How to Grow Double Impatiens from Seeds

Double impatiens refer to impatiens flowers with a double set of petals that form around the center of the bloom, instead of a single row of petals. These impatiens create a mass of color from spring until fall. Colors range from white and shades of pink to red and orange. Often grown in hanging baskets or crowded into window boxes, these plants are prized for both their colorful flowers and their shiny green foliage. Starting them from seed inside six to eight weeks before the last expected frost in your area ensures early blooming.

Seed starter
Plant trays with cells
Plastic food wrap
Plant food
Individual pots

Instructions

- 1
  Fill plant trays to within 1/2 inch of the top with moist seed starter. This allows room for watering without overflowing the container.
- 2
  Position two seeds in each cell of the plant tray. Cover the seeds lightly with 1/8 inch of soil. Press down lightly to secure the seeds in the soil.
- 3
  Mist the seed trays with water to moisten the soil. Cover the plant tray with plastic food wrap. This holds in both moisture and heat, speeding germination.
- 4
  Place the plant tray in bright but indirect light. Direct sunlight may overheat the soil and damage the seeds. Maintain temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit until the seeds germinate in approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
- 5
  Remove the plastic wrap once seedlings emerge. Check the soil daily and water whenever the soil feels dry to the touch.
- 6
  Thin seedlings to one per pot or cell when they get their second set of true leaves. Clip the weakest seedling at the base to allow the stronger of the two to grow.
- 7
  Move the seedlings to a south-facing window where they'll receive filtered light.
- 8
  Maintain a growing temperature of 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Richard Jauron from the Iowa State University Department of Horticulture explains that this causes plants to become stocky. He also recommends allowing seedlings to dry slightly for the same reason.
- 9
  Apply water-soluble fertilizer mixed to a quarter of the recommended strength once a week when watering.

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