How to propagate & grow Impatiens from cuttings

Propagating Impatiens plants from cuttings couldn’t be easier and you’ll soon have homegrown Impatiens to share with friends and family.

The first step in growing Impatiens from cuttings is selecting a healthy ‘mother’ plant to take cuttings from. Avoid weak and diseased plants as these traits will carry into your propagated Impatiens plants. In this video I used Impatiens Auricoma x bicaudata, a vigorous shrubby Impatiens hybrid who’s parents originate from Madagascar.

Look for healthy fresh growth on your parent Impatiens plant and make your cut using clean tools. Always cut below a node as this will increase the chances of your cutting forming roots.

Impatiens cuttings lose water through their leaves and will quickly dehydrate so we need to take action to reduce this process. Remove all but the top two leaves from your Impatiens cutting, you can punch them off or cut them away using your clean secateurs. If the remaining two leaves are large it’s recommended that you cut them in half as this will further help reduce the amount of water lost before root formation.

If your Impatiens cutting is producing flowers or flower buds then you will need to remove these. Producing flowers consumes vast amounts of the plants energy reserves and we want to encourage all that energy to go into root formation.

Finally, sit your prepared Impatiens cutting material in a glass of fresh water on a cool windowsill. Change the water every two or three days to prevent stagnation and rot. In 3-6 weeks you should see plenty of healthy young white roots growing out from your Impatiens stem.

Pot up your rooted Impatiens cuttings into 9cm pots using multipurpose compost and your new Impatiens plants will quickly grow away.

[chriswright]

I trust any gardener with your accent and a soil colored shirt & hat. Thank you!

[FBinok]

Your directions are exceptionally clear. As a teacher myself, i can say you’d be a superstar of a teacher! Thanks for the video. ☺️

[megancorkern]

I love making new plants from cuttings. It’s free plants. That’s plant math. I don’t have luck with water propagation. I use perlite, I find water roots don’t transfer to soil very well!

[lorraineblackwell]

Best explanation I have heard of how propagation works with cuttings.

[blitzkreegy]

Excellent instructive video. I have a beautiful Sun Impatiens that it over 8 years old with brilliant deep orange flowers. I have made many many new plants from my mother plant over the years.

[kimberlym.]

I do the same steps as you but I use root hormone and put them straight into pot of soil. So glad I found your channel, New sub here.

[chriscoyle]

Thanks Craig! I'm doing my cuttings today and crossing my fingers for big bright healthy off-springs! Thanks for sharing your expertise

[marysmith]

Thanks so much for your simple, direct instructions without a bunch of extra talk. So glad I found your site.

[robertsheir]

Great Information! Can't wait till I, too, can share my impatients!. THanks!

[MrKhurramshahzaeb]

Awesome easy to understand video. I love New Guinea impatiens

[tabithaandersen]

Awesome information. I got mine for Mother’s Day here in the US and they’re so tall and leggy I was looking for good information on making them look bushy and beautiful and you have given the best information by far!

[beeminty]

I also love to propagate plants from a cutting! So satisfying! This will be my first go with impatiens though. Thank you for the informative video!

[HelenWingfield]

What a great young man!! Ty for such an informative moment

[terrilamusse]

I'm getting my first cutting of this 'parrot flower', ... am so glad I came across this awesome video ... Thanks 😊

[christinaokeefe]

Do you use soil less soil to start cuttings or peat.or can you use any kind of soil.

[stephanieavent]

Followed your technique and I have wonderful roots. However, the leaves look awful and are falling off. What did I do wrong? Will the plant still grow since it has great roots?

[tee-mac]

Thanks bro!! Can’t wait to start propagating, impatiens will be my first. Subscribed!!

[Anneland]

Thank you from San Diego! I’m in the process of cutting down mine, but didn’t want to lose all those precious cuttings. I had no idea I now have a “NEW” small garden of cuttings to regrow…many thanks!!! 🪴🌱🪴🌱🪴🌱

[mother]

This video is the best for pruning impatience

[robertbonaventure]

Excellent video. You presented every single important detail. Thank you.