Green Tail Balsam – Flowering plants

Green Tail Balsam (Impatiens coelotropis) is an ornamental flowering plant that grows up to 40 inches tall with ranches slender. It has fleshy, ovate-lance-shaped, wedge-shaped leaves that are pointed or rounded at the base, distantly sawtoothed at the margin, pointed or short-tapering at the tip. The scarlet blossoms are borne in leaf-axils, solitary or two together. The bloom-cluster-stalks are 1-3 cm long. The lateral sepals ovate-lance shaped, hoodlike, keeled and the lip is sac-like, about 1 cm across, bright green, spur tubular, upcurved, and appressed to lip. Wings are 2-lobed; basal lobe semiovate, larger than oblong-sickle shaped distal one. Capsules are ellipsoid-spindle-shaped and the seeds are kidney-shaped, compressed, papillose, pale brown.

Scientific classification

Family: Balsaminaceae
Genus: Impatiens
Species: I. coelotropis
Scientific Name: Impatiens coelotropis
Common Name: Green Tail Balsam

How to grow and care for Green Tail Balsam (Impatiens coelotropis)

Light

It thrives best in bright indirect sunlight to partial. In an area with very hot summers, plant them in partial shade, or shade them from the afternoon sun. An excessive amount of sun may cause browning of foliage, though a lot of shade may make the balsam plant leggy and flowerless.

Soil

It grows well in an evenly moist, organically rich, well-drained, peat moss-based potting mix.

Water

Water regularly, Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Flowering plants are thirsty, and they dry out quickly in containers, so check them often. Impatiens will quickly wilt if they are allowed to dry out.

Temperature

It prefers average room temperatures 60°F – 75°F / 16°C – 24°C. In winter do not let the temperature fall below 13°C (55°F).

Fertilizer

Fertilize every two weeks from spring through fall with a high-potassium liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation:

It can be easily propagated by seed or stem cuttings. Sow impatiens seeds in spring or early summer. Germination takes 10 to 20 days at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Take 10 cm stem tip cuttings in spring or summer. They’ll root easily in water or moist soil.

Pests and Diseases:

Green Tail Balsam is susceptible to Spider mites, flower thrips, root-knot nematode, whiteflies, and aphids, especially under glass. Caterpillars outdoors. Gray mold, impatiens necrotic spot virus, fungal leaf spots, Rhizoctonia stem rot, Pseudomonas leaf spot, and Verticillium Wilt. If insect or disease problems occur, treat early with organic or chemical insect repellents and fungicide.