I bought some impatiens on sale?
Question:i know theycan get quite "leggy" so if they do can icut them back and if I do will they re flower again?
Answers:
Yes you can cut them back and refertilize them. Impatiens are the worst plants to grow leggy if you don't pinch them on a regular basis. I grow them professionally and we have to cut back alot, we use the four finger process, hold the plant from the bottom of the stems where your thumb ends up, start cutting. Impatiens come back year to year because they drop their seeds and a few of them survive the winter and sprout in the spring. As far as buying plants on sale, nothing is wrong with that, just be prepared to cut back and fertilize. If the rootball is tight just make a couple of slits at the bottom and plant as usual, this will encourage new root growth, this is done in the greenhouse industry all the time. Good luck to you and remember pinch off the old blooms on all your plants for continued flowering.
Yes, I do it all of the time. I live in zone 9 where impatiens can become perennials if you cut them back, they will regenerate new shoots and blooms. Just don't cut the ones that do not have any leaves sprouting at the ground level until they do or you will kill them. Cut at the node (you will see a slight ring around the stem) right above the new leaf growth at the ground. Fertilize them right away to promote growth and re-blooming.
Cut them back, it will help them, but buying "on sale" annuals is never a great idea! If they are root bound you should tickle the the soil so they can continue growing, otherwise the roots will continue to grow in that little ball and choke itself out. I bought 2 trays of double inpatients for $53, I almost choked, but if you want beautiful flowers, go for the younger ones and give them plenty of water! Good Luck!!
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