While impatiens plants are normally trouble-free, problems do occasionally develop. Because of this, it is very important to be aware of the most common problems with impatiens flowers and take steps to avoid them before they happen.
With their bright blooms and ability to thrive in shade impatiens are a gardener’s dream. But these annuals can sometimes take a turn for the worse leaving us scratching our heads. If your impatiens are looking poorly, don’t despair! Read on to learn the most common reasons for impatiens dying, along with tips to get them flowering beautifully again.
Check Growing Conditions
Impatiens thrive in moist, rich soil and partial to full shade. Before looking for pests or disease, ensure your plants’ basic needs are met.
Water Impatiens wilt easily so consistent moisture is key. Water at soil level to avoid wet foliage.
Light: Too much sun scorches leaves and flowers. Move pots or beds if sunlight increased.
Soil: Impatiens need loose, humus-rich soil to spread roots. Mix in compost to improve drainage.
Fertilizer: Apply balanced fertilizer when planting and every 6-8 weeks. But don’t overdo nitrogen.
Monitor conditions and adjust as needed. This alone can revive struggling plants. Shelter from wind helps as well.
Watch For Pests
If impatiens continue to decline despite good care, pests may be the culprit. Here are common bugs and symptoms:
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Aphids – Curled, puckered leaves and stunted plants. Check undersides of leaves.
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Thrips – Damaged buds and flowers. Blossoms may be streaked.
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Spider Mites – Speckled, yellowed foliage. Webbing on undersides.
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Mealybugs – Clumped on stems. Leaves turn yellow and drop off.
Isolate and remove badly infested plants. For mild cases, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap. Repeat treatments may be needed.
Identify Disease
Impatiens are prone to several fungal diseases in humid environments:
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Leaf Spots – Small brown spots on foliage. Can spread rapidly.
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Root Rot – Wilting despite moisture. Roots and lower stems blackened.
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Botrytis Blight – Gray, fuzzy fungal growth on flowers, leaves and stems.
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Downy Mildew – Yellowing leaves with white, fuzzy coating on undersides.
Improve airflow and avoid wetting foliage when watering to prevent disease. Remove and destroy affected plants. Treat remaining impatiens with neem oil.
Detect Other Issues
Along with pests and disease, other factors can lead to impatiens problems:
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Bacterial Wilt – Rapid collapse and wilting of plants. Stems ooze when cut. No cure, must discard plant.
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Nematodes – Stunted, wilted plants with yellow, dying leaves. Solarize soil to kill nematodes before replanting.
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Underwatering – Wilting and leaf drop from drought stress. Revive with deep watering.
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Overwatering – Yellowing leaves, root rot, and fungal disease. Allow soil to partly dry before watering.
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Physical Damage – Crushed, broken stems and torn leaves from wind, animals, or contact. Remove damaged growth.
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Cold Weather – Shriveled, blackened leaves and flowers from frost or cold exposure. Protect or move containers.
Best Prevention Tips
While occasional problems will arise, avoid many impatiens pitfalls by:
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Planting in part to full shade areas
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Watering at the base, keeping leaves dry
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Providing air circulation with proper spacing
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Using sterile soil and containers
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Monitoring regularly for pests and disease
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Removing spent blooms and fallen leaves
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Testing soil and adjusting pH between 6-7 if needed
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Turning or replacing a few inches of soil each year
With good growing conditions and early intervention, your impatiens will thrive! Don’t hesitate to remove plants that decline rapidly or fail to respond to treatments. Starting fresh with new soil and specimens prevents spreading issues.
Don’t Give Up!
Impatiens are easy to grow but can be temperamental when conditions aren’t ideal. Monitor their needs closely and don’t panic if problems arise now and then. A little detective work and prompt care will get your impatiens flowering abundantly again. Their wide range of colors and ability to brighten shady beds makes them worth the extra effort.
Do your impatiens have you stumped? With some attention to their preferences and potential pitfalls, you can create lush beds and pots blooming with vibrant impatiens. Don’t let setbacks discourage you. These flowers reward gardeners who learn their particularities and take a hands-on approach. Let your thriving impatiens display be the envy of the neighborhood!
Environmental and Cultural Impatiens Problems
One of the most common problems with impatiens flowers is wilting. This is usually due to moisture stress. These plants need to be kept consistently moist, but not soggy. Water stress can also cause leaf and flower/bud drop. Plants can wilt for a number of reasons, including not getting enough water or being in too much sun. If feasible, they should be moved or grown in a shadier location. Other impatiens problems are due to fertilization. Even though they don’t need much fertilizer in the spring, not giving them enough can make their leaves look mottled. On the other hand, too much nitrogen can cause excessive growth and little to no blooms. If non-blooming is an issue, this is usually the problem. Adding phosphorus to the soil should help correct the issue and encourage blooming.
There are many pests that can affect impatiens flowers. Spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and thrips are common and usually result in curled, distorted, or discolored leaves. Thrips will generally attack the flowers/buds of plants and may carry a virus that affects these annuals. Another pest on impatiens is the tarnished plant bug, which can lead to dwarfed and deformed flowers. Cutworms are likely to blame when plants wilt, start to die, and look like their stems have been cut. Neem oil is a safe and effective treatment for the majority of pest problems. Nematodes also attack these plants, which will look sickly, stunted, and wilted. Foliage may also turn yellow or bronze colored and slowly die. Plants need to be removed as well as the surrounding soil where these pests dwell. Solarizing plant beds and applying diluted fish emulsion when replanting will help keep them away.
There are several impatiens diseases, including fungal blights and rots, viruses, and bacterial wilt. Most fungal issues are a result of wet foliage or overcrowding. Leaf spots and rotting can signal fungal problems. Avoiding wet foliage and ensuring adequate spacing can help. Neem oil can also help treat fungal issues. Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) can be a serious impatiens flower disease that is brought about by thrips. Bacterial wilt is also common. You can tell it when plants suddenly wilt and fall over, and when you cut them, the stems ooze. Plants will eventually rot to the soil line and must be removed and discarded.
Why Are My Impatiens Dying?
Why is my Impatiens wilting?
One of the most common problems with impatiens flowers is wilting. This is usually due to moisture stress. These plants need to be kept consistently moist, but not soggy. Water stress can also cause leaf and flower/bud drop. In addition to watering, wilting can be a result of heat stress, especially if the plants are in too much sun.
Why do Impatiens die if left untreated?
If the soil is too compact or lacking nutrients, the plants may struggle to grow and ultimately die. Impatiens plants can also suffer from pest and disease problems. Common pests include spider mites and aphids, which can cause leaf damage and plant death if left untreated.
Do Impatiens wilt or Die?
If you notice that your impatiens are wilting or dying, here are a few steps you can take to revive them: 1. Water your impatiens thoroughly. If your impatiens are suffering from moisture stress, the first step is to give them a good soaking. Water untl the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
What happens if you overwater an Impatiens plant?
Overwatering your Impatiens plant will cause your plant to wilt, but this will also cause your plant leaves to become mushy, and overwatering your plant can lead to certain diseases like root rot developing. This can easily kill your plant and needs to be treated immediately.