Caring for Begonias and Impatiens in Hot Weather: Watering, Fertilizing, and Bloom Tips

Gardening in the northwest corner of Alabama means dealing with intense summer heat—today it hit 100°F. As a new gardener, you’ve brought home 10 potted begonias and 4 potted impatiens, drenched them with Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster, and placed the impatiens on the front porch while the begonias sit at the porch’s edge. You’re wondering if this setup is ideal, how often to water, and what else you can do to keep the blooms big and abundant all summer.

Watering: The Daily Check

Since your plants are still in their original pots, they’ll need daily watering in this heat. On cloudy or cooler days, you can cut back. For the first week, lift each pot to gauge its weight—dry pots feel light, wet ones heavy. After watering, lift again to learn the difference. Soon you’ll be able to tell at a glance whether a plant needs water just by picking it up.

Best Watering Technique

Soak each pot thoroughly, then go back and soak them all a second time. Wait until the soil is dry (pots feel light) but the plants aren’t wilting before watering again. Begonias are prone to crown rot if the soil surface stays constantly moist, so only water when the top layer is dry.

Fertilizing: Less Is More

Never fertilize a thirsty plant. Ignore labels that suggest feeding every time you water. Instead, fertilize every other week, and only after you’ve watered. Impatiens are easy-going and will flower well into fall if you avoid over- or under-watering and go easy on the fertilizer.

Quick Summary

• Water daily in extreme heat; adjust for cooler days.
• Soak pots twice per session, then wait until dry.
• Fertilize every two weeks, post-watering only.
• Impatiens thrive with consistent moisture and minimal feeding.

With this routine, your begonias and impatiens should stay lush and blooming all season.