Ground cover vine Vinca minor. Periwinkle is a scattering of blue flowers on a green carpet. Growing periwinkle is an activity for the lazy

The generic name of balsams is Impatiens, from Latin this word is translated as “impatient”. Why was this bright, beloved plant so dubbed?

The fact is that at the slightest touch to it, ripe fruits crack and the seeds scatter over a long distance. The impression is that the balsam cannot wait to give birth to a new life. This same feature formed the basis of the Russian name - touch-me-not.
In Rus', balsams have long been grown as indoor plant“Vanka is wet.”
The plant received this name for the droplets of sugary liquid that protrude along the edge of the leaf. And for its bright flowers, balsam is called “light”.
We have Vanka, and in England we have Lizzie. But if in Russia Vanka is wet, then in England - Lizzie is diligent, “Busy Lizzie”, because she blooms tirelessly and at the same time demands almost nothing in return. The Austrians call balsam “Beautiful wreath”, comparing the flowering plant with beautiful girl. This is the story - in Europe there are diligent beauties, and in Russia Vanka, and even he is wet.
Types and varieties of balsam
The genus impatiens includes about 400 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants. Let's get to know at least some of them.
Garden balsam
Until quite recently, gardens and front flower beds were dominated by a single type of balsam, which was called garden balsam, or impatiens balsamina, which came to us from India, Malaysia and Southern China.
This flower was originally introduced into culture in America, and only in 1542 came to Europe, where the Portuguese first brought it.
Garden balsam is a very fragile annual up to 70 cm high, with branched stems, petiolate leaves arranged in a regular order, large irregular flowers sitting in the axils of the leaves along the stem. The flowers are simple or double, of various colors. Blooms from June until frost.
The plants are so thermophilic that they are damaged even by light frosts, which is why seedlings are planted in the ground no earlier than June. It is not clear why, but breeders are practically not interested in this species; they have very few varieties, and all of them were bred in Europe. These are the tall Camellia Flowered and the short ones Baby Bush and Tom Thumb.
In our stores it is sold as garden balsam.
Waller's balsam
Therefore, another species is becoming increasingly popular, the large flowers of which, located at the ends of the stems, rise above the bright green foliage, creating bright spots in flower beds. It is called Waller's balsam (Impatiens walleriana) - this is the same “hardworking Lizzie” or “Vanka wet”, a perennial plant grown as an annual plant.
This type of balsam is now so popular that new varieties and hybrids are constantly appearing. Most often they are combined into series, characterized either by a certain color scheme, or height, or flower shape, which can be simple, double or semi-double.
We can talk endlessly about the color scheme, because modern series include up to 17 different shades of white, red, pink and purple, and there are varieties with two-tone colors. So far there are no balsams with only blue and yellow corolla colors.
In warm summers, Waller's balsam blooms well in flower beds, in containers and hanging baskets, and they can be placed even in partial shade, since all balsams are undemanding to lighting, and the color of flowers in such places is even brighter than in the sun.
However, when determining a place for these beautiful plants, one must remember that their stems and leaves are characterized by increased fragility. They break easily in sudden gusts of wind and heavy rain.
The most common series:
'Stardust' and the similar 'Frosty' are compact plants with a white spot in the center of the flower.
“Symphony”, early flowering, compact, up to 20 cm high, with large flowers of various colors.
“Super Elfin” is 20–25 cm high and is sold in mixtures and colors (13 varieties).
"Candy" - a series with simple flowers, includes 17 varieties.
“Duet”, “Rosette”, “Fiesta”, “Carousel”, “Rose Parade” have terry and semi-double flowers of various colors (more than 16), there are variegated forms.
“Fanciful Tropical” is a series with semi-double flowers of bright colors from coral to salmon.
Vertical flower beds did not find widespread use in garden design until Waller's balsam came into fashion. It was he who made us take a fresh look at the possibilities of vertical gardening - not with the help of vines, but with the use of brightly flowering balsam bushes.
Waller's balsam in indoor floriculture
In addition, Waller's impatiens is one of the most beloved indoor plants, but due to lack of light and elevated temperatures, the plant in the room can stretch and become bare at the bottom of the stem, looking leggy.
In this case, it is better to cut the plant, root the cuttings, and your pet will again be a compact, well-flowering bush.
New Guinea balsam
In indoor floriculture, in addition to Waller's balsam, the hybrid New Guinea balsam (Impatiens neuguinea) is used. Special farms grow them from seeds, and stores receive flowering plants in containers.
These balsams are larger than Waller's balsams. They have large flowers that bloom throughout the year in different colors: white, red in various shades, lilac, pink.
The leaves are bright bronze to bright green, sometimes variegated. New Guinea hybrids are heat- and light-loving, so it is better to grow them in rooms and winter gardens, where they feel good for several years.
But they also look good in flowerpots placed in sunny, wind-protected areas of the garden, or on warm terraces, but outside they are used as annuals. They require systematic watering and fertilizing. They prefer peat substrate.
In our country, New Guinea balsam has come into fashion relatively recently, and the seeds are not yet on the market; only ready-made plants are sold, without specifying the variety. In the West, seeds are offered in stores and through catalogs. Just like Waller's balsams, New Guinea hybrids are united in a series.
The most popular series is "Harmony", its varieties are intensively branched and are famous for their large round flowers, contrasting with green, red, bronze foliage.
The “Mini Jini” series is distinguished by numerous small flowers that abundantly cover the plant all year round. The leaves are dark green.
Varieties of the "Java" series have bright flowers against a background of shiny green or bronze leaves.
Varieties "Jangle Rain" are distinguished by pastel colored flowers.
"Rainforest Exotic" - varieties with one- and two-tone colors.
"Macarena" is a variety with a luminescent orange corolla and bronze-green leaves.
Balsam propagation
Balsam from seeds
Professional gardeners recommend digging up the varieties you like before frost and storing them in pots on a bright windowsill in the winter. But in practice this is not always possible, since at this time the plants need moderate temperatures and good lighting, which can only be created in a cool winter garden with lighting. Therefore, it is easier to obtain young plants from seeds, which are always available for sale.
If you decide to sow seeds, keep in mind that they need light to germinate, and you cannot cover them with soil on top. Shoots appear at a temperature of +20–25 ° C, they are very sensitive to a lack of moisture and light, so the bowls with the shoots should be placed in a plastic bag and placed on the window.
They will have to be gradually accustomed to fresh air, leaving them uncovered for some time. When the seedlings reach a height of 1 cm, they can be picked. Young plants are planted in open ground at the end of May.
Impatiens cuttings
And if you don’t have the patience or the ability to grow plants from seeds within 3-4 months, buy ready-made seedlings, for me, this is even more convenient, since it is not yet known what will bloom from seeds, and seedlings are often sold already with flowers.
If you are short on funds and need a lot of balsams for your flower bed, you can buy one or several plants and cut them.
To do this, plants are placed away from light, as a result of which the shoots stretch. Then the elongated shoots are cut with a sharp razor and placed in a glass of clean water.
It is necessary to ensure that the leaves do not fall into the water, so it is better to remove them from the bottom of the shoots. After about a week, the cuttings will give roots and can be planted in separate cups.
Other varieties of balsam
Non-decorative varieties of balsam
Iron balsam
In the 1950s, in almost every yard near the fences one could find thickets of succulent, up to 2 meters tall annuals with crimson or pink flowers and “bomb” fruits, which children loved to “explode.”
You could stand near these thickets for hours, it was so difficult to force yourself to leave and not touch the fruits again and again. In fairness, it should be noted that adults did not deny themselves this pleasure. And on a hot summer day, a wide variety of insects flew around the bushes, attracted by the smell of blooming flowers.
This beautiful plant often turned into a nasty weed, as the seeds it scattered in all directions sprouted throughout the yard. Such a vivid picture from distant childhood appears when you see in a book an image of iron impatiens (Impatiens glandulifera), which, unfortunately, is practically forgotten in our time, probably because there are no longer courtyards in the old sense.
This balsam came from India and has been developing our territory since about 1839. It got its name because of the glands at the base of the leaf. It was the favorite of the yard children.
Common balsam
If there is a spring or stream in a shaded forest, an annual, tall plant with drooping, irregular yellow flowers is sure to grow nearby. This is the common balsam (Impatiens nolitangere).
It grows in moist and very fertile soils, forming continuous thickets. Blooms from late June to September. Plant
medicinal - fresh crushed leaves have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Balsam small-flowered
Small-flowered impatiens (Impatiens parviflora) is very similar to the common one, but it is smaller in size.
This is a very aggressive weed that blooms from May until frost. Historically, it grew in Siberia, but has now populated the whole of Europe.
It should be noted that these types of balsam, along with full-fledged open flowers, also have inconspicuous, non-opening cleistogamous flowers. And if a plant finds itself in conditions that are unusual for it, for example, on clean sand, it will not produce normal flowers at all.
Exotic varieties of balsam
And now about exotic, heat-loving, and therefore practically unknown in our country, balsams.
Balfour's Balsam
First of all, this is Balfour's balsam (Impatiens balfourii), an alien from the Himalayas. It is somewhat similar to iron balsam, but only its height reaches 1 meter and the flowers are smaller.
The seeds of this plant can only be purchased in Europe, and even then from time to time; for some reason they are almost never available for free sale.
Impatiens niamniamensis
Balsam niamniamensis (Impatiens niamniamensis) is loved in the West and in America. The homeland of this species is Africa, therefore in foreign catalogs it is called African or Congolese balsam. There they are engaged in its selection and even developed several varieties.
They love it for its flowers, which have an interesting and unusual shape, somewhat reminiscent of birds sitting on branches. The greenish petals of the flowers are inconspicuous, and the brightness of the plants is given by the large sepals, elongated in the form of a narrow curved jug or horn. The color of the sepals can be red, pink or bicolor red and yellow.
The latter combination is the most loved, which is why the most popular varieties of this impatiens have these flowers: “Arared” and “Congo Cockatoo”.
Also popular are the low-growing “Jangle Jewels” and the tall “African Orchids” varieties, as well as the “Blondie” variety, the first pure yellow variety.

These different, tall and short, but always bright and cheerful plants can grow in your gardens if you put in just a little effort.

Thanks to its long-blooming beautiful flowers and unpretentiousness, balsam has long been popular as a houseplant. Currently, the flower is widely used for growing in open ground, decorating front gardens, flower beds, flower beds and borders with its large flowers. If all requirements for planting and care are met, balsam can be grown from seeds and you can admire its flowering for a long time.

Garden balsam: photo, description, varieties

The plant is shrub height from 25 to 50 cm. On its elongated, rather large, fleshy leaves, droplets form during the growth process, which is why the balsam received the second name “Wet Vanka”.

Large flowers are formed at the base of the leaves, which can be of various shades. In nature, balsam blooms with purple and pink flowers. Hybrid garden plants can have single or double flowers in various shades other than blue and yellow. After the inflorescences open completely, spurs form in them. In open ground, flowering begins in late May - mid-June and continues until frost.

In nature, there are many types of balsams. Breeders bred special garden varieties, which include:

"Vanka wet" You can reproduce in two ways:

Seeds.
By cuttings.

Seed propagation at home

When growing balsam from seeds at home, you can get early flowering of the plant.

In February-early March, sowing is carried out in fields filled with special soil. seedling containers. The soil mixture is prepared from equal parts of garden soil, peat and coarse sand. It should be light and breathable.

The seeds are placed at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other. The plant loves light, so you don’t need to sprinkle the seeds on top with soil. The soil is sprayed with warm water and covered with glass or polyethylene. The result is a mini greenhouse in which the seedlings will sprout together. The containers are placed in a warm place, the soil is ventilated daily.

As soon as the first shoots appear, the seedlings are placed in a well-lit place. Caring for it involves keeping the soil moist. When 2-3 true leaves appear, the plants are planted in separate cups. The stems and roots of balsams are very fragile, so transplantation is done carefully. As soon as the bushes grow and on them 6-8 leaves will appear, they can be pinched. In this case, the roots will become stronger and the plant will become lush.

If you don’t want to bother with seedlings, then you can grow balsam from seeds directly in open ground. Seeds are sown after the last frost in previously prepared soil and covered with polyethylene or acrylic on top. Seedlings should sprout in about 5-7 days.

Propagation by cuttings

Balsam bushes easy to take cuttings, take root and grow into new beautiful plants. Cuttings can be carried out at any time of the year. To do this you will need:

Cut cuttings 5-6 cm long, each of which should have at least 3-5 leaves.
Remove the leaves from below, place the pieces in water and put them in a shaded place.
After about 7-10 days, roots will appear, and the cuttings can be planted at home in pots or directly in open ground.

Caring for cuttings after planting in the soil consists of providing them with good lighting, a temperature within 20-22C and regular watering. It is worth noting that there is no need to be too zealous in moistening the soil, since the fleshy stems of balsams are susceptible to rotting.

Impatiens: planting and care in open ground

It is best to grow “Vanka wet” on the western or eastern side of the garden plot. Under good natural light, the plant will quickly form buds and bloom for a long time. Bushes planted in the shade turn out to be tall, but they have approximately the number of flowers decreases by 50%. If the area for planting balsam is sunny, then during the hot period it should be shaded from the midday sun.

It can be placed with almost any plant, but it will grow and look best with verbena, fuchsia, begonia or ageratum.

Landing Features

Seedlings grown at home will be ready for planting in the ground immediately after the last frost has stopped. It must be prepared for outdoor conditions in advance by taking containers with young plants to the balcony or garden for several hours.

The holes for planting balsams should be apart from each other at a distance of 25-30 cm. If the soil is not very nutritious, then peat, a little humus and sand are first added to each hole.

The seedlings are carefully removed from the pots, moved into the hole, covered with earthen mixture, watered and mulched. To get a wide bush, the top of the balsam can be pinched.

Watering and fertilizing

Impatiens love moist soils without stagnant water. The plant needs to be watered regularly and abundantly, otherwise its leaves will begin to curl up, fade, wither and crumble. Watering is done in the evening hours after sunset. On rainy days the plant is not watered.

In order for the bushes of “Vanka wet” to be strewn with flowers for a long time, wilted and faded flowers must be regularly removed.

How to get garden balsam seeds?

You can grow balsams from flowers grown in the garden from seeds you collect yourself. At the end of August, seeds ripen in juicy green boxes, which can be collected and stored until spring. Since a ripe capsule can easily burst when touched, it is recommended to collect seeds from unripe flowers.

Until full ripening, the boxes are laid out in a dry room. As soon as the seeds ripen and dry, they are placed in boxes or paper bags and stored at a temperature within 0-+10C.

Diseases and pests of balsam

Like every plant grown in open ground, balsams are susceptible to some diseases and pest attacks:

In garden plots, balsams look best in group plantings. Single plants very effective in pots and containers. With their help, you can decorate even an uninhabited area, a boring balcony or a large loggia. Since planting and caring for balsam does not take much time, turning an ordinary flowerbed into a constantly blooming multi-colored flower garden will not be difficult.

Garden balsam

These are herbaceous, profusely and long-flowering subshrubs 30-60 cm tall, with erect green succulent stems, with brownish-green leaves, elongated elliptical or tapering to the petiole. Flowers of the most varied colors: red, purple-pink, single-color or two-color, simple or double, with a long, thin, curved spur, located in several pieces at the ends of the shoots. Moreover, at the same time in one group you can see buds of varying degrees of development, blossoming and already fading. Hybrid varieties are very impressive, the stems and leaves of which are burgundy, and the flowers are carmine, scarlet-red or purple-pink.

In culture, there are three main groups of balsams

The first group includes traditional, natural types of Waller's balsam (Impatiens walleriana), perfectly grown at home, greenhouses, and open ground.

WALLER'S BALM, or WALLER'S BALM (Impatiens walleriana) These are perennial herbaceous plants up to 50 cm high, with spreading, thick, fleshy, succulent stems, medium-sized ovoid leaves, green, red, reddish-brown or variegated in color. The flowers of this group can be axillary, single, medium-sized, simple, double or semi-double in a wide variety of colors.

"Baby Mixed", with many different colors, are ideal "Accent". It is worth paying attention to the interesting varieties of Waller's impatiens with double flowers.

In warm summers, Waller's balsam blooms well in flower beds, containers, and hanging baskets, and they can be placed even in partial shade, since balsams are undemanding in terms of lighting, and the color of the flowers is brighter than in the sun. However, when determining a place for these beautiful plants, one must remember that their stems and leaves are characterized by increased fragility. They break easily in sudden gusts of wind and heavy rain.

Due to lack of light and temperature changes, balsam shoots can stretch and become bare at the bottom of the stem, which is why the flower looks leggy. In this case, it is better to cut the plant, root the cuttings, then your pet will again be a compact and well-flowering “bush”.

The seeds are very small. For 1 g - about 2000 pieces. Germination lasts for several years. Shoots appear 14-16 days after sowing. Impatiens blooms 90-100 days after germination. Seeds are embedded in the soil very superficially, since they need light to germinate. They are very sensitive to lack of moisture, so the boxes with crops have to be covered with glass or transparent plastic, placed in a well-lit place, but so that they are not exposed to direct sunlight.

Shoots appear best at a temperature of 20-25°C. However, in such conditions there is a risk of developing fungal infections, such as gray rot. In order to reduce the likelihood of infection in impatiens, it is necessary to use only new pots and boxes filled with a special soil mixture for seed germination or pre-sterilized soil. After the shoots appear, the humidity of the substrate and air must be reduced.

Greenhouses and planting boxes are ventilated as often as possible. The seedlings should be gradually accustomed to fresh air, leaving the ventilation holes uncovered, the size of which is gradually increased. Finally, after a few days, the glass or sheet of plastic can be removed completely. The room temperature must be reduced to 15-18°C. When the seedlings reach a height of 1 cm, they can be picked and the temperature lowered even further. Now the critical period for plant development has passed. At the beginning of May, when it is warm, they begin to take the seedlings outside for hardening, not forgetting to bring them indoors at night. Young balsam plants can be planted in a permanent place in open ground at the end of May.

The second group includes all modern varieties of balsams - heterotic hybrids of the first generation (F1), which appeared as a result of breeding work with Waller's balsam. They are obtained by hand pollination of individual parent lines. These are perennial compact plants that bloom for a long time and abundantly throughout the year. The color range of modern hybrid varieties is varied: from white, cream, pink, cherry, fuchsia to incredibly dark burgundy. Flowers can be one-color, two-colored, with a pattern in the form of stripes, dashes, spots, streaks, strokes on the petals. Modern varieties come with double, semi-double, and simple flowers.

The numerous varieties of balsams with simple flowers, 20-25 cm high (‘Super Elfi’, ‘Fancifu`, ‘Wild Thin’, ‘Cand’) are very interesting; semi-double, double flowers (‘Sparkler’, ‘Fiest’) simple large flowers, more than 30 cm high (‘Imp’); with huge flowers over 5 cm (‘Blitz’).

In cultivation there are two-color varieties with white stripes or spots in the middle of the flower: (‘Rose Star’, ‘Novette Star’, ‘Cinderell’). Varieties with double, semi-double flowers of various colors: (‘Lavender Orchid’, ‘Deep Orange’, ‘Cherry’, ‘Peach’, Perple Pinata’). Compact white-flowered varieties with pure white double flowers (‘White’, ‘Frost’, ‘White Frost’) are very popular.

The third group includes balsams of the "New Guinea" group - New Guinea hybrids obtained from crossing several complex species: Hawker's balsam, linear-leaved balsam, Schleiger's balsam, which were discovered in 1970 in the highland forests of New Guinea, on the Seleb Islands and on the island of Java.

NEW GUINEA BALSAM (Impatiens neuguinea).In indoor culture, in addition to Waller's balsam, hybrid New Guinea balsam (Impatiens neuguinea) is grown. This species is larger, they have large flowers that bloom throughout the year in different colors: white, red in various shades, lilac, pink. The leaves are bright bronze to bright green, sometimes variegated.

In our country, New Guinea balsam has come into fashion relatively recently; seeds are not yet on the market; only ready-made plants are sold, without specifying the variety. Special farms grow them from seeds, and stores receive flowering plants in containers. In the West, seeds are offered in stores or through catalogs.

New Guinea hybrids are heat- and light-loving, so it is better to grow them at home, in winter gardens, where they feel good for several years. But they look good in flowerpots placed in sunny, wind-protected areas of the garden or on warm terraces, but outdoors they are used as summer gardens. They require systematic watering and fertilizing, preferring a peat substrate.

GARDEN BALM, or Impatiens balsamina (Impatiens balsamina) "Camellia Flowered", low growing "Baby Bush" and "Tom Thumb". In stores it is sold simply as garden balsam. In spring, you can purchase flowering specimens intended for decorating indoor spaces or outdoor flower beds.

IRON-BASED BALM (Impatiens glandulifera) This balsam came from India and has been developing our territory since about 1839. It got its name because of the glands at the base of the leaf. In the 50s of the last century, in almost every yard near the fences one could find thickets of succulent annuals up to 2 meters high, with crimson or pink flowers and fruits - “bombs”, which children loved to “explode”. This beautiful plant often turned into a malicious weed, as the seeds scattered by it in all directions sprouted everywhere. And on a hot summer day, many different insects flew around the bushes, attracted by the smell of blossoming flowers.

The leaves of iron balsam are ovate-lanceolate, up to 15 cm long, and in the upper part of the stem are collected in whorls of three. There are 2 glands at the base of the leaf. The flowers are simple, large, on long peduncles, white, pink, often wine red, collected in umbellate axillary racemes. Blooms from mid-summer until frost. Used in hedges, in groups on the lawn, and for decorating fences. Large seeds germinate easily. They are usually sown in any soil in April-May.

Balfour's balsam (Impatiens balfourii) An exotic, heat-loving, and therefore practically unfamiliar plant to our country, Balfour's balsam (Impatiens balfourii) came from the warm regions of the Himalayas. It is somewhat similar to iron-bearing balsam, but only its bushes reach a height of 1 meter, the flowers are smaller, painted in bright tones. The seeds of this plant can be purchased from time to time only in Europe; for some reason they are almost never available for free sale.

In the Spanish Pyrenees, this flower is planted in a wide variety of containers: old olive oil barrels, buckets, baskets, cans. The unpretentious impatiens thrives in these improvised containers; it blooms and bears fruit profusely, scattering seeds everywhere. The plants attract swarms of insects, although only the smallest of them can feast on the sweet nectar. Its seeds easily germinate between the slabs that pave the paths; the plants developing from seedlings feel good in such “rocky” terrain.

Balfour's balsam seeds are sown (March-April) in pots with a light sandy earthen mixture, and also later in open ground. For unknown reasons, seeds germinate unevenly, and sometimes do not germinate at all. They often germinate the next year; new bushes may end up in the most inappropriate places.

Impatiens noli-tangere

SMALL-FLOORED BALM (Impatiens parviflora) Very similar to the common one, but smaller in size. This is a very aggressive weed. It begins to bloom in May and ends after frost. Historically, it grew in Siberia, but has now populated the whole of Europe. It should be noted that these types of balsam, along with full-fledged open flowers, also have inconspicuous, non-opening cleistogamous flowers. If a plant finds itself in conditions that are unusual for it, for example, on clean sand, it will not produce normal flowers at all.

Variegated sultana impatiens (Impatiens sultanii variegata) are plants with green stems and leaves that have lighter edges, sometimes even white.

Canvas impatiens (Impatiens holstii)Plants reaching 60 cm in height, with green leaves tinged with brown around the edges. Blooms from spring to late autumn. Plants grown from summer cuttings in a bright, warm room can bloom in winter.

Peters balsam (Impatiens petersiana Gilg ex Grignan) The plant's homeland is tropical West Africa. The plant is similar to Waller's Balsam (Impatiens walleriana), from which it differs in larger growth (up to 1.5 m in height), longer leaf petioles and blades, slightly pubescent stems, and most importantly, bronze coloring of stems and leaves. The pedicels are also slightly longer than those of Waller's balsam. The small flowers are fiery red.

Hawker's Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri) A perennial plant up to 50 cm high, with a densely branched stem, dark green bronze elliptical leaves with a waxy coating and cream streaks. The flowers are red with a white throat.

Golden impatiens (Impatiens auricoma) A perennial plant reaching a height of 100 cm, with fleshy, succulent, succulent stems. The leaves are whorled, lanceolate, entire, cambered, medium green, with noticeable venation. The flowers are irregular, not large, bright yellow with red stripes in the opening of the interpetal flower, collected in loose inflorescences at the ends of the branches.

Niamnia balsam (Impatiens niamniamensis) This species is native to Africa, so in foreign catalogs it is called African or Congo balsam. They are breeding it there and have developed several varieties. They love it for its flowers, which have an interesting, unusual shape, somewhat reminiscent of birds sitting on branches. The greenish petals of the flowers are inconspicuous; the brightness of the plants is given by the large sepals, elongated in the form of a narrow curved jug or horn. The color of the sepals can be red, pink or bicolor red and yellow. Niamnia balsam grows best in warm climates and requires protection from wind and direct rays of the midday sun. This perennial is often cultivated as a houseplant, although starting in mid-June it can be taken out into the fresh air. In the garden, this type of balsam is usually grown as a seasonal annual, since it dies from frost in the fall, but if the bushes are brought into a warm room in time, they can safely overwinter.

Houseplants

Balsam (“Touch-me-not”, “Vanka wet”)

Impatiens (Jmpatiens) is a perennial herbaceous plant with succulent erect shoots, bright leaves and numerous delicate flowers. Thanks to the simple care of balsam at home, easy propagation and long flowering This plant has long been one of the most beloved by flower growers around the world.

The Latin name of the genus Impatiens can be translated as “not withstanding pressure.” That is why balsam is often called “Touch-me-not” - its ripe fruit-pods are able to open and shoot seeds at the slightest touch. Balsam has many affectionate names - “Ogonyok” in Russia, “busy Lizy” in England, “zealous Liza” in Germany.

In Russia, balsam is also widely known as “Vanka wet” for the droplets of sugary liquid that form along the edges of the leaf blades.

Impatiens are used both for landscaping rooms and for decorating balconies, loggias, terraces, or as “living bouquets” for various holidays.

In nature, there are about 500 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants and shrubs, which are native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. In indoor floriculture, Waller's balsam and its hybrids are mainly used, characterized by more compact sizes and abundant flowering, as well as balsams of the New Guinea group obtained through complex crossings, or New Guinea hybrids, characterized by large flowers and brightly colored leaves.

Photo of Waller's balsam flowers

(Impatiens walleriana) is a bushy herbaceous plant about 50 cm high with erect succulent stems, broadly oval green, brownish or reddish tender leaves and small (up to 4 cm in diameter) single or asymmetrical flowers collected in few-flowered inflorescences on long pedicels.

This type of balsam is the original form of many hybrids, which, based on their characteristic characteristics, are combined into variety groups. For example, ‘Accent FT’ is characterized by the compact size of the bushes (about 15-25 cm).

As you can see in the photo, this variety of balsam has large flowers - one-color or two-color:

Impatiens "Tempo FT" - larger plants (up to 25 cm) and early flowering;

Balsam “Stardust FT” - the petals of plants in this series have a silvery coating and a bright border along the edge; and others.

Types and varieties of indoor balsam with photographs

(Impatiens Cultivarus Neuguinea) are perennial bushy plants obtained by complex crossings of several species.

This type of balsam is characterized by more juicy, abundantly branching shoots, large and fleshy leaves, usually two or multi-colored. The flowers are larger than those of traditional species, very bright, with a characteristic spur below.

Several variety series of New Guinea balsams have been developed.

In our gallery you can see photos of indoor balsam flowers of various varieties:

'Paradise' has bright flowers of various shades and lance-shaped, dark to bright green, and variegated leaves.

“Java” is a variety of indoor balsam with flowers of bright “tropical” color and shiny leaves of green or bronze color.

“Jangle Rain” is a balsam with flowers in delicate pastel shades.

“Rainforest Exotic” is an indoor balsam with one or two-tone flowers of various colors.

(Impatiens repens) is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the shady and moist forests of Sri Lanka. The species has long creeping shoots of a reddish color, small heart-shaped leaves and single bright yellow flowers with a diameter of about 3 cm. Impatiens of this species can be found in indoor floriculture as a ground cover plant.

Caring for balsam at home

Balsams, especially hybrid varieties, are easy plants to grow. Caring for balsam at home is not difficult - these plants are not demanding on lighting, they grow well both in light shade and in bright sun, but the bush will form most beautifully, and flowering will be abundant in diffused light.

In winter, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature at least +10 ... + 15 ° C and provide bright lighting. Water balsam abundantly in summer and, most importantly, regularly, but without stagnation of water; in winter, moderately. Spraying is advisable.

From spring to autumn, regular fertilizing with potassium fertilizers is required twice a month. Hybrid varieties do not need to form a crown; their shoots themselves branch well, but plants should be renewed periodically, since the stems become bare with age. Balsam is easily propagated by apical cuttings and seeds. To obtain flowering plants in May, seeds are sown in January with additional artificial lighting. Rooting of cuttings occurs within about a month. Plants grown from spring cuttings bloom in the summer, and from summer cuttings - throughout the winter.

Indoor balsam

Impatiens (Impatiens) is a perennial herbaceous plant with succulent erect shoots, bright leaves and numerous delicate flowers. In this article we will talk about caring for homemade balsam, tell you about the different varieties of New Guinea balsam and Waller's balsam and bring to your attention photos of balsam varieties from different variety groups.

Thanks to its simple care, easy propagation and long-lasting flowering, indoor balsam has long been one of the favorite home plants of gardeners around the world. This is evidenced by numerous affectionate names: “Ogonyok” in Russia, “Busy Lizzie” in England, “zealous Lisa” (“Fleisiges Lieschen”) in Germany and the work of breeders to develop new varieties.

The Latin name of the genus Impatiens is formed by the prefix im - “not”, and patiens - “bearing, withstanding pressure” and is associated with characteristic feature ripe fruit-pods - they open, shooting out seeds, at the slightest touch to them.

Varieties of indoor Waller's balsam

“Tempo F1 Hybrid” series - plants are larger (up to 25 cm high), but also compact, flowering early. In this series, the balsam varieties are apricot and pink in color.

“Stardust F1 Mixed” series - in plants of this series, the flower petals seem to be silvered at the base, and along the edge they have a wide orange, scarlet or dark pink border.

“Bruno FT” series - thanks to genetic engineering, plants in this series are strong (up to 30 cm in height), bloom profusely, and easily tolerate various unfavorable factors; the flowers are very large (up to 6 cm in diameter), the seedlings grow quickly and bloom early. There are four varieties in the series with white, red, purple and lilac-pink colors.

“Firefly” series - small plants (up to 25 cm in height) captivate not with their size, but with the abundance of flowers and palette of colors (there are varieties of indoor impatiens with purple, lilac-pink, orange and other colors).

The “Fiesta FT” series is a compact, densely branching plant (about 30 cm tall) with double, bright one-color or two-color flowers.

New Guinea balsam: varieties and their photos

Impatiens Cultivarus Neuguinea group impatiens are perennial bushy plants obtained by complex crossings of several species. All varieties of New Guinea balsam have more juicy, abundantly branched shoots, larger and fleshier leaves, usually two- or multi-colored.

Pay attention to the photo of New Guinea balsam - its flowers are larger than those of traditional species, very bright, with a characteristic spur at the bottom.

The "Java" series - flowers of bright "tropical" color and shiny leaves of green or bronze color.

“Jangle Rain” series - this series of New Guinea balsam is characterized by more delicate, pastel colors.

“Paradise” series - bright flowers, various colors and shades, lanceolate leaves are dark or bright green, there are varieties with variegated foliage.

“Rainforest Exotic” series - flowers of various colors, one- or two-tone.

Creeping balsam is also widely cultivated in home floriculture.

This perennial herbaceous plant from the shady and humid forests of Sri Lanka, impatiens repens, has long creeping shoots of a reddish color, small heart-shaped leaves and single bright yellow flowers (up to 3 cm in diameter). This type of balsam can be found in indoor floriculture as a ground cover plant.

Caring for homemade balsam

Impatiens, especially hybrid varieties, are easy plants to grow. They are undemanding in terms of lighting - they can grow both in light shade and in bright sun, but the bush will form best, and flowering will be abundant in diffused light. The air temperature in winter is not lower than + 10...+ 15 ° C and bright sun.

Caring for balsam at home involves regular, abundant watering, but without stagnation of water, spraying is advisable; in winter - moderate. From spring to autumn, regular fertilizing with potassium fertilizers is required twice a month. Hybrid varieties do not require the formation of a crown; their shoots themselves branch well, but periodic renewal of plants may be required, since the stems become bare with age.

Indoor balsams are widely used both for decorating rooms and for landscaping balconies, loggias, and terraces. Abundantly flowering bushes are wonderful “living bouquets” for any holiday.

Balsam (Impatiens)

Family - balsamaceae

Origin: Uncertain; grows in wildlife in the subtropics and tropics North America, Southern Europe, Africa and Asia.

In nature, balsam is presented in a huge variety - more than 500 species, of which only 15 are cultivated, and they are grown both at home and in the garden. Impatiens are either annual or perennial. The former are often grown as garden plants. whereas perennials are cultivated at home.

This plant is herbaceous or subshrub, with fragile stems that begin to branch from the base. The edge of the leaf is edged with small teeth, and the leaves themselves are arranged alternately on the succulent stem. This plant is a good weather predictor: if rain is approaching, droplets of moisture will appear at the tips of the leaves. However, the same effect occurs with excessive watering. For this feature, the balsam is called “Vanka wet”.

The plant received another name - "light" - due to the bright color of the petals. Five bright petals form a large flower. Impatiens bloom readily and abundantly, the flowers are arranged singly. There are terry balsams; The color of the flowers can be different, but always bright.

The third name given - “touch-me-not” - also has its justification: in place of pollinated flowers, seed pods are formed. If they are ripe, then when touched (even the lightest) they burst noisily, and the five wings of the box twist. The seeds spill out.

Even if you've never had balsam at home, you're probably familiar with it first-hand: henna, which is used to color hair, is made from the roots of balsam - not homemade, but wild.

Types and photos of balsam

Considering that there are many types of balsam, we will consider the most popular basic plants (and not their numerous hybrids, which are not possible to describe in one article) grown in room conditions.

Waller's Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana)

Waller's balsam is the ancestor of a large group of hybrids, so it is often identified with its varieties, which differ not only in size, but also in flowering and leaf color (from green to red and variegated).

The “base plant” reaches a height of 50-60 cm, perennial. The stems are branched and very juicy, transparent. Leaves have a long petiole, ovate, 4 to 6 cm long.

This type of balsam blooms with large single flowers; are terry. The color of the flowers is the most varied; There are Waller's impatiens with bicolor flowers.

The varietal diversity of balsam allows it to be used both in open ground and as a houseplant, thus modifying the crop from an annual to a perennial plant.

Growing balsam does not require special knowledge or skills. It is enough to choose a suitable place for planting and follow the basic rules of agricultural technology. All these issues will be discussed in detail in the article. Step-by-step instruction planting seedlings or sowing seeds will help a novice gardener grow balsam on his plot and admire the beauty of his labors for a long time.

Impatiens, plant description

The plant - impatiens, also known as Impatiens balsamina, belongs to the genus Impatiens of the Impatiens family.

This annual herbaceous plant is native to China. Currently, the plant is actively cultivated in Europe, Asia, India, Japan and even the Far East. Being an annual in nature, balsam grows and develops well for many years in indoor conditions.

Impatiens in appearance resembles a small shrub, growing from 25 to 70 cm, and in diameter - from 15 to 45 cm.

An individual feature of the plant is the formation, during the growth process, of liquid droplets on the leaves, which is why it is popularly nicknamed “Wet Vanka.”

The stem of the plant is straight and not branched, densely planted with narrow and elongated fleshy leaves. Balsam leaves are lanceolate-shaped, pointed towards the edge.

At the base of the leaf blade, inside the axil, flowers are formed, quite large in size and of different colors. In the natural environment, the most common balsam flowers are purple and pink. Hybrids “please the eye” with both simple and lush double flowers of various shades of red, lilac, and burgundy. They can be single or collected in inflorescences, one-color or two-color. In open ground, balsam blooms already in May and blooms until the first frost.

The balsam fruit is a capsule covered with fluff. The genus Impatiens is characterized by a fragile mature capsule, which opens even with a light touch, scattering seeds.

About 500 varieties of balsam are known in gardening.

Balsam: types and varieties

There are several approaches to classifying balsam: by the shape of the flower and leaves (camelliaceae, roseate, carnation), by the height of the stem (dwarf, medium-sized, tall).

Garden balsam is the most popular type. Low frost resistance allows it to be grown in open ground for only one year. The petals of the flower have a slightly pointed shape. The floral palette is striking in its variety of shades. It grows indoors in a flower pot for more than 2 years. The most common varieties are "Camellia Flowered", "Baby Bush" and "Tom Thumb".

Garden balsam "ThatmThum b" is a highly branched bush, up to 25 cm in height. Lanceolate leaves, double flowers, different colors: white, red, violet, lilac or pink shades.

Waller's balsam is a colorful plant characterized by a variety of flower shapes and colors. The crop blooms from the beginning of summer until frost, delighting those around with an abundance of beautiful inflorescences densely covering the entire bush. The range of shades includes bright red, salmon, purple and carmine tones. This is a low-growing type of balsam, reaching no more than 30 cm and having a spherical, rounded shape. This type often used by breeders as a source crop for developing new hybrids. The most common varieties: “Stardust”, “Frosty”, “Symphony”. The species is recommended for use as a houseplant.

Balsam Symphony- a low-growing, miniature bush, up to 20 cm high with a variety of flower colors. Used for border plantings, annual.

New Guinea balsam is a perennial hybrid with a thick and dense stem growing up to 50 cm. A distinctive feature of the species is the unusually bright color of the leaves. Widespread as a houseplant. Balsam flowers and leaves are distinguished by their juicy, rich color. This species includes such well-known varieties as “Harmony”, “Divaro”, “Mini Jini”, “Java”, “Jungle Rain”, “Macarena” and “RainforestExotic”.
Balsam sultanoid is distinguished by its unusual leaf color. The leaf blade, light yellow in the center, becomes green towards the periphery, and reddish veins stand out over the entire surface of the leaf. The flowers are large, bright pink or rich red.
Terry balsam is an annual branched plant species. Like all members of the family, it prefers light, moisture, warmth and reacts poorly to direct sunlight and low temperatures. Looks great in flowerpots or containers on balconies and flower beds. The highlight of the species is the presence of double and large flowers of pink, red, lilac.

Planting balsam

Planting an annual plant in open ground is carried out with seedlings, seeds or a ready-made adult plant. The most acceptable and common option is planting flower seedlings. To do this, you need to sow the seeds already in March, and when the sprouts grow and form at least 2 leaves, plant them in separate cups. Seedlings are grown indoors, gradually hardening off for several hours outside. In early spring, after the last frost has passed, the seedlings are planted in the ground.

To start balsam on your site, you can buy specialty store or at flower exhibitions and fairs, both seeds for sowing and seedlings or an adult bush. By following the basic rules of agricultural technology, the plant will quickly take root and bloom.

Landing place

Balsam feels great in penumbra or in open areas with light shade. Preferring moderate sun exposure, the plant withers and fades in the scorching sun. But even in strong shade, balsam slows down its development, in particular, it begins to bloom worse. Fragile bushes also do not like drafts or strong winds.

A moisture-loving plant will actively develop near bodies of water, rivers or lakes. At the same time, balsam does not tolerate dampness and coolness well, which must be taken into account when choosing a place for planting.

The soil should be loose, fertile, light and well drained. Soil with low acidity, such as loam, is ideal.

Agricultural technology for planting balsam

To plant seedlings, prepare holes in advance. You can immediately add organic fertilizer (compost, manure) to them. The hole is moistened abundantly with water, and in case increased acidity and soil density - add peat and sand.
The seedlings in the cup are well watered, then the seedling is carefully removed and, slightly straightening the roots, placed in the hole.
The depth of the hole approximately coincides with the height of the glass or pot in which it grew before. Having covered it with earth, the area is lightly compacted and mulched.
To acquire a compact bushy form, balsam seedlings are pinched or trimmed from above.
Seedlings are planted sparingly, maintaining a distance of approximately 30 cm, taking into account the subsequent growth of the bushes.
When planting seeds in open soil heated to 25°C, the first shoots will appear within two weeks. When the temperature drops, the area is covered with film. Impatiens cannot tolerate frost.

Impatiens, plant care

Considering that balsam is a heat-loving, moisture-loving and fragile plant with a thin, delicate stem, gardeners use appropriate agricultural technology to care for it.

Loosening the soil

Impatiens need light and well-drained soil, which means regular loosening and removal weed – necessary reception to improve the growth and flowering intensity of the crop.

Watering

Prefers moderate and uniform watering with leaf irrigation. Constant air humidity prevents spider mite infection and promotes optimal development of balsam. Along with this, excessive moisture and stagnation of moisture can lead to rotting and death of the root system of the flower. Watering is best done in the evening.

Feeding, fertilizing

Nitrogen fertilizers are indicated for young shoots on which flower buds are not yet visible, since excessive application of nitrogen can slow down the process of flower formation.

Diseased and recently transplanted plants should not be fed for about 3 weeks. It is better to apply fertilizers in cloudy weather or at the same time as watering. By August - September there is no longer a need for additional feeding.

When fertilizing, it is important to know about negative consequences excess salts in the soil, which can cause leaves to fall or turn yellow, which will negatively affect decorative form plants. To avoid this, experts recommend applying complex fertilizers at half the dose specified in the instructions.

Disease and pest control

Impatiens are susceptible to certain diseases and pests. The most common are the following:

Spider mites infect balsam leaves, weaving them into webs and sucking out the juice. As preventive measures the plant can be treated with a soap solution. If the plant is already sick, spray it with special chemicals.
Rot is a consequence of excessive watering, especially with the onset of cold weather. Therefore, measures that prevent stagnation of water in the soil and promote its drainage characteristics will help to avoid the appearance of rot.
Whitefly promotes leaf fall. The fight against this insect will be effective if special chemicals are used.
Viral mosaic is manifested by the appearance of twisted leaves with yellow spots. The virus is spread by aphids and thrips. When infected with this disease, the plant must be treated with chemicals.
Ring mosaic reflected on appearance leaves that become covered with spots, crack and seem to “wooden”. Infected balsam begins to wither and then dies. For treatment, it is necessary to remove the affected leaves, followed by treating the plant with a fungicide.
A disease such as leaf bronzing causes deformation of the leaf blade. It first shrinks and then falls off. The plant begins to rapidly lose leaves. Diseased plants, unfortunately, must be completely removed.

Considering that balsam is an annual plant, at the end of the season, after flowering, it is removed from the flowerbed. The next year it is planted again - from seeds or using seedlings.

Balsam propagation

There are 2 types of balsam propagation: vegetative (cuttings) and seed.

For vegetative propagation, select healthy apical shoots, about 5-10 cm long, cut them off and place them in a moist environment (a glass of water or wet sand). The lower leaves of the cuttings are removed so that they do not rot in the water. In order to obtain a larger number of balsam cuttings, the plant can be deliberately placed in a dark place, where the shoots begin to stretch faster.
After about 1-2 weeks, roots appear on the cuttings, after which they are picked and planted in the soil. The soil mixture is prepared from approximately equal parts of soil, peat and sand, making it light and breathable.
Seedlings grown in spring will bloom the same summer. This method is easy to implement, not labor-intensive and effective.

This method is also good for those who will transfer garden balsam to indoor pot, then the flowering of “Vanka wet” will delight you by the New Year.

When propagating by seed, the seeds are pre-treated with a manganese solution, keeping them in it for about 10-15 minutes.
There are a lot of balsam seeds ripening in one balsam box, so collect enough seed material can be done quickly and easily. The only caveat is the fragility of the fruit capsule, which explodes at the slightest touch, scattering seeds around. Therefore, this must be done carefully, having first hung a linen bag under the fruit, into which the seeds will be poured. The degree of maturity of a seed pod can be determined by its color, which changes from green to yellow as it ripens. They also practice collecting slightly unripe boxes, which are placed in dry room for ripening, followed by collection and storage of seed material.

The collected seeds are sown in a box or directly in separate pots. They can not be sprinkled with earth at all, but covered with film or glass, or lightly crushed with a light mixture. Such a mini greenhouse must be ventilated regularly. By the way, balsam seeds can be stored for up to 8 years without losing good and rapid germination.

During planting and subsequent growth, the soil substrate should be moderately moist and loose, and the ambient temperature should not be lower than 20° C. Next, the grown seedlings are planted in separate pots for growing and subsequent planting in open ground. When planting them on a site when the sprout has 6-8 leaves, the main root is pinched off a little, thus stimulating the growth of lateral roots. To obtain strong early seedlings by April-May, seeds are sown around February.

It is also practiced to plant seeds directly in open ground. Sowing is carried out in the spring, around April, covering the area with film to create a greenhouse effect and the required temperature. A heat-loving plant, balsam does not tolerate frosts and low temperatures, which can still be observed in April, especially at night. If favorable temperature conditions with constant soil moisture, the seeds germinate within a couple of weeks.

Growing balsam from seeds is the most common method among gardeners.

Application of balsam

Impatiens is a popular plant among gardeners, cultivated since the 16th century. Landscape designers have long chosen compact, bright bushes that bloom profusely and for quite a long time. Not every flower can boast of an abundance of colors that decorate the garden from spring until frost. And skillfully composed flower arrangements in combination with balsam impress and delight others.

Increasingly, gardeners prefer to plant balsam in groups, creating spectacular compositions. It goes well with begonias, bluebells, violets and even boxwood.

“Vanka wet” is also indispensable when decorating borders or creating mixboxers. The plant is rightfully considered a real decoration of any flower bed or alpine hill. The main thing is to choose the right “companion” crops, against which a bright accent in the form of blooming balsams will be irresistible and magnificent.

Single low-growing varieties of balsam look very impressive in flowerpots and single pots. Such flowering pots can decorate any balcony or loggia.

In addition to decorative use, balsam is also used in folk medicine. Infusions and decoctions of balsam are recommended to be taken when urolithiasis. Fresh leaves plants are used to heal ulcers or wounds. Externally, a decoction of the plant helps cope with rheumatism. Data medicinal properties the plants have still been little studied and are very controversial, since balsam is considered to be both poisonous plant. In this regard, you need to be careful when using balsam as a medicinal crop, after consulting with your doctor.

Having made sure that growing balsam does not take much time, it will not be difficult to transform an ordinary flowerbed or bed into a constantly blooming bright front garden.