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Greenhouser - OT - sorta

19 years ago

Hi Greenhouser! I've seen you mention your Impatiens a few times and I am wondering if you could tell me the best way to propagate this plant. (pics below I hope ;0) I know this plant is nothing special, but the person who gave it to me (as a tiny rooted cutting) surely was. I've kept it in the GH all summer for fear of a Georgia Thumper coming along and doing it in, in one afternoon. The flowers are white with a touch of red/pink in them and they are so pretty, but the stem has gotten so long. I am afraid it will break off or something. I've ask a couple of people around here and I have gotten everything from - "oh just break it off and stick it in the ground for heavens sake" to "cut it off in several places and stick it in water" .......I really don't want to kill this thing ...........how do you do this....??.....

Thanks, Pat

Flowers......

{{gwi:304316}}

That long stem.........

{{gwi:304319}}

Comments (9)

  • 19 years ago

    Hi! Yes, that's an impatien. I have a similar one that is pale yellow with a blush of peach. These are very easy to propagate. I have to wonder why yours is stalky instead of bushy. They're very easy to propagate. I use two methods. In both cases keep them in bright shade. One method is to cut the stem leaving a few sets of leaves on the stem. Remove flowers and buds. Stick the stem in wet/moist vermiculite/peat mix and put a plastic bag over it to keep the humidity in. In 2 weeks it should be rooted. Start hiking the bag up for longer periods of time each day. Finally remove it altogether. The other method is to just put the cutting in water and pot it up when the roots are about 1 1/2" long. Keep in a humid place for a week or so.
    Mine bush out on their own. You may need to "pinch" the top to get yours to bush out instead of growing as yours is - tall and gawky.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks so much. I'm gonna give it a try both ways I think. I'll follow your instructions to the letter. I'd like to keep this going. So, with a few pots of it instead of just one it ups my odds. I'll get these started in the morning!! Thanks again!!
    Pat

  • 19 years ago

    I received a bunch of small cuttings from my S.I.L. and put them all in small cups of water...almost all of them rooted within a week or so....I was just plain lazy and didn't get them planted...BUT...two or three of the cuttings literally lived in the small cups ALL year almost (I kept the water full and clean)...and then this spring I finally got them into the ground...the roots were about 3-4 inches long I guess...at first they looked like they croaked and then viole` they just took off...IF I can do it and completely neglect the fool things....with your obvious TLC...they should do great

  • 19 years ago

    Off topic...but would you say impatien or impatiens? I found a nice wildflower on our last camping trip to southern Missouri, it was listed as Impatiens capensis.

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks for the info rjinga, maybe this will be easier than I thought. The key may be not to -help them along- too much...lol.....

    That's cool stressB!! I love poking around in the swamp looking for our native orchids. When I get a camera (that's not a piece of crap) I'm going go back to get pictures!!

  • 18 years ago

    More OT, pcan. Just wanted to say thanks for your very kind words. Heaven sent. Couldn't find a way to email you privately, then thought of this. :)

    I did look at the pictures on your website-- a wonderful setup you've created. Just gorgeous! I'll have to work pretty hard at it not be envious.

    BTW, I've rooted impatiens every which way, too, and yes they are easy. So it's unanimous.

    Thanks again.

  • 18 years ago

    Heaven sent .....perhaps.....
    Heartfelt ....mehitabel ..with certainty.
    I was there ....and in your corner.....
    And no......Thank You good lady..........

  • 18 years ago

    Pecan, mine got long & spindley over the summmer as well as the ones I overwintered last year. You can just pinch them off & they'll bush up pretty quickly.

    When we visited Costa Rica they were growing wild everywhere. I think they thought I was nuts for acutally buying them here. Kim

  • 18 years ago

    OT OT Pcan, I've been emailing you, think you are not getting them.

    Try rebooting, see if that helps.

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