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Annuals/impatients not flowering

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Expert: - 4/29/2007


Question
I live in Atlanta, GA. About a month ago, I planted 7 flats of white impatients in containors that are on my covered back porch. The backyard is shady in general and the covered porch is very shady. I have hanging Boston Ferns in the area as well. The impatients seem to be growing well, and are looking a little leggy to me, but there are no blooms and very few buds. What have I done wrong and what can I do? I need this to be a very "showy" area. My pansies bloomed all winter long in this area and were fantastic!

Answer
Keley,
Although Impatiens tolerate a great deal of shade, they will not bloom if there are in total shade.  If possible, stick them in an area where they will get sun for two or three hours a day.  Another approach is to move them to a part sunny area for half of the week, and then to move the containers back to the total shade for the other half.

I hope this helps!
C.L.

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

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I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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