Imaptiens

I am pretty sure that the impatiens are perennials. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, as I am fairly new to gardening and brand new to this forum. My question is: What should I do to prepare my impatiens for colder temps? It has been in the 60's during the day and 40's at night. Whst should I do to prepare them for the colder temps? I live in central Missouri, where the temps average around 25*c in the winter. Thanks for you'r help.

[backyardgardener]

They are annuals where you live. First frost will kill them.

yes, but should I cut them down and cover them up with mulch before the frost hit's?

[Newt]

Hi S&J,
Once an annual is killed by frost, it's dead and won't return unless it drops seed which will grow the following year.

You can pull them out, let the frost kill them off or just do nothing and clean up in the spring. It's up to you. Personally, I tend to either pull them out and shake off any seeds. That way there will be less to clean up in the spring and less chance of undesirable bugs overwintering in the dead foilage.

Newt

[smith489]

Impatients make great houseplants. I would suggest bringing pieces in for the winter and replant them out side in the spring after the frost has passed. =))

Impatiens aren't annuals in that they live for only a short time,
but they are tropical (as evidenced by that they are quite weedy
in Hawaii where I live). As smith489 says, you can bring them inside,
though they probably will get leggy. My Mom (in Germany) does, and
it works for her. If they get too leggy for your taste you can cut them
back, they'll grow back from that too. If they go to seed where you
are (they do here, but I have no idea what pollinates them) they may
grow back from seed too - I don't know whether seeds will survive
frost.

Aloha,

Maren

[Lily789]

I overwintered impatiens before by moving them inside (treating them like regular houseplants) and they lost all their leaves and became a bunch of leggy stems. They refused to grow and became all miserable and starting to die. I prefer to collect seeds, store them over the winter, and sow them the next year.