Learn these practical tips to grow bigger and bushier impatiens with never-ending flowers to beautify your garden.
Impatiens are the stars of shade gardens, but sometimes, they can struggle with their bushiness and overall health. However, you don’t have to worry much if your impatiens is leggy and lanky; this post will help you!
Forget the same old advice about watering and fertilizing. We will go beyond the basics and show you some out-of-the-box tricks to make them bushier and bigger.
How To Grow Bushier Impatiens
1. Plant Your Impatiens Deeper
Planting your Impatiens deeper than usual can sound a bit strange, but it can work like magic. If you are growing them from transplants, bury the main stem 1/2 to 1 inch deeper than it was in the nursery pot. Just like tomatoes, your Impatiens have the ability to develop additional roots along buried stems.
This gives them a stronger foundation and increased nutrient uptake, which means you will get more lush and robust plants. You can also bury the already planted cultivar by spreading a half-inch layer of soil around the base of the plant without pressing the soil too hard on the base.
But don’t bury them too deep! You still want some leaves above ground so that the plant grows flawlessly. Also, keep the soil moist but never wet to prevent rot. This method creates a stronger root system, which gives you bigger, bushier plants with better water and nutrient absorption.
2. Pinch and Snip
Although this is not an out-of-the-box trick, you cannot skip this one when you talk about bushy growth.
Everyone asks to pinch plants for bushier growth, but are you doing it at the right time? The real secret is to pinch at the two-leaf stage—before the plant even thinks about growing tall. If you wait until your Impatiens are already leggy, you have missed the best window.
When your Impatiens seedlings have just two sets of true leaves, use your fingers or clean snips to pinch just above the node. This will force the plant to redirect its energy into lateral growth rather than just shooting straight up and growing lanky.
3. Epsom Salt Boost
You have probably heard that Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate helps plants grow greener, but did you know it can also make them bushier?
Magnesium plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, which means more energy for growing thicker stems and abundant foliage in your impatiens. However, you don’t need to just toss it in the soil because we will tell you the right way to use Epsom salt.
All you need to do is dissolve one tablespoon of Epsom salt in 3-4 liters of water and use it as a foliar spray once every two weeks. When you spray it directly onto the leaves, it will allow the plant to absorb magnesium faster and help jump-start growth.
Just make sure to do this in the early morning or evening because that is when the sunlight is not harsh, and you will be able to avoid leaf burn.
4. Coffee Grounds Trick
Impatiens love slightly acidic soil, and coffee grounds are a perfect way to lower the pH slightly and boost organic matter naturally.
But don’t just dump them on your plant. If you use this trick incorrectly, coffee grounds can become a water-repelling mat and suffocate the roots, leaving you yearning for that bushy growth. The right way is to mix spent coffee grounds into compost before adding them to your soil.
You can also sprinkle a light layer around the base of your plants and scratch it into the topsoil. This will slowly release nitrogen, which fuels leafy, fuller growth in your impatiens.
Coffee grounds also enhance microbial activity in the soil and encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria and fungi that break down organic matter and improve nutrient availability. They also contain trace amounts of potassium, phosphorus, and calcium, which will contribute to stronger stems in your plant.
5. Do a Bit of Shaking
It might sound weird, but gently shaking or brushing your Impatiens can encourage bushier, more compact growth. It is because plants respond to movement, and when they feel wind or disturbance, they produce stronger stems.
This is called thigmomorphogenesis, which is a fancy term for a natural adaptation of plants that prevents plants from becoming too fragile in the wild.
A couple of times a week, you can lightly shake your plants or run your hands over them like you’re giving them a pep talk. If growing indoors, you can also place a small fan nearby on low for a few hours a day. You can also grow them on a windy spot!
This mimics natural wind conditions and triggers a stress response that increases the production of lignin, the compound that makes stems tougher and more resilient.
6. Mulching is Useful
Mulch helps conserve moisture, but it can actually make Impatiens bigger and bushier. You can spread a thin layer (about 1 inch thick) around the base of your plants while keeping it an inch away from their base.
This will prevent weed competition, retain moisture, and slowly release nutrients. All of this will lead to healthier impatiens with bushy growth.
Remember that the key is choosing the right type. While wood chips and bark mulches are common, they can lock in too much moisture and cause rot or fungal issues. Instead, go for compost, shredded leaves, or even coconut coir. These options will enrich the soil while keeping it damp but not soggy.
If you follow these tips, your Impatiens will grow bushier, bigger, and healthier than ever. But if you want to make your job even easier, choosing the right variety can give you a head start. Some Impatiens, like New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri), naturally grow fuller without much pinching or extra care.
