Having felt pretty happy with myself I began to tie another bag onto an almost ripe seed pod when suddenly it burst and flung it’s contents in every which direction. As you may have already known, I’m a big fan of my Impatiens niamniamensis. Water the plant regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy. Although the plant will grow in partial sunlight in a cool climate, it won’t tolerate bright sunlight or hot summers.The plant performs best in rich soil, so dig in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure before planting.Caring for Congo cockatoo impatiens is simple and this colorful, vigorous plant thrives with minimal attention. The common Impatiens walleriana we grow at work don’t seem to go to seed, perhaps due to some glitch bred in during the hybridising process. A layer of bark chips or other Fertilize the plant twice during the growing season, using If you live in a cool winter climate, you can grow Congo cockatoo impatiens indoors in a pot filled with good-quality commercial Place the plant in low or filtered sunlight. Having only had my I. niamniamensis for a little over a season and a half now this is the first year I’ve managed to get it to seed. Whilst I don’t like to play favorites, this species of impatiens really impresses me. The common Impatiens walleriana we grow at work don’t seem to go to seed, perhaps due to some glitch bred in during the hybridising process.Having only had my I. niamniamensis for a little over a season and a half now this is the first year I’ve managed to get it to seed. This season something different happened. Congo cockatoo impatiens tolerate temperatures as low as about 35 degrees F. (2 C.) but the plant won’t survive even a light frost. I had originally thought that I. niamniamensis might have left it’s pollinators at home somewhere in central Africa, I was wrong. Freshly-picked seeds are rarely seen for sale. There is large volume of marginal zone 7-8 plants that I’m tempted to test outdoors, but have opted to take the safe route and bring them inside. This website occasionally uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. 97% of my tropicals have found warm homes either in my house, cold frame or the greenhouse at work. Sow Impatiens niamniamensisseeds on the surface of a Peaty seed sowing mix at about 22°C. Sign up for our newsletter. When one finds himself with a crippling plant collecting addiction one should be wary of making his roommates uncomfortable due an excess of plant “clutter”. The Parrot Impatiens (Impatiens niamniamensis) is also known as the "Congo Cockatoo". It's a perennial species from tropical Africa that typically grows 2 to 3 feet tall, but it has grown 4 feet tall for me. As a general rule, one weekly watering is sufficient unless the weather is hot, but always water immediately if the foliage begins to look wilted. Who knew it would get this bad, it’s like an episode of hoarders. Congo cockatoo impatiens prefer a location in full shade, especially if you live in a warm, sunny climate. Sow Impatiens niamniamensisseeds on the surface of moist compost, use a translucent cover to allow light in and to keep the compost humid and warm (do not place in direct sunlight) Maintain a very high humidity until germination. It features three shelves with moving growing lights to accommodate different sized plants. Ho Hum. I’ve read they’re easy enough to grow from seed so I’m going to give it a shot with the fresh ones I’ve collected.Everything is coming along quite nicely. Keep the potting mix lightly moist by watering when the top of the soil feels dry, but never let the pot stand in water.Fertilize the plant twice during spring and summer, using a regular fertilizer formulated for indoor plants.Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: It’s exotic flowers, strange bonsai trunk and pure exotic nature make my imagination run rampant. Really though I did my very best to reduce the cluttered look and I’ve jigsawed the collection into a tasteful display. While I’ve often heard impatiens referred to as “Touch Me Nots” because of their exploding seed pods I’ve never actually seen it happen.