Your impatiens indoors can do great as houseplants with the right setup. Give them bright indirect light and steady moisture in a room between 65 and 75°F (18 to 24°C). NC State Extension lists houseplant as a valid use for impatiens. Missouri Botanical Garden says bright light without harsh direct sun works best.
Growing impatiens as houseplants works well once you get used to how indoor life differs from the garden. Light is weaker inside your home. The air runs drier. Temps stay more even day to day. Your plants will make fewer flowers than they do outside. But they'll still bloom if you meet their basic needs. Most adapt to indoor life within a few weeks.
I kept three impatiens on a north-facing windowsill through a full winter to see how they'd do. They never stopped blooming, though flowers came at about half the summer rate. Water needs dropped to about once every five days instead of the daily soak my porch pots needed in July. The compact growth made them perfect windowsill plants.
Good indoor impatiens care starts with your light setup. Your plants need at least 4 to 6 hours of bright indirect light each day. South or east windows work best in most homes. Direct afternoon sun through a west window can scorch leaves. Filter harsh light with a sheer curtain. Turn your pots a quarter turn each week so all sides get even light.
Humidity causes the most trouble for your indoor impatiens. Furnaces dry the air to 20-30% in winter. Your plants want at least 40% since they come from the tropics. Brown, crispy leaf edges tell you the air is too dry. Set your pots on a tray of pebbles and water to boost moisture around the leaves. Keep plants away from heating vents that blast hot, dry air at them.
Pick compact varieties for your indoor setup since they fit on shelves and sills. Use pots with drainage holes and saucers underneath to catch overflow. Fill with a light potting mix that drains well but holds some moisture. Water when the top half-inch of soil feels dry. Pour off any water that sits in the saucer after 30 minutes.
Watch for spider mites and aphids on your indoor plants. Spider mites love dry heated rooms and show up as fine webbing between leaves. Aphids cluster on new growth and flower buds. Check under leaves each week where both pests like to hide. A strong spray of water in your sink knocks off most light problems before they spread.
In my experience, indoor impatiens won't match a full outdoor bed for sheer color power. But they bring cheerful blooms to rooms that need a lift during gray winter months. Your care routine takes just a few minutes per week once you set the light and water pattern. Give them what they need and you'll have flowers no matter what the weather does outside.
Read the full article: Impatiens Flowers: Varieties and Care
