Thread: Impatiens?
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Old 04-09-2003, 11:02 AM
Toni
 
Posts: n/a
Default Impatiens?


"RF" wrote in message
news:qvt5b.343683$YN5.234217@sccrnsc01...
All,
I bought these hanging basket impatiens from sams club and they bloomed
wonderfully, however, this past month they have started to die to the

point
that the plant is 1/3 of it's original size. I watered daily, what did i

do
wrong? It has been hot this summer.



You're in an *aquarium* plant newsgroup, but I'll bite...

You didn't mention your zone?
In most hot summer climates impatiens are used as an annuals- meaning you
plant them, enjoy their color, and let them go at the end of the season. If
you have a long fall period you may be able to get some more time out of
them if they are well fed. You are feeding them, right?

Trim back all the stems to two or three inches- don't totally denude them as
they need some leaf to live, but a good hard cut back nevertheless. Feed
with a very mild solution of a 20-20-20 food. After they have produced new
growth stop feeding N and give a good bloom booster like 0-33-10 or similar.
And while impatiens like to be well watered they do not like wet feet over
the long haul and will develop fungus problems. If the soil is soggy you've
watered too much, and water only in the very early AM hours.

Or you could always go to Home Depot and pick up some new impatiens- I see
'em for 3/$1.00. Then feed them regularly and cut back a stem or two every
week and they'll last much longer.


--
Toni
Sunny South Florida
Zone 10