What does indoor balsam look like and how to care for it at home?

Many plant lovers grow the indoor balsam plant. Caring for it indoors is simple, but there are some challenges. The key is to follow expert recommendations correctly. There are several varieties, each with different appearances. Before purchasing a plant, you can study the different types of balsam (see photos and names) and make your choice based on that information.

Description and other names

Impatiens balsam is a plant that quickly establishes itself and thrives in a pot. Gardeners choose this plant for its consistent growth and ease of care. In its natural habitat, the plant thrives in subtropical climates. It can also be found in the United States, India, and Africa.

The varieties that have become widespread in Russia have brittle stems and juicy, longAbout 0.5 m. The root system is fibrous. The leaves are oval or heart-shaped, 7 cm long. They taper initially and widen near the petiole. The edges are serrated, with a thorn at the tip.

Russian gardeners grow balsam in pots with light green or rich green leaves. There are also varieties with dark green foliage with a brown or lilac. The veins on the leaf are clearly visible and are slightly lighter than the leaf blade.

The culture has flowers with five petals. They can be pink, red, pale pink. Some varieties look interesting due to their two-tone coloring and double orsemi-double petals. After flowering, the buds produce green fruits, which, when ripe, form a capsule.

Impatiens balsam has other names. It's also known as Touch-me-not, because when the seeds ripen, the fruit pods immediately fall apart when touched. The flower is also nicknamed Ogonyok (Little Flame), a name derived from the wide variety of colors of its flowers, which open in the evening, resembling flames.

Another unusual name is "Vanka the Wet." This comes from the plant's constant need for watering. After watering or before bad weather, a sugary dew appears on the edges of the leaves.

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History of origin

The flower's native land is Zanzibar Island and regions of Central Asia and South Africa, which have a subtropical climate. The fireweed can be found in the Indian, North American, and African subtropics. It arrived in Europe, where it has become well established, in the late 16th century. It was first cultivated in Russia in the 19th century.

The Impatiens family contains approximately 500 varieties, all united by their love of sunlight and moisture. However, only eight varieties thrive in temperate climates.

Popular varieties

There are more than 400 different varieties of the crop known, which are annual and perennial. The Ogonyok flower is distinguished by its lush, multi-colored blooms. The following varieties are commonly grown in Russia:

1. Waller— a bush no more than 0.5 m tall. It served as the basis for the development of various hybrid varieties. The stems are erect, juicy. The leaves are wide, oval, green or brown, 4–6 cm long. It is distinguished by abundant flowering. The inflorescences are two-colored and monochromatic. Culture light- and heat-loving, so you need to choose the right place for the pot.
2. New Guinea Impatiens is a hybrid with large, vibrant flowers. It's a perennial plant suitable for both flowerbeds and pots. Its leaves are bright green with yellow veins. It's resistant to pests and diseases and blooms profusely. Impatiens should be placed in full sun, regardless of where it's grown.
3. Candy is a recently bred variety. Smooth stems grow up to 50 cm, with petioles bearing oblong leaves in various shades of green. The buds bloom profusely, with tall, multi-colored peduncles. It's easy to care for—it's an undemanding variety.
4. Strawberry with Cream is a double variety with long-lasting blooms even in light shade. The plant is small, with well-branched stems. The flowers are 4 cm in diameter and red and white.
5. Orchidaceae – the stem is succulent but brittle, dark pink. The leaves are dark green, velvety, with red or dark pink veins. The flowers are slipper-shaped with white petals. This variety is resistant to spider mites.
6. Boy the size of a finger— a small, beautiful bush distinguished by abundant flowering. The stem is bright, and the flowers are double,large. Prefers sunny areas, but will also thrive in shade, though the buds will be small. Requires ample watering.

Caring for a flower at home

When growing balsam in a pot, place it on the brightest windowsill - this will ensure lush flowering. Plant It's low-maintenance, but requires fertilizing and regular watering. If you make a mistake, the wet Vanka will drop its leaves.

Flowering begins in early spring and continues until late autumn. A dormant period begins in winter, after which the buds bloom again.

Soil requirements

Balsam grown in a pot needs little soil mixturesYou can use any soil, the main condition is that it should be light, nutritious and loose.

Avoid an excess of minerals in the soil. If you don't follow this rule, the foliage will become overgrown, while the buds will be small or not appear at all.

For planting balsam, the soil should not be acidic. You can prepare it yourself from turf, leaf mold, sand, humus, and peat in a ratio of 2:2:2:2:1. Mix these ingredients and then steam or freeze to kill pathogens and pests.

Choice pot

To grow For indoor balsam, you need to choose the right pot. It should be small enough to allow the roots to grow around the root ball.

If you ignore this rule and plant the plant in a spacious container, all its energy will be spent on root growth. Under these conditions, it will not be able to form buds.

Temperature and humidity

If the room containing the plant is regularly ventilated, avoiding drafts, and the substrate in the container is kept moist, then the impatiens will thrive even at temperatures of 25°C or higher. However, it should be misted regularly, avoiding contact with the buds and inflorescences. High temperatures and humidity may cause leaf drop.

In cooler conditions, the temperature should be maintained within 10–15 °C.

Lighting

Although the Impatiens is a sun-loving plant, it should be shaded from direct sunlight to protect the leaves from burning. This is especially true for young plants. In this case, the pot can be placed in a west- or east-facing window.

To ensure a beautiful and uniform crown, the impatiens should be rotated periodically to expose different sides to the sun. Insufficient sunlight will cause buds to stop forming and flowering to cease.

Watering the plant

The Vanka succulenta requires plenty of moisture. If it's not moist enough, the stems will lose their elasticity and begin to shed their leaves. When watering, follow these guidelines:

• use only soft, settled water;
• If a white coating appears on the soil, it should be removed and add fresh soil mixture. The reason for this phenomenon is hard water;
• water along the edge of the pot, avoiding contact with the root collar;
• in summer, water once every two days, and in winter, once a week;
• do not allow the soil to dry out;
• The water in the tray should not stagnate. If any remains, it should be drained;
• the soil mixture must be moistened, but not soaked;
• water when the top layer of the substrate dries to a depth of 1 cm;
• At temperatures above 20°C, misting will be necessary. Loosening the soil from time to time is necessary. This procedure will help the root system breathe.

If the crop experiences a moisture deficiency, it will stop growing and the buds will begin to dry out.

Necessary fertilizers

During its lush bloom period, balsams require fertilizing. This period lasts from early spring to late fall. Fertilize with flowering fertilizer every 14 days. In late summer, reduce the amount of fertilizing and fertilize once a month until February.

Impatiens should be fed into moist soil immediately after watering. During the winter dormancy period, buds will appear, but the plant should be fertilized with a low-concentration mineral fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorus.

Trimming

The procedure is carried out in the spring during planting. Only branches that have grown significantly over the winter need to be pruned. These should be reduced by half. Shoots that have grown to the desired length should be pinch. EhThis is necessary for the formation of branches with flower stalks.

Pruning will help rejuvenate the plant. The cut tops should be used for propagation. Removing bare branches, dying leaves, and flowers will help improve the balsam's condition. The cut areas should be treated with crushed charcoal. This should be done regularly. After pruning, add vermicompost or compost to the soil. urea.

Transfer

"Relocating" the Vanka sapiensis is necessary in the spring, but the procedure can be postponed until summer. Young bushes are replanted every year.

Choose a pot based on the size of the roots. This will ensure the plant grows lushly. To achieve this, some gardeners plant several roots in a single container.

The ideal soil is a mixture of turf, humus, compost, and perlite, mixed in equal proportions. This will make the soil light and well-aerated. Drainage should be added to the pot.

Transfer algorithm:

1. Water the flower 24 hours before the procedure.
2. Add drainage material to the pot.
3. Pour in half of the substrate.
4. Water.
5. Remove the top layer of soil and carefully remove the plant from the old container along with the lump of earth. If If there are damaged areas of the root system, they need to be removed.
6. Place the flower in a new container, fill with the remaining soil and compact it.
7. Water and place in the shade for a while.

This should not be done during the flowering period.

Reproduction of balsam

Propagation is possible by seeds and cuttings. If done correctly, the impatiens will delight you with lush blooms in its first year.

The tips of the shoots, which should be 8–10 cm long, are suitable for cuttings. They quickly take root in water and begin to root. Once this occurs, they should be transplanted into small pots filled with moist soil mixed with sand.

Propagation by seed is more difficult. The plant will begin to flower only after four months. Seeds can be purchased at a flower shop. Sow between February and March in a greenhouse, after treating the seedlings with a potassium permanganate solution. The ideal soil is a 1:2 mixture of perlite and peat. Seedlings will emerge within a month if the temperature remains between 23–25°C.

When the sprouts reach 1.5–2 cm, they will need to be pricked out. The seedlings should be transplanted into pots once at least one leaf appears.

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How to care for a flower during dormancy

During the winter dormant period, the pot should be moved to a cool room with a temperature of 16–18°C. Reduce the frequency of watering; watering will only be needed when the top 1 cm of the substrate dries out.

Avoid allowing the soil to dry out too much, as this will delay the plant's development and weaken it. When the room is hot and dry, mist the air around the plant. Fertilizing should be avoided. However, if you want your impatiens to bloom continuously, you shouldn't alter its care guidelines.

Impatiens balsam is an easy-to-grow indoor plant. The key is to provide it with proper care and follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners.