I was having wonderful luck with my impatiens until a week ago. Several leaves started to turn yellow and the blossoms began to shrivel. Do you think it is a fungus or perhaps a parasite may be killing the roots? What is your opinion? Margaret
Answer
Hi Margaret,
The most common reason impatiens leaves turn yellow is because of improper watering, i.e. too much water. Allow the soil to dry out between watering's. Actually allow the plant to show you when it's time to water. The plant will droop a little and that will be the sign you need to water. They should only need watering every 2-3 days. Make sure there is a hole in the bottom of the pot to allow for drainage of excess water. When you water, only water in the morning and allow the plant to dry out during the day. Too much water stresses the plant and hinders the plant roots from breathing and creates an environment that encourages fungal diseases to set in. Every year before planting impatiens, you need to sterilize your pot and plant them in new planting soil, so you don't get 'Impatiens Blight'. I would start by adjusting your watering and see what happens.
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About Linda Lillie
Linda K. Lillie is the President of Sprigs & Twigs, Inc, the premier
landscape design and maintenance, tree care, lawn care, stonework, and carpentry
service provider in southeastern Connecticut since 1997. She is a graduate of
Connecticut College in Botany, a Connecticut Master Gardener and a national
award winning landscape designer for her landscape design and landscape installation work.
