Sickly impatiens

Question

I always plant impatiens every year in same spot and they always do great. But this year (the year of my daughter’s wedding at home) they are looking so sickly. It started in the middle of my flowerbed of impatiens with a few looking like they were dying, drying up leaves starting to dry out. They get plenty of water. Now it is spreading to others. We pulled one up and looked for grub worms but didn’t see any. I don’t see anything on flowers. We have sprayed with insect spray for roots and flower but does not look any better. I don’t know what to do. I wanted them pretty for my daughter’s wedding at home. 🙁

Answer 1

It sounds like there may be a root rot or a bacterial wilt in that spot. Unfortunately, it will stay in that spot for the next 2-3 years and will affect any impatiens that you plant in the ground there. Other than solarizing it (which take a full year), there is no way to get it gone faster. And to plant them there again would just start the clock on the disease again.

I would suggest that you either look to using containers in those spots or try planting a different flower that would not be affected by the disease. Wishbone flowers are starting to become a popular alternative to impatiens. And fuchsias also are a charming alternative.