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What Temperatures Are Good for Impatiens?

Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) are generally classified as a houseplant. However, they're oftentimes seen outdoors in planters and window boxes. These colorful flowers grow outside, but they will experience problems if kept too long in the cold. Knowing when to bring your annual impatiens inside will ensure that they stay hardy and healthy.
  1. Identification

    • These tiny flowers have a wide palette that includes purple, yellow and pink along with other bright colors. Impatiens grow up to 12 inches tall. Indoors, they need temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees F in order to flourish.

    Time Frame

    • Impatiens flower between early summer to fall. If they are kept outdoors, it's best to bring them before frost is forecasted. Cold temperatures are too extreme for these flowers to handle.

    Geography

    • According to Cornell University, it's a good idea to figure out when the first frost will occur, on average, in your area. This method will give you the ability to plan ahead so you will know, at least 50 percent of the time, when your impatiens will have to come inside.

    Considerations

    • Another good way to forecast a frost is to pay attention to the weather. Clear and cold nights along with low humidity are usually signs that frost will form. Many times, these conditions occur when a front has just moved through the area.

    Fact

    • Frost occurs when temperatures reach at or near the freezing mark. As a precautionary measure, bring your impatiens indoors if temperatures are predicted to fall into this range.