Impatiens Hawkeri Balsam New Guinea Hybrids Summer Flower Plant
BALSAM
Flowering plants labelled Impatiens ‘New Guinea Hybrids’ appear on the market round about Mothering Sunday. They are derived from, among other plants, Impatiens hawkeri, a perennial from the Indonesian Archipelago. In The Netherlands, ‘New Guinea Hybrids’ are grown from seeds as annuals, and nurserymen start sowing as early as January or February so that they can market flowering plants by mid-May. The seedlings need a lot of light and warmth but, to avoid the risk of fungus disease, should not be cultivated in excessively wet conditions.
The plants develop a compact shape, often with very dark foliage, and bear a profusion of colorful, sometimes double, flowers which may be as much as 2V4 in wide. Stand the plants in a light place on a win-dowsill, or plant them out-of-doors in a flower-bed or container sheltered from the wind and fierce sunlight from mid-June. Water them regularly, but never allow the soil to become saturated.
