magnificent specimens in the fall, you can dare to experiment if you have enough space. How to do it correctly:
- Put away the plants when temperatures are below 12 degrees
- Set up in bright, partly sunny winter quarters at 12-15 degrees Celsius
- Reduce watering and liquid fertilize every 6-8 weeks in a diluted concentration
You can choose to cut the plant back by up to two thirds before or after overwintering. In March/April, repot the overwintered flowers in fresh soil so that they can take their place on the balcony he althy and happy from May onwards.read more
Propagate busy readings
From July/August, leave a few wilted flowers on the plant so that the green, flame-shaped capsule fruits can form here. If they take on a glassy color, they are mature. To prevent the capsules from distributing the seeds prematurely, wrap your hand around them and then touch them to trigger the small explosion. Store dried seeds in an airtight screw-top jar in a dark place until March/April. How to sow the seeds correctly:
- Fill a seed tray with germ-free seed soil and moisten with soft water
- Sprinkle the fine seeds and press them lightly
- In a partially shaded place at 20 degrees Celsius, germination occurs within 10-20 days
Pick out the strongest seedlings into individual pots as soon as they have 2 or more pairs of leaves. Young plants with 3-4 pairs of leaves are trimmed once or twice so that they branch lushly and bloom profusely.read more
Busy reading in the pot
Fill a pot with ericaceous or rhododendron soil enriched with lava granules or perlite breathing flakes. To effectively prevent waterlogging, insert a few pieces of clay between the substrate and the floor opening. In a bright to partially shaded and protected location, care goes like this:
- Watery diligent Lizzie regularly with lime-free water
- Pour out the coaster after 20 minutes at the latest
- Pamper yourself weekly from May to September with liquid azalea or rhododendron fertilizer
- Clean out wilted flowers as soon as possible to make room for the buds underneath
The majority of hobby gardeners choose to cultivate Impatiens walleriana for one year. If you plan on overwintering, move the pot into the bright winter quarters in good time. At temperatures of 12-15 degrees, water only a little and fertilize every 6-8 weeks in a diluted concentration.
Is busy reading poisonous?
The busy Lieschen is classified as a slightly poisonous ornamental plant. Therefore, wear gloves during all planting and care work if you are prone to allergies. As a precaution, move Impatiens walleriana out of the reach of children and pets.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Cherry Red: Very vigorous, new variety whose cherry-red flowers highlight low-light locations
- Rose Picotee Improoved: Sensational Impatiens walleriana, with extra large, rose-red flowers and bushy habit
- Purple: Filled variety from the world market leader Frank Verhoogt; vigorous, robust and persistent
- Sun Patiens White: Specially bred for outdoor cultivation with white, simple flowers; particularly easy to care for
- Little Gem Mixture: magnificent mixture for beds and balconies in white, pink, violet and lavender; blooms within 3 days
- Silhouette Red Star: Premium variety with red-white, double flowers, vegetatively propagated and heat-tolerant
- Cajun Rose: Light pink flowers on horizontally aligned shoots; the ideal variety for hanging baskets and balcony boxes
- Kokomo XL Red: Red flowering innovation for the outdoors; particularly tolerant of heat and drought
