Comments on: Impatiens care

By: majid shahrouzi

majid shahrouzi — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:22:48 +0000

Leggy and spindly plants
hi dear the leaves of my impatiens become long and slim what can i do.

Hi
If the stems are getting spindly and leggy, they can be pinched back and given a 1/2 dose of a balanced(10-10-10) fertilizer to encourage new bushy growth. Be careful not to overfertilize as that will also cause leggy growth and no flowers.

By: Winnie

Winnie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:57:32 +0000

I share the same predicament with one of your reader here. My impatiens are losing their color and the buds doesnt bloom. They opened up a little and then died off. I think didnt overwater them nor did I over-fertilise them. Need your expertise here. Thanks !

Hi Winnie
There’s in not enough information for me to asses what could be going on with your impatiens. Are in a warmer climate where impatiens grow year?

By: Dave

Dave — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:53:07 +0000

I live in downtown Richmond, VA and traditionally have had wonderful blooming & vibrant impatiens which seemed to be the case for this year as well. I decided to plant some Tomato plants in pots along side my impatiens and also started off well, however about a month ago my tomatoes seem to have caught some sort of mold / disease ( believe it is “Gray Mold” …. or so I have read and for which I was told nothing could be done?). Now it seems that my impatiens have contracted some sort of fungi / mold where the leaves and blooms are turning white, somewhat botchie? Is this indeed something from my Tomatoes? Is there anything that can be done? I’ve never had this problem in years past?? Never have had tomatoes in past years either.
Thanks for your advice and expertise.

Hi Dave
It’s possible that the gray mold fungus(Botrytis) on the tomatoes has spread to the impatiens. Botrytis thrives in humid, damp conditions with cool nights and spreads at temperatures of 65-75F. Spores are spread by wind, splashing rain from one plant to another. You can spray the plants with an approved fungicide (check the label) to keep the disease from spreading but will not stop already infected plants. Remove all infected plant material at the end of the season so that it doesn’t return next year.

By: David Huntoon

David Huntoon — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:36:29 +0000

What can i do if our impatiens in hanging baskets are getting too much water from too much rain here in massachusetts. We have already lost 4 baskets .

If possible, move them to a sheltered area until the rains are gone. Also be sure the containers are draining water. Too much water will cause root rot. We have that same problem here. I move my plants to my porch whenever I can to avoid the rain and let the baskets dry out.

By: Marlene McConnell

Marlene McConnell — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:01:14 +0000

I, too, have been having trouble with my impatiens. I think my fertilizer had too much nitrogen. Can I reverse the nitrogen content somehow so they will continue to bloom?

Hi Marlene
If your impatiens are in a container then you can try to leach out the fertilizer but if they are in soil, then the only thing you can do is water to dilute the fertilizer or wait for the plant to use it up. You may get some lush plants that will eventually bloom.

By: Linda

Linda — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:36:16 +0000

My impatients are not blooming as they usually do. Too much fertilizer or too much water?

Hi Linda
Hard to tell what the problem is-most likely fertilizer. Have you been feeding them? Is the foliage lush and green? Excess fertilizer will cause leggy green foliage but no flowers.

By: Janet Bryars

Janet Bryars — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:05:02 +0000

Thanks for info on impatiens. I have a pot full that are very tall and leggy. You say they can be pinched back. Excatly what does that mean? CanI merely snip them off at 6 inches or so? Or is there a point on the stem that will be best? The plant seems otherwise fairly healthy. Just not too pretty any more. I appreciate the qweb help.–Janet

Hi Janet
Pinch your impatiens at the internodes. The space on the stem between the leaves. It will send out new growth at the node (leaf joint).

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:27:00 +0000

I have a double impatien plant which I kept over the winter and probagated to make about 8 new plants did very well and the new plants looked healthy and nice. I then put them outside for the summer with new potting soil. The potting soil, (actually I used two different potting soils on two different occasions)was supposed to be organic. Anyway, now the leaves are small and slightly curly and there are not new buds on the stems. It is this way with all the plants even though I used different potting soil. Do you have and answer for this?

Hi Mary
It may be that the new plants are waiting for warmer weather. I don’t think it is the potting soil-unless it drains poorly. Other than disease, small curly leaves can indicate some type of cultural stress, either too much water, too cold or too much sun. Are the leaves discolored or have any spots on them?

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:47:00 +0000

My impatiens seem to be loosing their color. They were so vibrant when I bought them at the store but now they’re planted it’s like the pink is draining out leaving a pale pink/white petal. I’ve noticed some of my other flowers doing the same. It has only been a week since planting and I used Osmocote fertilizer when planting + new Miracle Grow potting soil. Never had this issue in this location for the past 3 years. Help!

Are they in the same location? Have you had a lot of rain?

By: nickie

nickie — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:42:09 +0000

thx for the tips on how to take care of my impatints! i really needed it! =) =P