The bud like thing is how it gets it's name. When you touch the pod it
should explode and curl up and drop it's seeds. It's Impatient.

If you cut off this early it will help the plant last longer. I have kept
my impatient thru the winter. The only problem is that they get leggy.
Hope this helps
"gort" wrote in message
...
hi, we have impatiens indoors in pots, when the flower dies and drops off
it
leaves a little bud like thing. are these like rose hips, ie better cut
off
so the plant uses its energy on only making flowers not seeds.

we want to maximize the number of flowers, so should we prune off these
things?

thanks for any comments