Using containers for impatiens is a great way to add color to your garden. However, you must remember that you’ll have to take into account a few important factors. The first thing to keep in mind is that impatiens are prone to pests and diseases. You’ll also need to think about soil and water requirements.

Watering needs

If you are planning to plant impatiens in a container, you must ensure that the soil is moist. Impatiens do not grow well in dry, hot, or cold soil. In addition, they can be prone to diseases such as powdery mildew. These diseases can cause your plants to lose leaves and wilt.

It is not necessary to water every day, especially if you live in an area with moderate temperatures. However, you will need to do so at least once a week. You can do so by watering with a soaker hose on low. A mulch is also an effective way to keep the soil moist.

You should never overwater your impatiens. This can encourage fungal disease. Water them in the morning or early afternoon. Otherwise, the sun’s heat can dry out the foliage. Likewise, avoid applying too much fertilizer to your plants. Too much fertilizer can cause your flowers to bloom less frequently.

If you’re planting impatiens in a container, they need more water than they do in a garden bed. In addition, you may need to fertilize more often. To make sure your plants receive enough nutrients, apply a slow-release water soluble fertilizer at least once a month.

When it comes to soil, you will want to incorporate a high-quality potting mix into your containers. It should contain lots of humus, which will improve the drainage of your potted impatiens. Additionally, your container needs to have holes in the bottom.

For best results, you will want to use a water soluble fertilizer that will give your impatiens a boost. Fertilizer should be applied to the pot at the same time you water your plants.

Soil requirements

If you want to plant impatiens in containers, you need to know what soil they prefer. Impatiens need moist and well-drained soil. They also like a high organic matter content. The soil needs to be slightly acidic. You can use soilless mix, such as perlite or vermiculite, to grow these flowers.

The best time to plant impatiens is in the late spring. It should be planted in a container that is able to hold three times the width of the root ball. Make sure to fill the hole with enough compost or peat moss to give the impatiens the nutrients they need.

Impatiens are a great choice for a container garden because they grow together. However, they do require more water than other plants. Water should be given twice a week for plants in full sun, and daily for plants in shade.

Impatiens thrive in partial or full shade. In a shady location, you can make it easier for the plants to thrive by adding some organic matter. This will also improve the drainage of the heavy soil.

Impatiens are usually grown as annuals. You can plant them in beds or pots. Some varieties of impatiens are suited for colder climates. These are available from nurseries or garden centers.

Impatiens are easy to grow. You can plant them from seeds or cuttings. Sow the seeds a few weeks before the last frost in your area. A small hole should be cut in the potting soil and the seeds pressed lightly into the soil. After a few days, you should see the seeds sprout.

You can keep the seeds indoors for up to nine weeks. Once they are mature, you can transplant them to the garden.

Fungal blights

If you grow impatiens in a container garden, you may be exposed to fungal blights. These diseases can damage and stunt your plants. In addition to affecting flowers, they can also cause brown spots or rings on the petals of your plants.

Impatiens are particularly vulnerable to downy mildew. This is caused by a fungus called Plasmopara obducens. The fungus thrives in damp, cool conditions. It grows on the underside of leaves and then spreads through the plant.

When you have downy mildew on your impatiens, you will notice wilting, yellowing, and stunted growth. You will also notice white cottony spores on the leaves. As the disease progresses, the plant loses its foliage and its entire skeleton.

Another impatiens disease that can affect your plants is Botrytis cinerea. This fungus attacks healthy plant tissues and causes stem rot and aerial blight.

If you are growing impatiens in a container garden, there are ways to prevent downy mildew. One is to use vermiculite to provide drainage. A second is to plant your impatiens in a compost-enriched soil. Be sure to keep the soil well-drained and water your impatiens only after the soil is dry.

Fortunately, there is a hybrid line of impatiens called SunPatiens that are resistant to downy mildew. Also, you can add neem oil, an organic fungicide.

The best way to protect your impatiens from fungal blights is to avoid planting them in the same location for several years. You will want to scout your impatiens each week and remove any infected ones.

Impatiens blight was one of the most devastating diseases to hit garden impatiens last year. It wiped out large numbers of plants.

Downy mildew

If you garden with impatiens, you may have noticed some leaves turning yellow and wilting. This is a sign of downy mildew. Impatiens can be easily infected with this disease, so if you have some in your garden, it is best to take care of it immediately.

The disease spreads from plant to plant through the air and through the spores produced by the fungus Plasmopara obducens. Once the spores land on the leaves, they latch onto the plant. When the spores become airborne, they are blown to nearby areas. They can also be deposited in the soil through rain or wind.

Although the spores are not deadly, the resulting downy mildew is. It causes white follicles to form on the underside of the leaves. In addition to the foliar infection, the pathogen can also infect the stems of the plant.

In most cases, downy mildew will cause the foliage to wither and fall. In some instances, it will even kill the plants. Symptoms of the disease include the presence of white speckling or fuzz on the underside of the leaf and yellow spots on the upper leaf surface.

Downy mildew can be especially troublesome on bedding impatiens. Bedding impatiens are not bred for resistance to this disease. However, new breeding methods are being developed to develop a new strain of the plant that is resistant to downy mildew.

Impatiens infected with downy mildew are not treated with fungicides. To treat the disease, a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide should be used. A product such as Garden-phos can be sprayed on the leaves and stems of infected plants. Alternatively, a copper fungicide can be applied to the plants.

Pests

If you are looking for a quick-growing plant that will provide you with plenty of colorful blooms, you should consider adding impatiens to your garden. They are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. They can also be used as filler plants in shaded containers. However, they are susceptible to several pests.

Impatiens tend to be affected by downy mildew. This fungal disease causes the leaves to turn yellow and drop off. You can help prevent the spread of this disease by making sure that the leaves are dry before watering the plants. Using horticultural oils can be helpful as well.

Impatiens are not only sensitive to downy mildew, but they are also prone to insect infestations. These include aphids, thrips and spider mites. It’s best to remove infected foliage and apply a pyrethrin spray if the infestation is severe.

Another way to help prevent insects from infecting your plants is by making sure that the soil is moist. Impatiens are susceptible to fungal rots, so it’s important to ensure that the soil is properly draining.

Although impatiens can grow in a variety of growing media, they are best grown in a soil-less potting mix. Fertilizer can be added to the potting mix, but you should use a slow-release fertilizer.

During the hot months of the summer, impatiens are more likely to experience problems. When the weather is too warm, the soil can dry out quickly. Soil that is too dry can result in sparse foliage, fewer blooms and fungal rots.

Impatiens can be propagated by cuttings. To make this happen, you should cut a couple of three-inch stems from healthy plants and plant them in a pot.