- Starting impatiens indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost can help produce stronger plants. Provide bright light but no direct sun for 12 to 14 hours per day and keep soil temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Iowa State University recommends sowing impatiens seeds with a toothpick, since the seeds are very small.
- Impatiens seeds germinate within two to three weeks of sowing, but may grow more slowly if the seeds become too hot or receive inadequate water. Transplant seeds from their germination medium into containers within 1 to 1 1/2 weeks of germination and keep seedlings around 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit until planting time. Harden the plants outdoors in their containers for seven to 10 days before planting them in the ground to reduce transplant shock.
- While impatiens grow well in most parts of the United States, they may have problems in very high temperatures. According to the University of Florida, impatiens should be planted only in fall in USDA zones 10 and 11, and in the cooler part of the spring season in zones 8 and 9. Planting in shaded areas may help impatiens grow better.
- Impatiens often reseed themselves even in colder climates where the parent plant dies off in winter. New impatiens may be seen growing in old beds in spring. This habit means that impatiens can become invasive, competing with native plants for resources.
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