Deadheading Impatiens: "Fooling Mother Nature" Explained

The previous homeowner removed the green center from each impatiens flower, saying she was "fooling mother nature." What was she doing?

Removing Reproductive Parts

She was likely removing the pistil/stamens to prevent seed formation. Seed production diverts energy from flowering. Most gardeners simply deadhead (remove entire spent flower) to encourage more blooms. "Fooling mother nature" = tricking the plant into thinking it hasn't reproduced yet, so it keeps flowering.