PlantFiles: Impatiens
Impatiens 'Fusion Heat'

Culture Information

- Best planted in morning sun/afternoon shade
- Vigorous and well-branched, this series is ideal for large, highmargin containers and baskets
- Unique flower form and colors stop traffic at retail
- Flowers grow above the foliage
- Can withstand cooler temperatures
- Culture similar to Fiesta™

Propagation
- Choose a well-drained medium with an EC of 0.75 to 0.80 mmhos and a pH of 5.6 to 5.9
- Stick cuttings within 12 to 24 hours of arrival. Cuttings can be stored overnight, if necessary, at 45 to 50°F (7 to 10°C)
- Soil temperature should be maintained at 68 to 74°F (20 to 23°C) until roots are visible.
As soon as is practical, mist should be reduced and then removed from Fusion Impatiens. This will help decrease stretch of the rooted cutting

- Begin fertilization with 75 to 100 ppm N when roots become visible. Continue at this rate as roots develop.
- Fusion Impatiens should not require pinching during propagation

- As the rooted cuttings develop, high light (1,200 to 1,500 f.c./12,000 to 15,000 Lux), appropriate water
stress and moderate air temperatures should reduce the need for chemical plant growth regulators (PGR)

- Under low light and warm environmental conditions, cuttings of Fusion Impatiens will stretch while in propagation. An application of Bonzi, applied at day 4 to 6 (2 to 15 ppm spray) will decrease stem stretch

-Fusion Impatiens rooted cuttings should be ready for transplanting 21 to 24 days after sticking

Growing On to Finish
Media
- Use a porous, well-drained, soilless medium.
- A pH of 5.8 to 6.2 is optimum

Temperature

- Nights: 55 to 60°F (13 to 16°C)
- Days: 68 to 75°F (20 to 24°C)
- Fusion Impatiens should be scheduled as a mid to late Spring season crop when day temperatures are moderate and light levels are higher. This will lead to maximum flowering and the best possible habit

Light

- Plants grow best under moderate light intensity; 4,000 to 6,000 f.c. (40,000 to 60,000 Lux) is optimum
- Higher light levels will lead to elevated air temperatures in the greenhouse which will reduce plant quality
- Reduce light intensity when temperatures are high to prevent flower and leaf burning as well as bud drop
- Plants will stretch at light intensities below 3,000 f.c. (30,000 Lux)

Watering

- Keep growing media moderately moist. If the media stays too wet, plants will stretch rapidly, flower less while producing more vegetative growth and finished quality will suffer
- As plants mature, moderate water stress will promote flowering and reduce stretch

Fertilizer

- Maintain constant fertilization at 150 to 200 ppm N
- Excessive nitrogen will promote reduced flowering
- Excessive phosphorous and ammoniacal nitrogen will promote unwanted vegetative growth. Both should be provided in very limited quantities
- Leach pots periodically with clear water to avoid build-up of salts
- Controlled-release fertilizer can be used to supplement a liquid feed program but must be applied at a moderate rate

Pinching

- Fusion Impatiens do not require pinching. However, plants grown in larger containers (10 in./25 cm +) can, under low light and warm environmental conditions, benefit from a single pinch applied 10 to 14 days after transplanting
- Florel can be used on Fusion Impatiens to increase branching and remove flower buds. Rates will vary with individual growing conditions, but a range of 200 to 300 ppm can be used as a guideline. Florel should be applied as soon as new growth is seen after transplanting, but not within the final 8 weeks of production. Florel can be applied 1 to 2 times, depending on local conditions and container size, at 7 to 10-day intervals

Controlling Growth

- Grow plants with adequate light and space
- Avoid high ammonium and phosphorus fertilizers and do not over-water
- Bonzi (5 to 15 ppm) applied as a spray 1 to 2 times can be used to control growth of Fusion Impatiens
- These recommendations for plant growth regulators should be used only as general guidelines. Growers must trial all chemicals under their particular conditions

Common Problems

Insects: Thrips, aphids, fungus gnats
Diseases: Pythium, Rhizoctonia

All Fusion Impatiens cuttings are derived from culture and virus-indexed stock from the Ball Certified Plants® program

The most important disease and insect problem associated with Fusion Impatiens is Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV), which is transmitted by thrips. Control of thrips is necessary to avoid INSV. In North America, contact your Ball sales rep or call the Ball Technical Services team at 800 879-BALL for information on INSV identification and thrips control. Outside of North America, contact your local distributor.

Problem: Plants collapse
Causes: Stem canker (Botrytis); Plants grown in saturated soil for extended period of time (Pythium)

Problem: Excessive vegetative growth, lack of flowers
Causes: Excessive nitrogen; Excessive phosphorous; Over-fertilization under low light conditions; Low light; Over-watering

Problem: Foliage necrosis, leaf spot
Causes: Drying out between waterings

Problem: Yellowing foliage
Causes: Iron deficiency associated with high pH

Problem: Poor branching, thin plants
Causes: Low fertilization in early stages of crop

Fusion Impatiens Crop Schedule & Uses

Unrooted cuttings:
4-In. (10-Cm) Pots 1 PP* 9 - 12 weeks
6-In. (15-Cm) Pots 1–2 PP* 10 - 12 weeks
10–12-In. (25–30-Cm) Pots 3–5 PP* 13 - 15 weeks

Rooted cuttings:
4-In. (10-Cm) Pots 1 PP* 6 - 9 weeks
6-In. (15-Cm) Pots 1–2 PP* 7 - 9 weeks
10–12-In. (25–30-Cm) Pots 3–5 PP* 10 - 12 weeks

*PP: Plants per pot or basket
Note: Growers should use the information presented here as a starting point. Crop times will vary depending on the climate, location, time of year and greenhouse environmental conditions.