Question
I have a lovely bed of inpatients that have thrived all summer this is the first year I've seen them seed. I do not want to lose them when the first frost arrives.  Is there a good technique for keeping the plants over winter?  

Answer
Hi Beckie:

Impatiens are a tropical tender perennial. Being from a climate that doesn't get frost, it will die with the first frost.

Because it is a perennial you can over winter them inside. Dig up the ones who's colors you favor and pot them. With a sharp scissors or knife, cut off 1/2 to 2/3's of the plant and place in a sunny window. I know it's a shade plant, but in the dark of winter, it gets more light in a sunny window.

You can also take cuttings. Taking cuttings is the same for most plants. First you must make sure everything you use is very clean. In a clean pail mix your soil with the water so you make sure the soil is damp right through. I like to add a little Damp Off to my water. Use a soilless mix like pro mix or one that is formulated for seeds and cuttings. Just make sure it has no fertilizer in it. You want the soil wet but not too wet. Squeeze a handful and some moisture should come out but not a lot. Fill your pots and make a little hole in the center with your finger or something else that will make a small hole.

Take your cuttings: With a sharp knife or razor blade cut about a 4 inch piece from the growing tip, cutting just below a leaf. All roots and branches come from a leaf joint. Remove all the flowers and buds and all but the top 4 or 5 leaves. Dip about 1/2 inch of the cut end in rooting hormone. It comes in powder or gel, either is OK as long as it's for soft wood cuttings. I use Stim-root NO. 1. After it's dipped put it in the hole and cover it in, and you're done.

Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. They will look wilted at first but that will change as it starts to grow roots. You will know it's rooted when it starts to show new growth.

Now a word of caution. Spider mite is a microscopic insect--you can't see it but it loves impatients. It attaches to the veins--mostly on the underside--of leaves and sucks out the sap. You can't tell at first but after a while it will show as white spots on the leaves. A really infested plant will show the webs it spins. They thrive on the warm dry air inside and hate the cold and wet.

If you bring in plants or take cuttings try this. Before doing anything spray the plant with cold water, getting the undersides of the leaves. Dig your plant or take the cuttings and then give it a good spray with insecticidal soap, again get the undersides of the leaves. Insectacidal soap is just pure soap with no detergeents or additives that can harm plants, so you can use it indoors or out. Since spider mite hatches out every 3 to 5 days you will have to spray them often with cold water--I used to put mine in the shower-- or the soap.

Though this sounds like a lot of work you may be lucky. I took cuttings from mine for many years before they really became a problem. The thing is that I always planted my very shady front in impatients and bugs learn that that's where they will find a meal. Crop rotation is a good thing--it foils the bugs.

Hope this helps                            Myrna