Quick Facts - Bordine`s Nursery

Is it Time to
Give Impatiens
Another Try?
Indeed there is good news out there; confirmed reports of the pesky Downy Mildew disease are way down. But when
there are fewer Impatiens planted, the chance of infection is drastically reduced. 21 states confirmed having the disease
in 2014 (we’re not sure on the 2015 numbers yet) but the fact is, the disease is out there. We’ve been hoping that a
breeder might come up with a resistant variety, but until then, we are forced to play the “Impatiens lottery”. For those of
you that are feeling lucky and cherish taking risks, we have decided to bring back Impatiens in limited quantities and
sizes. Most Impatiens will only be sold in jumbo 6-packs and hanging baskets. We will not be selling them for bedding
use. We recommend only planting them in containers that have fresh, high quality potting soil like the Bordine’s brand
sold in the clear bags. Of course, the most conservative approach is to plant shade-tolerant annuals that are resistant
to Downy Mildew. They include New Guinea Impatiens, Begonia, Caladium & Coleus.
Sun tolerant annuals that make great alternatives include Vinca Rosea, Marigolds,
Our
Salvia and Petunias.
Recommendations
for Impatiens in 2016:
*
ARTICLE FROM 2013:
{
1. Plant only in containers or hanging baskets.
Impatiens Disease – Downy Mildew 2013
2014
I
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selling regular and double Impatiens
They include
English
again
this year.Bordine’s,
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local
Gardens,
Ray
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and
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2. Only plant in new, high quality potting soil like
the Bordine’s brand sold in the clear bags.
3. Water in early morning, directing the water to
the root zone keeping the leaves dry if possible.
4. Mix it up! Plant with other plants, avoid
straight species plantings.
*recommendations will not guarantee that
you will win the “Impatiens lottery”
Quick Facts:
Quick Facts
What is Impatiens Downy Mildew?
Downy Mildew is fungal blight very similar in appearance to Powdery Mildew, a common
fungus on garden phlox and lilac bushes. Powdery Mildew is treatable but unfortunately with
Downy Mildew there is no cure and the plant will eventually weaken and die.
What Is Impatiens Downy
Mildew?
What are the symptoms of Impatiens Downy Mildew?
exhibiting symptoms of Downy Mildew may appear different from landscape to
Downy Mildew is fungalImpatiens
blight
very
similar
appearance
toleaves
Powdery
Mildew, a common fungus on garden phlox
landscape depending
on how
advanced thein
disease
is. Early symptoms include
with
light-green yellowing or stippling. The leaves may also curl downward; have gray markings
and lilac bushes. Powdery
Mildew
is fungal
treatable
but unfortunately
on the upper
surface or white
growth on the undersides.
Advanced symptoms include with Downy Mildew there is no cure and the plant
stunted plant and leaf growth, bare plants as the result of leaf and flower drop and softened,
weak stems.
will eventually weaken and
die.
Begonias
How does the disease spread?
Downy Mildew is spread by spores on the undersides of infected plant leaves. Because the spores easily detach from the plant, they
can be spread by wind or water splash. In the landscape, spores can travel hundreds of miles via wind currents, and plants not yet
showing symptoms may unintentionally infect those around them. It spreads most easily in moist conditions. The symptoms for a
homeowner can show up in just a few weeks, even if they purchased clean plants that were disease free. The disease is also capable
of surviving the winter in the soil and on plant debris. Therefore, reinfestation is almost certain.
What are the symptoms of Impatiens Downy Mildew?
Impatiens
exhibiting symptoms of downy mildew may appear different from landscape to landscape depending
What plants are susceptible to this disease?
Downy Mildew affects all types of standard Impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), including doubles, minis and interspecific hybrids such as
on how
the
disease
is. Early
include leaves with light-green yellowing or stippling. The leaves
Fusion.advanced
It is not a problem on New
Guinea
Impatiens (I. hawkeri)
or any of thesymptoms
other popular annual choices.
Is there anything I can do to prevent my plants from getting Impatiens Downy Mildew?
may also
curl
have
grayTheremarkings
on
thethatupper
surface
or white fungal growth on the undersides.
There is no
product downward;
on the market today that will
cure this disease.
is however preventive
fungicides
will help control
Downy
Mildew but only when on an aggressive schedule. Environmentally, this is not a realistic approach since most chemicals need to be
Advanced
include stunted plant and leaf growth, bare plants as the result of leaf and flower drop and
applied everysymptoms
7 days by a certified applicator.
What if I find Impatiens at another retailer, can I plant them and will they survive?
softened,
stems.
Even if the weak
plants are disease
free at the time of purchase, it is just a matter of time before the wind will spread the disease onto those
plants. A trial in Florida, planted in early January 2013, had Impatiens flowering for 4 weeks before the disease took over. In February
of 2013, the disease was a confirmed present in Georgia and South Carolina. It only takes a few of these spores moved by the latest
weather event to spread the problem.
can I plant
in mydisease
yard instead of Impatiens?
How What
does
the
spread?
There are many shade-tolerant annuals that are resistant to IDM including New Guinea Impatiens, SunPatiens, Begonia, Caladium and
Coleus. Sun tolerant annuals that make great alternatives include Vinca Rosea, Marigolds, Salvia and Petunias.
Downy
mildew is spread by spores on the undersides of infected plant leaves. Because the spores easily detach
from the plant they can be spread by wind or water splash. In the landscape, spores can travel hundreds of miles
via wind currents, and plants not yet showing symptoms may unintentionally infect those around them. It spreads
most easily in moist conditions. The disease is also capable of surviving the winter in the soil and on plant debris.
Therefore, reinfestation is almost certain.
New Guinea Impatiens
SunPatiens
Begonias
Caladium
Coleus
What plants are susceptible to this disease?
Downy mildew affects all types of standard impatiens (Impatiens walleriana), including doubles, minis and
interspecific hybrids such as Fusion. It is not a problem on New Guinea Impatiens (I. hawkeri) or any of the other
popular annual choices.
Vinca Rosea
Marigolds
Salvia
Petunias
Is there anything I can do to prevent my plants from getting Impatiens Downy Mildew?
There is no product on the market today that will cure this disease. There is however preventive fungicides that
will help control Downy Mildew but only when on an aggressive schedule. Environmentally, this is not a realistic
approach since most chemicals need to be applied every 7 days by a certified applicator.
What can I plant in my yard instead of Impatiens?
There are many shade-tolerant annuals that are resistant to Downy Mildew, including New Guinea Impatiens,
Begonia, Caladium and Coleus. Sun tolerant annuals that make great alternatives include Vinca Rosea, Marigolds,
Salvia and Petunias.