Can You Plant Impatiens in a Child's Wagon?

Paint Your Wagon With Flowers

• A classic child's red wagon, whose inside dimensions measure 33 1/2 by 14 1/2 by 4 inches, can comfortably accommodate three to four impatiens plants. The soil in larger unconventional containers, such as a child's wagon, takes longer to dry out, and the chances of over-watering are also minimized. One crucial point is that you should drill several small drainage holes using a 5/8-inch drill bit in the bottom of the wagon, for while impatiens needs to be kept moist,the flowers can develop fungal diseases if allowed to stand in water for long periods of time.

Sunlight Requirements

• One advantage to growing impatiens in any type of container is the convenience of being able to move the impatiens plants around to make use of available sunlight. This is especially helpful if your property is heavily shaded throughout most of the day, for while impatiens prefers shade, it does need some filtered sunlight early in the day and protection from the hot afternoon sun. Too much intense sunlight can quickly kill an impatiens plant, and a child's wagon would make a convenient vehicle in which to move your plants around so that they get just the right amount of light at the right time.

Planting Impatiens

• Impatiens can be started indoors from seed, but this can be a time-consuming and demanding process if you aren't able to supply the right conditions to give the plants the best possible start. Nurseries and garden centers are usually awash in impatiens color by mid-May, and transplanting is easy, requiring just a few basic items. Fill your child's wagon to 3-4 inches from the top with a potting medium that is rich in organic matter such as peat moss. Use a garden trowel to set the impatiens plants in the soil about 6 to 12 inches apart, depending upon the variety and the size of the wagon. Be careful during transplanting, as impatiens stems are very brittle and snap off easily. Water the soil thoroughly and place the wagon in a somewhat shady area for the first day or so, until the plants acclimate to their new environment, then water them any time the soil feels dry to touch if you poke your finger into it a few inches down.

Impatiens Varieties

• The most popular variety of this plant is Impatiens walleriana, and is often used as a bedding plant, as it quickly fills in bare areas with its foliage and blossoms that range in color from pink to mauve and bright red-orange. Small varieties grow to roughly 8 inches, while taller species can grow to twice that height. New Guinea Impatiens is a relative newcomer that produces taller plants, larger more brilliants flowers, variegated leaves, and tolerates greater degrees of sunlight. Like other impatiens, this variety also needs frequent watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy.