When it comes to Impatiens, many people immediately have a warm image of using it to decorate their fingertips in childhood. Since ancient times, people have spread the custom of dyeing nails with impatiens on the Qixi Festival. It is not only a beautiful gift from nature, but also a symbol of women’s pursuit of beauty and elegance. Nowadays, many people are still happy to plant this beautiful shade in a corner of their balcony, which is not only pleasing to the eye but also easy to maintain.
Pure natural fingertip art, with a straightforward and acute personality
The Ming Dynasty poet Yang Weiji once praised the elegance of dyeing nails with hibiscus flowers in his poetry, and one of his lines, “A beautiful woman dyes her fingertips with hibiscus flowers,” vividly depicts the beautiful scene of a woman decorating her fingertips with hibiscus flowers. Impatiens, the “nail polish” in nature, is also known as “henna”, “manicure” and other nicknames. In Suzhou, Jiangsu Province and other places, the traditional customs of picking phoenixes and dyeing nails on Qixi still exist today. This beautiful complex spans time and space and continues to this day. Even in the ancient costume drama “Empress in the Palace”, there is a delicate depiction of hibiscus as a palace manicure, which shows its extraordinary charm.
The process of dyeing armor is simple and full of fun. Mash the hibiscus flower into a paste, gently apply it to your fingertips, wait for a moment, and the natural color will quietly adhere. If you pursue a deeper color, you can wrap it in leaves and wait overnight. When you wake up, your fingertips are already bright and beautiful. However, this seemingly gentle flower actually harbors a “quick witted” temperament, eagerly bursting after the pods mature and sowing the seeds of life.
The whole body is a treasure with wide medicinal value
Impatiens is not only beautiful, but its medicinal value should not be underestimated. From seeds (acute seeds), flowers, leaves to rhizomes, they can all be used as medicine, each with unique effects. Impatiens has a warm and sweet nature, which can dispel wind, promote blood circulation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. It has therapeutic effects on various diseases such as rheumatism, pain, and injuries caused by falls. Due to its rapid medicinal properties, its seeds are called “acute seeds” and are used for the treatment of difficult childbirth, bone spurs, and other diseases. Fengxian bone penetrating herb, also known as its stem, is bitter, warm, and slightly toxic, but it is also a good medicine for dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain. And the leaves and roots of Impatiens balsamina demonstrate their unique value in treating sores, swelling, and toxins externally and relieving rheumatism, bone pain, edema, and other symptoms orally.
However, it should be noted that due to the blood activating effect of Impatiens, pregnant women should avoid using it.
Balcony Planting Tips
Impatiens has a tenacious vitality, and can thrive and bloom in both fertile and barren areas. It prefers warm sunlight and good ventilation, while requiring a soil environment with smooth drainage. Between July and October, it is the most splendid season for hibiscus flowers. During maintenance, attention should be paid to weed removal to avoid competing for nutrients; Timely fertilization, preferably with organic compound fertilizers; Trim the remaining flowers after the flowering period to supplement nutrients and promote more vigorous growth in the following year. In this way, you can easily enjoy the beauty and health from nature on your own balcony.
