Why Are My Impatiens Flowers Dying?

Are there no blossoms and the plant wilts in the summer?

Does your plant have too much foliage, but only a few flowers?

Is the plant stunted, leaves yellowed and the roots have lesions on them?

Are the flowers deformed or dwarfed?

Is the plant suddenly wilting and the stems rotting at the soil line?

Do the leaves have yellow or brown spots on them and the plant is stunted?

Are the leaves, stems, and buds distorted?

Do the leaves have large, ragged holes in them?

Excessive heat or dryness in summer often causes impatiens to stop blooming and wilts. Keep watering and they will begin to bloom again when the weather cools. Use organic mulch to cool down the soil. If it is early in the season, transplant young plants to a shadier site.

Excessive nitrogen will cause impatiens foliage to develop excessively and the plant won't have any energy to develop flowers. Use a slow-acting, granular fertilizer in the spring instead of fast-acting, liquid fertilizer.

These symptoms are caused by root-knot nematodes. Prevent root-knot nematodes by applying chitin or introducing parasitic nematodes to the soil before planting. Another preventative method is fertilizing impatiens with fish emulsion diluted in water which is then poured on the soil as a drench. It repels nematodes.

Tarnished plant bugs inject a plant-deforming toxin as they feed on young leaves. Trap them with white sticky traps or treat plants with a commercial pyrethrin spray or dust in the evening to control severe infestations. The best way to prevent this pest is through a thorough fall and spring cleanup. This will prevent it from overwintering.

These symptoms usually indicate bacterial wilt. Yellowish masses of bacteria ooze out when the stems are cut. Remove and discard in the trash severely infected plants and garden debris. Disinfect used tools by dipping them in a solution of hot water and household bleach. Potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants are vulnerable to this same disease.

Several fungal diseases cause these symptoms. The best strategy is to promptly remove and discard badly infected plants with their soil in the trash to prevent the spread of the fungus to other plants. Control weeds in and around the yard. Avoid overwatering. Space plants further apart to prevent crowding.

Distorted leaves, stems and buds are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Large, ragged holes in the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. Slugs and snails feed on the plant leaves usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

If the seedlings are dying the probable cause is a damping-off disease. Damping-off is caused by various soil fungi. Damaged seedlings can't be healed so, the best course of action is to remove them. To prevent damping-off let the soil surface dry between waterings, thin seedlings to avoid overcrowding and do not add nitrogen fertilizers until plants have developed leaves.