Caring for the Vanka Wet Houseplant at Home (+24 photos)

Impatiens, touch-me-not, balsam, and Vanya spilosa—all these names belong to the same plant, which is widely popular not only among gardeners. Caring for this flower at home is quite simple, so beginners are advised to start with Vanya spilosa. Impatiens propagates easily, grows vigorously, and looks magnificent during flowering.

Characteristics of the variety and species diversity

The Impatiens family includes over 400 species, which differ not only in color and size but also in habitat. Impatiens are successfully grown as both a houseplant and a garden plant. In the wild, the plant is found in Africa, Asia, and the islands of Zanzibar.

The upright shrub is abundantly covered with succulent, oval-shaped leaves with pointed edges. The foliage color ranges from light green to bronze. The average height of indoor specimens ranges from 30-40 cm.

There are also dwarf varieties, reaching no more than 20 cm in height. Impatiens often grow to around 2 m in height in gardens. Flower colors can vary widely: red, snow-white, lilac, and so on. Some varieties have two or three colors.

Among the variety of balsam, the following species are the most popular:

1. The Niamniamniamum nigra is often called the African Fireflower, as the flower's native land is considered to be Africa. It thrives indoors, but during the summer, it thrives in a pot outside. The unusual flowers resemble small pitchers. The flowers come in pink, red, or yellow-red. This species includes both low-growing and tall cultivars.

   

   

   

2. Impreza is a hybrid plant growing 15-20 cm tall. The bushes are well-branched and have strong stems. The flowers are simple in shape. The buds are purple, raspberry, or red. There are also bicolor varieties with white flowers and pink centers. Trailing varieties of this species look great outdoors in hanging pots.

   

   

   

3. New Guinea Impatiens is drought-tolerant and can bloom almost year-round. The leaves are bronze, variegated, or green. The flowers are quite large, up to 6 cm in diameter. Single-flowered varieties are most commonly grown, but semi-double varieties are also available.

   

   

   

4. Impatiens holstinii is a plant with erect stems that grow over 60 cm tall. The leaves are primarily brownish-green. The buds come in a wide range of colors, and the flowers can be single or double.

   

   

   

5. Impatiens walleri is a compact herbaceous subshrub that grows to no more than 25 cm tall. Its light green leaves grow up to 10 cm long. The plant's petals can be red, blue, white, purple, or pink.

   

   

   

Caring for Vanya when wet at home

To ensure your lily delights you with lush blooms, you should familiarize yourself with the basic care instructions. Creating optimal conditions for the plant in your apartment is quite simple, as it's considered one of the most easy-to-grow flowers.

Lighting

Touch-me-nots can grow in the shade, but they're unlikely to bloom. They prefer good light, but should be protected from direct sunlight. A south-facing windowsill in a room with filtered light is ideal.

Temperature and humidity

The optimal temperature for the flower is around 18°C. In winter, it can be lowered to 13°C. If the air in your apartment is too hot and dry, place the pot in a container with wet pebbles. The rest of the time, the plant doesn't require high humidity, so there's no need to mist it. Drops of water on the foliage can encourage fungal growth.

Watering and fertilizing

It's best to water the impatiens after the top layer of the substrate has dried out. In summer, this procedure is performed 2-3 times a week. During dormancy, watering is reduced to once a week.

Fertilizer is applied to the soil in summer and spring, when the impatiens plant needs nutrients most. The fertilizer is diluted in water and applied with watering once every 7-14 days.

Trimming

During winter, the bush loses its appeal due to the large amount of fallen leaves. Therefore, with the arrival of spring, pruning is carried out. Overly elongated shoots and damaged parts are trimmed. These are removed in stages, with two-week intervals, to ease the stress on the plant after this unpleasant procedure.

Diseases and pests

If the humidity is too high, the plant may be susceptible to gray mold. This can be cured by repotting the plant in fresh soil, after trimming off any damaged roots. Rinse the root system in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and repot it in a new pot. Reduce the frequency of watering, watering only after the soil has dried out.

Besides gray mold, spider mites pose a major threat to fireweed. They infest the undersides of leaves, making them difficult to detect. Dry air and high temperatures are ideal breeding conditions for this pest. Affected parts are cut off, and the foliage is washed with soapy water. For severe infestations, it's best to use a special insecticide called Antikleshch.

History of indoor flower cultivation and signs

In the wild, this plant can be found in India, New Guinea, Ceylon, Asia, and East Africa. The tropical climate of East India and Africa is considered the plant's native land. It gained immense popularity in Europe as early as the 16th century. For indoor cultivation, breeders have developed special varieties that boast abundant and long-lasting blooms and greater disease resistance.

People often associate the state of their fire plant with important events in their lives. It is believed that the presence of this plant in the home has a positive effect on creative individuals, creating a friendly and calm atmosphere. If peace and love reign in the family, the flower will delight with long-lasting and lush blooms. Frequent quarrels and disagreements within the family circle negatively affect the fire plant, which may shed its leaves or wither without good reason.

How to propagate and transplant a flower at home

Impatiens are propagated in the summer and spring. There are two methods of propagation: by cuttings and by seeds.

Propagation by seeds

This method is rarely used in indoor gardening. This is due to the low germination rate of the planting material. Furthermore, the grown specimens often lose their varietal characteristics. The seeds are sown in moist substrate, but not buried deep, leaving them on the surface.

Cover the container with plastic wrap to create a mini greenhouse. Periodically, moisten the soil with a spray bottle and aerate the seeds. After two weeks, the first sprouts will appear.

Cuttings

Propagating the plant by cuttings is very easy, as the cuttings take root quickly and adapt easily. For propagation, use lateral shoots, which should be about 8 cm long. Each cutting should have 2-3 internodes. If the cutting has flowers, remove them along with the lower leaves. The planting material is placed in water for two weeks.

Experienced gardeners recommend placing a few pieces of charcoal in a container of water. Once roots appear, the cuttings are planted in small containers.

Transplant procedure

Repot your indoor fireweed every year with the arrival of spring. Young seedlings can be repotted twice a year, as they quickly outgrow their small pots. The timing for repotting is as follows:

1. Repotting is done in the spring, when the impatiens begins to grow actively. Rejuvenation is necessary every 1-2 years.
2. The plant must be repotted 14 days after purchase.
3. This procedure can be carried out at any time of the year (except during the flowering period) if the flower is too cramped and its roots are sticking out of the drainage holes.

The plant pot should be slightly larger than the root system, as too large a pot will encourage excessive foliage growth. The container's fill should consist of equal parts peat, sand, turf soil, and leaf mold. Experts recommend adding small pieces of charcoal to the substrate to disinfect the soil.

The transplant is carried out as follows:

• remove the top part of the substrate, carefully remove the bush from the container without shaking it off the old soil;
• the plant is placed in the center of a new pot, the bottom of which is first covered with a layer of substrate;
• the resulting voids are filled with fresh substrate and lightly compacted;
• The root collar should not be buried deep into the ground, otherwise there is a risk of the flower rotting.

The transplanted impatiens is watered lightly and placed in a shaded area for a while. It's best to avoid fertilizing for the first three weeks after the procedure. Impatiens should not be repotted during the flowering phase, as this can be extremely stressful for the plant. Impatiens can not only stunt flowering but also cause the plant to lose all its buds. Repotting during this period is only recommended in the event of serious illnesses that require soil replacement.

Frequently asked questions about growing

Impatiens is a great start for novice gardeners. This plant is not only easy to care for but also decorative. With proper care, it will surely delight its owner with beautiful, lush blooms.