Impatiens require approximately 2 inches (5 cm) of water per week. However, when summer temperatures rise above 80°F (27℃), increase watering to 4 inches (10 cm) per week. Impatiens prefer moist soil, but well-draining soil is a must. Soggy soil can cause root rot and other plant diseases. How much water you provide to your impatiens depends on their appearance and the outdoor temperature. If the soil feels dry or your impatiens are wilting, water them immediately.
How Much Water Do Impatiens Need Per Day?
Impatiens do not typically need to be watered on a daily basis. Instead, water your flowers 2 times per week. If temperatures are below 80°F (27℃), water your impatiens until the soil is moist to a depth of 1 inch (2.5 cm) twice per week.
- Impatiens need a quarter of an inch to a half an inch of water per day.
- You can also water them once or twice weekly.
- Give your impatiens water anytime the soil feels dry.
During summer, or any time the temperatures are consistently above 80°F, increase your watering frequency to 3–4 times per week. Each time you water, moisten the soil to a depth of 1 inch (2.5 cm). As a general rule, any time the top inch of soil feels dry, water your impatiens.
How Do You Water Impatiens?
Impatiens should be watered at the base, since the foliage is not in need of any water. Use a soaker hose to directly water the soil and deliver moisture to the plant’s root system. If you do water your impatiens from the top, do so early in the day so that the foliage can dry out by evening. It’s best to water impatiens in the morning, rather than when the sun is shining on them directly.
- Water impatiens at the base using this soaker hose.
- Water your impatiens to a depth of 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm), twice per week.
- Prevent evaporation by watering your impatiens in the morning.
Water your impatiens by saturating the soil to a depth of 1 inch (2.5 cm)2–4 times per week, depending on the outdoor temperature. In the heart of the summer, check the soil moisture daily and don’t allow the ground to dry out to a depth of an inch or more. Never let the root zone dry completely. Dry soil is a poor growing environment for impatiens.
- Sturdy and heavy-duty soaker hose.
- Perfect for watering plants and flowers in your garden.
- Available in a variety of sizes.
Do Impatiens Like Wet or Dry Soil?
Impatiens grow best in moist soil, as opposed to soggy or swampy ground. If the ground is constantly saturated with water, it can lead to various health problems for your impatiens. These issues include wilting, root rot, and fungal plant diseases.
- Impatiens like wet soil, but struggle in soggy conditions.
- Fungal plant diseases, root rot, and wilting can occur if impatiens are grown in soggy soil.
- Dry soil is also not healthy for impatiens.
Dry soil is not healthy for impatiens either. Do not allow the ground where your impatiens are growing to become parched. This can lead to tattered edges on the leaves of your impatiens and lackluster blooms.
Can You Overwater Impatiens?
You can overwater impatiens, which leads to a broad range of problems, including root rot and downy mildew. All plants in the impatiens family are susceptible to downy mildew, which is also called water mold. Downy mildew can stunt the growth of impatien leaves and flowers.
- Impatiens will suffer if they are overwatered.
- Overwatered impatiens may be susceptible to mildew diseases.
- Impatiens that receive too much water may develop root rot, leaf drop, stunted growth or bloom drop.
Overwatering can cause impatiens to suffer from leaf drop, root rot, stunted growth, and bloom drop. The latter refers to blooms wilting or dropping before the plant flowers. Therefore, try to avoid overwatering these flowers. Instead, stick with the suggested formulas to make sure that the ground remains moist but not saturated.
How Do You Know If Impatiens Need Water?
Limp stems are a classic sign that your impatiens need water. Wilting may also indicate that they need water. Even though wilting can be a sign of too much water, it can also mean too little water is being provided. This is where checking the soil comes in. Sticking your finger into the soil to test for dryness is the best way to determine whether your impatiens are wilting due to too little water or too much.
- Impatiens in need of water may initially wilt.
- Yellow or brown edges on impatien leaves are also signs that the soil might be too dry.
- Checking the soil is the best way to determine if your impatiens need water.
If deprived of water, all parts of the impatiens may wilt, including the stems, leaves, and flowers. If you notice brown or yellow edges on the flowers’ leaves, it is a good indicator that the soil has become too dry. Provide water immediately to help revive parched impatiens.
Do Impatiens Require Lots of Water?
Impatiens thrive in moist soil but struggle in soggy soil. To get the watering needs for your impatiens just right:
- When temperatures are below 80°F (27℃) give impatiens 2 inches (5 cm) of water per week.
- Once temperatures rise above 80°F (27℃), provide impatiens with 4 inches (10 cm) of water per week.
- Impatiens prefer moist, but well-draining soil.
- Do not overwater—soggy soil can negatively affect the health of your impatiens.
- Determine if your impatiens need water by feeling the soil.
- If your impatiens are wilting or the soil is dried out, water them immediately.
By providing your impatiens plants with adequate water without creating swampy conditions, your plants will thrive. Keep an eye on weather patterns and increase watering during the summer months to keep these gorgeous flowers in bloom.
