Updated at: 11-05-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Impatiens seeds can be saved if you know how. Impatiens are best recognized for brightening up shady regions of your garden with their eye-catching and brightly colored blossoms atop their thick foliage.

While a single Impatiens bloom can make a big impression, a large planting is sure to draw attention.

Garden centers typically sell them as well-rooted plants, but if you need a large collection, the price can be prohibitive. Consider starting your Impatiens from seed if you want to save money. Impatiens seeds may be a little trickier to conserve than regular seeds, but it’s worth the effort for both the blooms and your wallet.

Impatiens seeds should germinate under ideal conditions. Seeds cannot grow unless the soil is kept at a constant temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

How To Save Impatiens Seeds - Krostrade

In order to keep them moist, they must be covered in plastic wrap and sown on top of damp beginning mix. After about three weeks, they are expected to germinate in a warm, well-ventilated area under artificial light.

Things You Will Need

  • Nylon hosiery.
  • Twist the knots.
  • Jar with an airtight seal
  • A desiccant pack is what you need
  • Plastic 3-inch pots
  • Compost for starting seeds
  • Perlite
  • Heat mat for propagation (optional)
  • a light bulb (optional)
  • Mist bottle
  • Mulch

Gathering Impatiens Seeds

After maturing to a light brown hue, the seed pods of impatiens burst open and disperse their seeds all over the ground. The most difficult part of harvesting the seeds is determining when they are mature and when they are ejected from the pod. Place a small bag over the unripened seed pods and leave it in place until the pods rupture, and the seeds fall into the bag. The National Gardening Association recommends this method. In order to prevent the seeds from spoiling, nylon pantyhose make an excellent bag. They will capture the seeds while also preserving ventilation around them.

Once the impatiens seed pods have begun to turn brown, cover them with the bags you just prepared. Use twist ties to fasten the bags to the stems. When the tip of the bag is full of the tiny, light brown seeds, remove it from the bag. Impatiens seeds can be stored in a cool, dry, and dark environment up to two years according to Purdue University Extension. Seeds can be stored in an airtight jar with a desiccant pack in the refrigerator.

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Impatiens

Starting Impatiens Seeds

When planting impatiens seeds, they require a lot of light and warmth. Seeds should be started indoors 12 weeks before the last spring frost to provide the seedlings an advantage in the growing season. Add a layer of seed-starting compost to 3-inch plastic nursery pots. Gently press a few Impatiens seeds onto the surface of the compost to ensure that they germinate. In order to keep the seeds moist, sprinkle a pinch of perlite on top of the compost.

Place the starter pots in a warm, well-lit area. Set the pots on a propagation heating mat set to between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and place a fluorescent lamp a few inches above the pots, if the light is faint and temperatures are low. Every day, water the seeds using a mister. Under ideal circumstances, impatiens seeds germinate in just two to three weeks.

Growing Impatiens Seedlings

The strongest impatiens seedling should be left if more than one impatiens seed germinates in a pot. Once the seedlings have emerged, remove the propagation heat mat but keep the fluorescent lamp in place, adjusting the height as necessary. However, because they do not do well in damp soil, water your impatiens only when the compost is almost completely dry to the touch. After the last spring frost, move the seedlings to a covered spot outside and bring them in at night until the temperature at night rises to around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you want to cultivate impatiens, avoid planting them in full sun and find a place with healthy, quick-draining soil. Choose a cultivar with a mature size between 6 inches and 2 feet apart and adjust the spacing accordingly. Plants may survive even the hottest summer days with the help of a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch put between them. Impatiens require a lot of water, so give them at least an inch a week to keep them looking their best.

The Process of Collecting Seeds from Impatiens Pods

Impatiens seeds are commonly inquired about, so here are some answers:

When is the best time to collect the seeds?

As soon as the colorful blossoms begin to fade, a fresh beginning follows. After all the petals have fallen, you can see a bulging seed pod on both the base of the flower and its stalk. Because of this, it is imperative that you do routine plant inspections in order to be ready for any eventuality.

Before the pods are popped, you must take the required precautions to prevent the seeds from leaking onto the ground. Impatiens will be ready for planting when spring arrives next year.

What preparations must be done beforehand?

As long as the seed pods are maturing and the blooms have formed, the pods will burst open. As a result, the seeds disperse and become dispersed throughout the planting site. As a result, it is imperative that one be prepared for such events.

To do this, place a cheesecloth bag over the seed pods as they grow. Finally, secure the opening with a piece of thread wrapped around the stem. Once the seeds have ripened and the pods have opened, the bag will be filled with them.

When and how should the seeds be removed?

It’s time to clip the stem from the seed pods once they’ve dried out and turned yellow. To be on the safe side, even minor contact should cause the pods to break open. Before cutting the stem, remove the bag.

A popping sound indicates that the stem has been removed too early in the collection process. Don’t worry, though; there are still seeds available. A week of air drying and manual pinching will usually do the trick in these situations.

Gently loosen them and remove the seeds that are trapped in them..” You can also remove them from the pod and place them on a white surface to shake them out. Discard what’s left of the greed and put the rest in a dish.

Learn How to Grow Impatiens From Seeds – Amaze Vege Garden

How are the seeds saved?

Store the impatiens seeds you’ve collected in a jar or an envelope once you’ve done so successfully. Be cautious to store the stock in a cool, dry location. If you preserve other kinds of seeds, it’s a good idea to identify the collection with the plant’s name as well.

Additionally, include the harvest year since that can be a reference point. Ideally, save Impatiens seeds for a year before planting them. They can, however, continue to develop even after being frozen until the following spring or even longer.

You can replant the seeds in the required conditions during the following sowing season. They should germinate in a week to a month and produce blossoms in two to three more months.

Knowing when to expect the little seedlings is essential so that you can begin transplanting those that have sprouted. It’s normal for some seeds to be healthy while others are not, so don’t wait for all of them to sprout before moving on.

Planting Your Impatiens Seeds in a Hobby Greenhouse

When you’ve made up your mind to plant your impatiens seeds, you might want to think about doing it in a hobby greenhouse. You can grow flowers, crops, and other plants in a hobby greenhouse for various reasons:

A greenhouse protects your plants from insects

These plants are a favorite food source for a wide range of insects and other vermin. Insect infestations can be minimized if your plants are kept in a greenhouse, resulting in vigorous and healthy impatiens plants.

A greenhouse keeps your impatiens plants safe from bad weather

Your plants can be harmed by rain, snow, ice, and even severe heat when they are exposed to these elements. A home greenhouse protects them from potentially lethal weather changes.

Final Thoughts on How to Save Impatiens Seeds

Gardeners who want to grow impatiens in the future should know how to conserve their seeds. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dry place until they are ready to be used.