i'm doing without them this year -- bummer all round. i used to line my shady front walk with them, which was lovely. as i have a good-sized garden bed along the walk, there will be plenty of other stuff there in the few hours of sun it gets (daylily, lily, phlox, rudbeckia triloba, geranium, etc). but in my wall pocket containers that usually have impatiens, i am trying a small fuchsia, browallia and a torenia. we'll see if that works out!

a local fine nursery has a huge impatiens sale at the beginning of the season every year (buy by the flat @ $10/flat) in every shade of the impatiens rainbow. this year, they didn't because of the present problem -- did coleus and begonias instead, which aren't my "thing"...

The impatiens I grew from seed over the winter are doing fantastic. They look a million times better than the sad fare at even the better nurseries, they're spreading massively, and no sign of mildew. Knock on wood... They've been through a rough spring and are tough as nails. Well, for impatiens! We'll see how they fare throughout the summer.

I usually plant about 250 but after last year's disaster--all died--I will not buy them again until they solve the problem--if they do.

I am substituting with New Guinea impatiens in a few containers and garden spots but they are too expensive and fussy to replace I. wallerana. I am also trying Browallia 'Endless Sensation' in a few places. It is really pretty!

Coleus and begonias don't do it for me either so the above plan still leaves a lot of dark empty holes :( .

My seed-grown ones aren't blooming yet but do look healthy.

Here's a planter with 3 impatiens plants from seed, 3 coleus, 1 heuchera and 2 caladium. The caladium won't sit still in the wind. ;)

Nice looking planter! - And yeah - I think growing impatiens from seed is the safer way to go. Though I didnt have a very good germination rate on them, the 6 that made it to adulthood are blooming and looking happy in the garden.

Nice arrangement! Wish I would have started my caladiums earlier.This cool wet weather isn't helping either.My few impatiens are looking good but also needing some warmth.
Rose,Iowa

Thanks, mandolls and 715rose!

You know, I have 3 other caladium bulbs I planted inside in March, I think, and only 1 grew (the one on the left in the photo). The other one I had to buy. I thought the other 3 were gonners. Then, lo and behold, the other 3 started growing again out of nowhere. One had produced multiple leaves and the others are on the move. I can't explain it.

Much like my datura seedlings, I think you literally need to put the pot somewhere out of site and forget about it for a while. Threaten to throw it out. Call it names. Then and only then will it grow, if it decides it wants to!

So far so good with the dozen I picked up. I've been watching them carefully and no obvious signs of the disease...yet. I really wanted to pick up another dozen from the place that claimed they were "treated' from the source. But several days ago with my last visit, all of what they had left (20 trays) were beginning to fall apart...diseased.

Oh well the Begonias are beginning to look better although I said I didn't like them. Oh well, it's been a different year.

"...the place that claimed they were "treated' from the source."

I wouldn't go back there!

I haven't had any problems with impatiens. I still have some that I planted last year and they're fine.

Purple:

Actually that place is the best one around. It's a hidden jewel of sorts tucked away in the mountains on the GA-TN line with gigantic three and six pack annuals and the like. No comparison to the big box stores, along with prices, but by early June all the good stuff is generally gone.

I grow my own every year and last year they did great until they all died.

Mine grown from seed this year is also starting to go. Don't know if it's from all the rain and cooler weather we've been having.

After losing my Impatiens last year like everyone else, I decided to give it another go. Here is a picture of one of them. Notice none of the blooms will open. Otherwise, nice and healthy plant.

They get a couple of hours of morning sun, I don't over water them, and I feed them about every 2 weeks.

I read that blooms not opening is due to not enough sun. I don't agree, but I'm putting them in more sun beginning this morning.

Do you all think lack of sun is the problem? They get 2-3 hours of direct morning sun.

{{gwi:8146}}

double post

This post was edited by oakleyok on Tue, Jul 2, 13 at 10:13

Gamountains, I'm sorry if my comment was upsetting, not trying to do that, just an objective observation I would have made about any store after reading a comment like that.

If it's not possible to prevent or cure this disease, what does it mean that the plants were treated? Applying a treatment, and having the treatment actually work are 2 different things. Anyone can say any plant is treated for anything. I can sprinkle herbs or cinnamon, or spray a plant with milk or use some store-bought stuff of some kind, and honestly say my plant is treated, but none of this stuff is said to work, and why this disease is so devastating.

As you said after, "But several days ago with my last visit, all of what they had left (20 trays) were beginning to fall apart...diseased."

So sadly, the treatment didn't work, if I'm understanding what you said correctly.