Impatiens niamniamensis
Germinating the seeds
When to plant -- Plant your seeds when you receive them for best germination. Getting started -- You may plant each seed in individual, small containers. Or you plant them all in a single container, but it may be more difficult to transplant them later. Either way, use pots with drainage holes. For soil, use a well draining mix high in organic matter. A typical mix is 2 parts potting soil to 1 part perlite or coarse sand. An alternate mix is 1 part perlite to 1 part coir fiber, with some slow-release fertilizer mixed in. Gently place a seed in each
pot (or if using a communal pot, space them about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from each
other). Then sprinkle a thin layer of
long-fiber sphagnum moss (not ground peat moss). This helps retain
moisture around the seeds while allowing light to reach them, which aids
germination.
This photo
shows how much moss to use. If you don't have sphagnum moss, sprinkle a
bit of your soil mix around the surface. Add water until the soil is evenly moist, but not soggy. Until the seeds sprout, ensure that the soil surface never dries out. An easy way to maintain high humidity by enclosing the pots in a plastic container or bag. Leave it open a crack to let in fresh air. Once or twice a day, you may need to drip a few drops of water on the surface to keep it moist. The ideal temperature for germination is between 65 to 76 degrees F (18-23°C). A little cooler at night is ok. Avoid letting them get above 80° F (27°C). I recommend placing a minimum/maximum thermometer near the pots. A fluorescent or LED bulb kept 4 inches (10 cm) away provides the right amount of
light. Protect from direct sun. Growing onward... Fertilizing -- Feed weekly with a very dilute (1/8 strength) liquid fertilizer. Hydroponic fertilizer is ideal for this, because it is easily absorbed and contains all essential nutrients. After 6-8 weeks, you may switch to a granular fertilizer, following the dosage on the package. Or continue feeding weekly with liquid fertilizer at 1/8 or 1/4 strength. If the older leaves appear pale/yellowish, the soil may be too dry down in the root zone. If soil moisture levels have been fine, the plant may need more nitrogen fertilizer.. especially if light levels are high.
Transplanting -- When your plants are 2-3 months old, you may gently
transfer them to a larger pot. Water the soil first, and avoid letting the
soil ball break apart, which can damage the roots. After transplanting,
give no sun or liquid fertilizer the first week. Above about
40-50% humidity is best. If your indoor humidity drops too low, consider using an ultrasonic room humidifier, which you can buy at
home improvement stores and thrift shops. - Jeff Strange Wonderful Things
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