Impatiens Downy Mildew Control
IDENTIFY and CONTROL IMPATIENS DOWNY MILDEW
Early signs include light green, yellowing, or stippling of leaves. You may also see leaf edges curling down or faint gray streaks on the upper leaf surface. White, cotton-like patches on the undersides of leaves is an additional symptom.
Advanced signs include stunted plants or leaf and flower drop (bare stems can occur rapidly). In cool, wet conditions, stem collapse may occur.
The slightest presence of Impatiens downy mildew requires action. The spores of this disease spread by wind and water from rain and overhead irrigation. It can infect new plants overnight, and once the plant has the disease, there is no control. If infected stems are left to rot on the soil, the spores can persist in the soil for two to three years.
If you currently have Impatiens downy mildew, do not compost the infected plants. Instead, seal them in a plastic bag close to the area they were growing in and put them in the garbage. Do not plant Impatiens in the same area for at least three years (the spores can persist in the soil that long).
You can also treat healthy plants with Actinovate, a biological fungicide, on a weekly basis to try and keep the fungus at bay.
The one surefire way to avoid Impatiens Downy Mildew is to plant alternatives like the ones listed below:
- Alyssum (part shade)
- Bacopa (part shade)
- Begonias– all types Coleus
- Dichondra (part sun)
- Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ and ‘Breathless Blush’
- Fuchsias
- Heliotrope (part shade)
- Hypoestes (Polka Dot Plant)
- Lobelia (part shade)
- New Guinea Impatiens (a resistant species)
- Strobilanthes
- Sweet Potato Vine
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)
Garden Pests
Pests are an unavoidable part of gardening, but that doesn’t mean they’re calling the shots.
