Are you looking to add a burst of color to your garden? Annual balsam flowers are a great choice. Impatiens balsamina is also known as Garden Balsam, Rose Balsam, and Touch-Me-Not. These vibrant flowers come in a variety of colors and are relatively easy to grow from seed. This blog post will guide you through the steps to successfully grow annual balsam flowers in your garden. Lets get started!
Balsam (Impatiens balsamina), also commonly known as rose balsam, gilli flower, and touch-me-not, is a popular annual plant grown for its beautiful flowers. When planting balsam, one of the most important factors to consider is proper spacing between each plant. The right amount of space allows the balsam plants to reach their maximum size, bloom abundantly, and stay healthy throughout the growing season.
Understanding Balsam’s Growth Habit
Balsam is an erect annual plant that grows quickly to reach heights between 1-3 feet tall and spreads 6-12 inches wide. The plant has an upright, bushy growth habit with succulent stems and bright green leaves. Balsam produces vibrant trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, white, purple and violet during the summer months.
Balsam thrives in organically rich, moist, well-drained soil and prefers locations with partial sun to partial shade. Being native to India and Southeast Asia, balsam needs warm temperatures between 70-75°F for optimal growth and blooming.
Recommended Spacing for Balsam Plants
When transplanting balsam starts or sowing seeds directly in the garden, it’s ideal to space each plant about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) apart from one another. This allows for proper room to grow and helps prevent overcrowding.
For balsam varieties that grow larger, up to 18-24 inches tall, increase the spacing to 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) between plants. Wider spacing reduces competition for sunlight, moisture and nutrients.
In containers or hanging baskets, plant balsam starts closer together at 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart to create a fuller, dense display. Monitor regularly and transplant or thin out plants that become overcrowded.
Benefits of Proper Spacing
Maintaining the recommended spacing for balsam plants provides the following advantages:
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Improves air circulation and light exposure to reduce disease problems,
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Allows adequate room for root development so plants can access water and nutrients efficiently.
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Minimizes competition between plants, resulting in stronger healthier growth.
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Provides enough space for plants to reach maximum size and produce more flowers.
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Creates an attractive visual display, with each plant having a chance to stand out.
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Makes maintenance like watering, fertilizing, staking and harvesting easier.
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Extends the blooming period by reducing crowding stress.
Adjusting Spacing Over Time
The spacing between balsam plants should be monitored and adjusted as needed throughout the growing season.
Young seedlings can be spaced closer together at 4-6 inches apart initially. As the balsam plants grow larger, thin or transplant them to reach the recommended 6-8 inch spacing.
If plants become severely overcrowded, some may need to be removed. Prioritize keeping the healthiest, most vigorous plants and eliminate weaker specimens or those with signs of disease.
For quick fill in areas, fast-growing annuals like marigolds or zinnias can be planted between balsam plants. Just avoid aggressive spreaders that could overtake the balsam.
Tips for Proper Transplanting
When moving balsam starts from pots into the garden, take care to minimize transplant shock that can slow growth.
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Gently loosen root balls before planting and pinch off any circled roots.
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Dig holes the same depth and width as the root ball.
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Water transplants well after planting and provide shade for 1-2 days.
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Fertilize with a balanced liquid fertilizer once established.
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If leggy, plant deeper with just the top leaves showing.
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Pinch off any flowers forming on starts so plants establish quicker.
Final Thoughts
Allowing adequate spacing of 6-8 inches between balsam plants prevents overcrowding and creates optimal conditions for growth. Monitor planting distances throughout the season and adjust as necessary. With proper spacing, balsam will thrive and reward you with an abundance of colorful, nectar-rich blooms to enjoy all summer long.
Which Type of Impatiens Balsam?
There is a difference between Impatiens balsamina and Impatiens walleriana. Annual balsam flowers (Impatiens balsamina) are cup-shaped, unlike other varieties of impatiens. The thick stems are soft with long sawtoothed leaves that can hide the colorful blooms.
The name itself gives some interesting clues about the flower. “Impatiens” and “Touch-Me-Not” both refer to the seed pods. Once the flowers are spent, they develop seed pods. These “impatient” pods are ready to burst and fling their seeds wherever they can. Be careful touching them once they have dried. Even the wind has enough friction to cause the seed pods to burst open. So, “touch-me-not” unless you want to release the seeds.
Pollinators love the colorful cup-shaped balsam flowers. Bees and butterflies will enjoy visiting your balsam plants. Add it to your cottage garden or as a focal flower in a container garden.
Tom Thumb mix is a beautiful heirloom impatiens variety. Its small size is perfect for borders and containers.
How to Grow & Care for Garden Balsam (Rose balsam)
FAQ
How far apart to plant balsam plants?
How do you plant balsam plants?
How far apart should you plant plants?
Does balsam come back every year?
How far apart should balsam plants be planted?
Space balsam plants 8 to 12 inches apart. The plants will grow 12 to 16 inches high. Individual plants can also be grown in containers. Consistent watering is essential for growing healthy balsam flowers. Don’t let the soil dry out between watering. Using mulch can help the ground stay moist.
Can you plant balsam seeds indoors?
Balsam seeds can be planted when all danger of frost is passed. Starting seeds indoors will give you a few weeks headstart on blooms. Balsam flowers will easily self-seed if left to mature on the plant. Once the blossoms have been pollinated, they will go to seed. The seed capsules will burst once they are dry and spread seeds.
How many seeds can a balsam plant produce?
Folk medicine practitioners don’t have to worry about garden balsam being in short supply, as a single plant can produce more than 100 pods. Conducting observations in my own garden, I plucked seedpods from random plants and counted the seeds inside. Each seedpod held between 12 and 17 individual seeds.
How do you care for balsam seeds?
Be careful touching them once they have dried. Even the wind has enough friction to cause the seed pods to burst open. So, “touch-me-not” unless you want to release the seeds. Pollinators love the colorful cup-shaped balsam flowers. Bees and butterflies will enjoy visiting your balsam plants. Add it to your