Busy lizzie Tempo Series Impatiens walleriana Tempo Series

Water

Busy Lizzy should be watered regularly to maintain a consistent level of moisture, avoiding both waterlogged soil and complete dryness. Typically, this would mean watering them thoroughly once every 2 to 3 days during active growing seasons, spring and summer. The method should be gently pouring water at the base of the plant until it begins to drain from the bottom of the pot. Depending on the environment and pot size, approximately 16 to 32 ounces of water per week may be suitable. In hotter temperatures or if the plant is outdoors, more frequent watering might be required.

Light

Busy Lizzies thrive best in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can be harsh and may lead to wilting or scorching of the leaves. A spot that receives filtered light through a sheer curtain or a location that gets morning sun followed by afternoon shade is ideal. They can also do well under fluorescent lights, making them suitable for indoor environments with less natural light.

Temperature

Busy Lizzies prefer temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive temporarily outside this range but prolonged exposure to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit can be detrimental. Ideally, the plant should be kept in an environment where nighttime temperatures do not drop dramatically from day temperatures to avoid stress.

Pruning

Busy Lizzies benefit from occasional pruning to encourage bushier growth and prevent legginess. Prune or pinch back the stems by a few inches, especially when the plant starts to look elongated or sparse. This is best done in late winter or early spring before the new growth begins. Regular deadheading of spent blooms can also promote more prolific flowering throughout the season.

Cleaning

As needed

Soil

Busy Lizzies prefer a well-draining potting mix with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5, rich in organic matter. A blend of peat, compost, and perlite or vermiculite will provide the optimum growing conditions for these flowers.

Repotting

Busy Lizzies should be repotted annually in the spring to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth, as they are typically grown as annuals.

Humidity & Misting

For Busy Lizzies, maintain moderate to high humidity levels, ideally between 50% and 70%, for optimal growth.

Suitable locations

• Indoor

  Place Busy Lizzies in bright, indirect light indoors, away from drafts.

• Outdoor

  Grow Busy Lizzies in partial shade, sheltered from strong winds.

• Hardiness zone

  10-11 USDA

Life cycle

Impatiens walleriana, commonly known as Busy Lizzie, begins its life as a seed which, when provided with the right conditions of warmth and moisture, germinates and sprouts into a seedling. As it grows, it develops true leaves and a root system, entering the vegetative stage where the plant focuses on growth. Following the vegetative phase, Busy Lizzie enters the flowering stage, characterized by the development of bright, colorful flowers that attract pollinators for reproduction. After pollination, the flowers produce seed pods that mature, eventually bursting open to disperse seeds, thereby completing the reproductive cycle. If the conditions remain suitable, the plant can continuously grow and produce flowers throughout the growing season, often dying back when cold weather sets in. In regions with mild winters, it may behave as a perennial, otherwise, it is treated as an annual, completing its life cycle within one year.

Propogation

• Propogation time

  Spring-Summer

• The most popular method of propagating Impatiens walleriana, commonly known as Busy Lizzie, is through seed sowing. Seed can be sown early in the year around January to March indoors where temperatures are maintained between 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius). Seeds are small and should be lightly pressed onto the surface of a well-drained seed starting mix, covered with a fine sprinkling of soil or vermiculite. The seed tray should be covered with a plastic dome or placed inside a plastic bag to maintain humidity and placed in bright, indirect light. Once seeds germinate, which typically takes 10 to 21 days, the cover should be removed and seedlings should be allowed to grow on until they are strong enough to handle, at which point they can be transplanted into individual pots.