Extra Dwarf Tom Thumb Balsam

After the success of growing the phlox "Vegas Lights", thought I should get another packet of its seed. Did this, but also saw a packet of Extra Dwarf Tom Thumb balsam impatiens balsamina, which caught my eye. They had a very unusual & colourful flower. The packet said that they would flower 10-12 weeks after being planted, so decided to plant them during autumn, which would have them flowering late winter/early spring. Planted 11 seeds 5mm deep, as per instructions. Used a marked chopstick to make holes, in the potting mix, in which to place the seeds. The size of the pot was 25cms. After sowing the seeds & watering the soil, thought I should make a mini-greenhouse using a supermarket plastic carry bag.

Placed the pot outside but in a sheltered spot. The seedlings were supposed to emerge 10-14 days later. Undid the plastic bag & had a peek seven days later & there were four tiny seedling heads poking out of the soil.

One of the larger seedlings.



The next morning.



Day two there were nine seedlings.

Had removed the plastic bag & would bring the pot with its precious cargo of tiny seedlings inside at night so the dreaded slugs & snail couldn't have a feed.

On day three many things were happening. There were ten teeny seedlings then later in the day the eleventh had poked its head through the dirt. So there was a 100% germination success rate. The larger ones started to open their leaves.



Six hours later.



Leaves appear.



The runt pokes its head out.

Go Runt! Whoo Hoo!!!!!!!!

Thanks Bruiser, it certainly did go!! Didn't take long before it had caught up with the others. Three months later they began flowering. Not bad, considering they were growing right through winter.

This flower is a lovely white with a pink throat. They are asymmetrical flowers, quite strange looking.



A coral pink flower.



Soon all the plants were covered in flowers & the plants grew much taller than stated. They are twice as tall as they are supposed to be. The flowers grow down the stems.

There are some wonderful colours. White, white with the pink throat, cherry pink, cherry pink with white splotches, coral, mauve, deep pinks.

Group shots.





Cherry pink with white.



A mauve.