A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 help with impatiens

I have been watering plants for someone over the past month while they are out of town. The red star impatiens have been doing fine until about a week ago. Now they are looking horrible--all shriveled. I've been watering them every two to three days. I am thinking that this hasn't been enough, but I'm wondering if getting the leaves wet has anything to do with it (I know this is a concern with snapdragons). Anyone have a thought? Thanks very much!

impatients are very water hungry in my yard, if i don't water them every day they start to wilt and look quite pathetic. they perk right back up with water though - i would try increasing your h20 and see what happens.

good luck!

I don't know where you live or what zone you are in, but I'm located in zone 5 and I have to water my Impatiens every day. Now with this heat wave if I don't water them twice a day they shrivel up and look horrible, so I'm thinking yours are not getting enough water.

Thank you for the suggestions. I have been watering them daily now and they look amazingly better. What a relief that I didn't kill someone else's plants!

Always glad to help out a fellow gardener. I'm glad to learn they are doing better. Impatiens usually respond and come back quickly when they get a good drink of water.