Are you struggling with drab, poorly lit locations in the bed and on the balcony? Then the hard-working Lieschen is there with tireless blooms. In order for the summer flower to keep what the name promises, it depends on professional care. The following answers to frequently asked questions sound out all the relevant criteria in a practice-oriented manner.

Not so popular without reason: the pretty diligent Lieschen

Plant hard-working lizards properly

The planting season for the hard-working Lizzie, which is sensitive to the cold, begins in mid-May. Dig the planting pits in a partially shaded location with loose, humus-rich soil and an acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.8. A distance of 20-25 cm is considered reasonable. Place the excavated soil in a wheelbarrow to mix in leaf compost or ericaceous soil. Before planting your Impatiens walleriana, the still potted root balls are immersed in soft water until no more air bubbles rise. Follow these steps:

  • Put a potted young plant in the middle of each planting hole
  • Fill up with the optimized soil up to the lower pair of leaves
  • Press with your hands and pour with soft water

Planting in the pot and balcony box is similar. In addition, spread a water-bearing layer of potsherds on the bottom of the vessel to prevent harmful waterlogging.
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care tips

Continuity is key when caring for hard-working Lieschen is to result in a lavish display of flowers. Pamper your favorite flowers with this care program:

  • Keep the thirsty impatiens walleriana constantly slightly moist without causing waterlogging
  • Spray the leaves gently with lime-free water every 1-2 days
  • Continuously trim wilted flowers
  • Fertilize every 14 days in beds and every 8 days in pots and window boxes (€16.99) from May to September

When winter knocks at the garden gate, allow the frost-sensitive summer flowers. In bright winter quarters, the exotic plants get through the cold season healthy at 12-15 degrees Celsius. Water only a little. Regular spraying with lime-free water is still advisable. Fertilize with diluted liquid fertilizer every 6-8 weeks during this time. In March/April, cut back the shoots by half to two thirds and repot.
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Which location is suitable?

In the light shade, at temperatures between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius, the hard-working Lizzie shows what flower power it has. In the blazing sun, however, the delicate leaves suffer fatal burns. The location should not be too dark either, because the summer flowers here lack the energy for a lavish bloom. A high level of humidity of 60 percent and higher, as is the case near ponds and streams, is ideal. Of course, the light and temperature conditions alone do not define the perfect location. A permeable, humus-rich and fresh soil with an acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.8 is essential.
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The right planting distance

In summer borders you can draw picturesque pictures of flowers if you arrange busy Lizzies in small groups. Here, a planting distance of 25 cm has proven itself in practice. Cultivated in pots and flower boxes, reduce this to 15-20 cm for a luxuriant appearance.

What soil does the plant need?

Pay special attention to the soil conditions, because these special criteria apply to all Impatiens species:

  • Loose, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil
  • A pH in the acidic range of 5.5 to 6.8
  • Fresh-moist to moderately dry

For pot culture, these requirements mean that it is advantageous to use bog or rhododendron soil. Add lava granules (€13.99) or perlite (€37.51) respiratory flakes for a good oxygenation of the roots.

What is the best planting time?

Plant a hard-working Lizzie outdoors from mid-May at the earliest, because delayed ground frosts can cause considerable damage. If the plant thrives in a bucket or balcony box, there is nothing to be said against planting from April. The only condition is that the planters move into a sheltered room with temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius at night by mid-May.

When is flowering time?

A busy Lizzie has the floral capacity for a flowering period from May to October. Of course, this masterpiece does not succeed at the right location without your help. Cut off wilted flowers continuously, as this is the only way for the underlying buds to be exposed to the light to unfold.
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Cut hard-working lizards correctly

Young Impatiens walleriana are introduced to scissors at an early age. In order for the tropical plants to branch vigorously, they are pinched when there are 3 pairs of leaves. During the flowering period, regularly cut off the withered flowers until just before the next bud, so that the second bloom can unfold. If the hard-working Lizzie is planning to overwinter, cut off the shoots by up to two-thirds either in autumn or spring.

Water busy Lichen

The Swiss hobby gardeners affectionately call the diligent Lieschen Süüfferli. The summer flower owes this nickname to its high watering requirement. Always add fresh, lime-free water to the soil when the surface has dried. However, waterlogging must not occur, because the exotic flower beauty reacts angrily by dropping flowers and leaves. The pretty balsam finds a gentle spray of soft water on the green leaves much more pleasant.

Fertilize hard-working lizards properly

The magnificent dress of flowers and leaves only puts a hard-working Lieschen on its floral legs if a constant supply of nutrients is ensured. Fertilize the plant in the bed every 14 days from May to September with acidic leaf or needle compost. A mulch layer of grass clippings or leaves is also welcome to provide the busy soil organisms with a permanent supply. If the Impatiens walleriana thrives in the planter, apply a liquid fertilizer for ericaceous plants weekly from May to September. During the winter period, give highly diluted liquid fertilizer every 6-8 weeks between October and April.

pests

If vermin settle on a hard-working Lizzie, they are mostly aphids. You finish off these pests with the classic soft soap solution. To do this, add 15 milliliters of pure soft soap and a few dashes of spirit to 1 liter of lime-free water. Mist the tops and undersides of the leaves until all lice are gone.

hibernate

In view of the uncomplicated cultivation and the huge range of young plants on the market, the expense of overwintering with all its imponderables is not worth it. If it breaks the gardener's heart to dispose of your magnificent specimens in autumn, you can dare the experiment if there is enough space. How to proceed correctly:

  • At temperatures below 12 degrees, give the plants
  • Set up in bright, partly sunny winter quarters at 12-15 degrees Celsius
  • Water less and fertilize every 6-8 weeks in a diluted concentration

You can cut back the plant by up to two thirds before or after wintering. In March/April, repot the overwintered flowers in fresh soil so that they can take their place on the balcony healthy and lively from May.
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Increase hard-working lizards

From July/August onwards, leave some withered flowers on the plant so that the green, flame-shaped capsule fruits can form here. If these take on a glassy colour, they are mature. So that the capsules do not spread the seeds prematurely, enclose them with your hand and only then trigger the small explosion by touching them. Store dried seeds in an airtight jar in a dark place until March/April. How to sow the seeds correctly:

  • Fill a seed tray with sterile seed compost and moisten with soft water
  • Scatter the fine seeds and press lightly
  • Germination begins within 10-20 days in a semi-shady place at 20 degrees Celsius

Transplant the strongest seedlings into individual pots as soon as they have 2 or more pairs of leaves. Young plants with 3-4 pairs of leaves are pruned once or twice so that they branch profusely and flower profusely.
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Busy lizards in the pot

Fill a pot with ericaceous or rhododendron soil enriched with lava granules or perlite respiratory flakes. To effectively prevent waterlogging, insert some pieces of pottery shards between the substrate and the opening in the ground. In a light to partially shaded and sheltered location, care is as follows:

  • Water hard-working Lizzie regularly with lime-free water
  • Pour out the coaster after 20 minutes at the latest
  • Pamper with liquid fertilizer for azaleas or rhododendrons weekly from May to September
  • Clean out wilted flowers as soon as possible to make room for the buds underneath

The majority of hobby gardeners opt for the annual cultivation of Impatiens walleriana. If you are going to overwinter, put the pot in the bright winter quarters in good time. At temperatures of 12-15 degrees, water only a little and fertilize every 6-8 weeks in a diluted concentration.

Is busy lizard poisonous?

The busy Lieschen is assigned to the slightly poisonous ornamental plants. Therefore, wear gloves for all planting and care work if you are prone to allergies. As a precaution, keep Impatiens walleriana out of the reach of children and pets.
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Beautiful varieties

  • Cherry Red: Very vigorous, new variety, whose cherry-red blossoms draw attention to locations with little light
  • Rose Picotee Improoved: Sensational Impatiens walleriana, with extra large rose red flowers and bushy habit
  • Purple: Double variety from the hand of world market leader Frank Verhoogt; vigorous, robust and persistent
  • Sun Patiens White: Bred specifically for outdoor cultivation with white single flowers; particularly easy to care for
  • Little Gem Mixture: magnificent mixture for beds and balconies in white, pink, violet and lavender; flowers within 3 days
  • Silhouette Red Star: premium variety with red and white double flowers, vegetatively propagated and heat tolerant
  • Cajun Rose: Pale pink flowers on horizontally aligned stems; the ideal variety for traffic lights and balcony boxes
  • Kokomo XL Red: Red flowering outdoor innovation; particularly tolerant of heat and drought

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Vegetable garden