Garden balsam - how to grow from seeds?

Impatiens balsam is a plant that doesn't like too much handling, especially during the seed ripening period. The slightest touch causes the pod to burst, spilling the seeds onto the ground.

Also doesn't like this one flower for the dacha Excessive moisture; water droplets can be seen on its leaves. Growing it from seed requires proper care; it thrives in warmth and requires special care during frosts.

Growing garden balsam from seeds

The first step in growing garden balsam is germinating it from seed. This requires preparing acidic soil to promote vigorous growth.

For this, you can use two types of soil. The first consists of humus, compost, turf, and perlite—all of which should be taken in equal parts. The second type of soil consists of one part peat and sand, and two parts leaf mold.

Next, you need to properly prepare the soil, specifically warm it to the right temperature and be sure to treat it with a solution to repel pests that could harm the plant. It's best to sow the seeds in February; by the end of April, you'll have good seedlings that will produce beautiful flowers.

Before planting garden balsam(Growing from seeds at home with photos is described below.) To plant in soil, soak them in a potassium permanganate solution for no more than 10 minutes, then place them in warm water for about half an hour. Plant in slightly damp soil, then add the seeds and sprinkle them with sand, the layer should be no more than three millimeters thick. The sand must be clean and sterile, so it's worth taking care of this in advance. For comfortable growth, plants need a moderate temperature, somewhere between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius. This climate can be created by covering the box containing the future seedlings with a plastic bag or oilcloth.

Growing garden balsam from seed indoors will definitely produce its first shoots. Only then can you slightly open the film to lower the temperature to 20 degrees Celsius. This will also provide the plants with additional natural light. If they don't get enough light, they will begin to stretch and become thin.

Another option for germinating seeds is to wrap them in a damp cloth. This cloth should be kept constantly moist until the first sprout appears, and then planted in prepared soil.

How to properly transplant balsam seedlings?

After the garden balsam (cultivation (The seed (pictured in the article) has sprouted its first shoots. It needs to be pricked out to ensure each plant receives enough nutrients from the soil. This should be done as follows:

1. Each individual sprout should be transplanted into a cup or pot. Fill the container with the same soil they grew in before planting.
2. It is necessary to make several holes in the container so that excess moisture can drain away without problems.
3. Make a small hole in the soil and carefully place the sprout into it.
4. After transplanting, all plants need to be sprayed with water and the soil moistened as needed, but be careful not to overwater them, otherwise the seedlings will die.
5. After more than six leaves appear on each sprout, the seedlings need to be pinched so that the root system improves and the plant itself becomes more lush.

Transplanting seedlings into a flowerbed

Growing garden balsam from seeds and seedlings requires following basic guidelines, but it's relatively easy to maintain and won't cause much trouble. The key is choosing the right planting location, considering the following factors:

• Easily tolerates proximity to other plants, so it can be planted in any garden bed;
• It is best to choose a place on the western or eastern side;
• The place you have chosen for planting should be protected from winds, constant moisture and drafts;
• Cannot tolerate excessively hot weather and soil with a high acid content - this will result in the flower not blooming, and all the leaves will fall off and the plant will wither;
• It is necessary to add fertilizer to the soil for good growth of balsam.

To successfully transplant, you need to prepare the seedlings so they feel as comfortable as possible in the open air in the soil. This should be done gradually. Start by moving all the cups to the balcony or a cooler spot. On the first day, this change can be for just 10 minutes, then increase the time each day by the same amount.

Once the seedlings are comfortable in open spaces, they can be planted in prepared soil. First, moisten the soil a few hours before planting. Plant the seedlings at least 30 centimeters apart. Add fertilizer to each hole and water again to allow the fertilizer to soak in. Remove the seedling carefully to avoid damaging the root system. Then plant the seedlings in the hole and cover them tightly with soil.

We recommend:Astilbe - planting and care in open ground.

Reviews of growing balsam from seeds

You can often find information online about growing garden balsam from seeds, and the reviews are quite positive. Therefore, if you want to decorate your garden with such a wonderful plant, it's worth starting to germinate the seedlings now so you can have strong plants ready for planting and avoid dying within the first week.

Particular attention should be paid to growing garden balsam from seed in Siberia, where the climate is quite harsh, and if the plant isn't properly cared for, it can die. However, women from that region have written positive reviews about their success growing this heat-loving plant. They surrounded the seedlings with warmth and care, which bore fruit, and their garden blossomed with all the colors of summer. Isn't it wonderful to be able to see your work and know that all your efforts were worth it?

That's why it's important to care for your seedlings, no matter where you live. Even if the impatiens itself isn't particularly fussy, the seedlings can show signs of a lack of attention. This will result in the plant not being as lush, beautiful, and strong.

We recommend:Freesia - growing and care in open ground.

Caring for garden balsam

The first and most important factor for balsam is timely watering. This will ensure it grows well and delights with its blooms. If you notice the leaves are wilting and losing their rich color, this is the first sign that it's not getting enough moisture and urgently needs watering. Avoid watering during the day, as the sun can burn the wet areas of the plant, causing it to wilt. The best time to water is after sunset. Avoid watering if it's rained, as excess moisture is also not good.

To promote vigorous growth, remove all spent flowers from the stems. This will encourage new flowers to form and the impatiens to grow vigorously.

Don't forget about periodic fertilizing, which should be done twice a month, every 15 days. For this purpose, it's best to purchase a ready-made fertilizer, which contains all the necessary components to stimulate growth.

It's important to remember that impatiens can be susceptible to various diseases that will negatively impact its growth and appearance. The most common are:

• Cucumber mosaic causes leaves to wither – an effective way to combat this is to destroy aphids by spraying;

• Ring mosaic - fingerprint-shaped spots can be seen on the leaves; they must be removed, otherwise the plant will die;

• Leaves begin to turn bronze – the plant slows down its growth, the leaves become deformed, and then begin to fall off. They need to be plucked from the balsam;

• Viral mosaic – the leaves become wavy and yellow spots appear on them. You need to spray with a solution that kills aphids;

• Spider mites – the lower leaves become covered in webbing, which the mites then begin to eat. To combat this, treat the entire plant with soap and remove any affected leaves.

If you take proper care of garden balsam and select the best variety, then it will delight your garden with its vibrant colors for a long time. And growing seedlings from seeds isn't that difficult, so you should give it a try.