Expert: Mike Mascio - 10/1/2008

Question
I live near Jacksonville Florida and very near the ocean.  I bought a hanging plant on impatiens which said they were for full sun.  The plant was full and bushy and flowering for several months, but now the stalks are spindly with some leaves on the ends and no flowers at all.  Should I cut it back?  Is it dying?  I have given it fertilizer.  I understand over watering can be a problem.  Did I give it too much water?  Thank you for your help.  I love having the plant on my patio.

Answer
Marcie, the plants have most likely lived their course. Like most annuals, the plants will produce for 4-6 months and then begin to decline. That is why amusement parks and other outdoor attractions replace their plants every three months.

Cutting the plant back will help and may result in one more flush of blooms. But at this point I would recommend replacing the plant in the near future.

By the way, you are correct that overwatering is harmful to plants. As a matter of fact, it is the number one reason potted plants die a premature death. The excess water in the soil saturates the roots, making it difficult for the plant to absorb oxygen and nutrients.

I always let my plants dry out completely before watering. I then water very deeply until runoff occurs out of the drainage hole. For indoor plants, there are periods where I do not water for 2-3 weeks. For outdoor plants, depending on the weather, it could be 3 times per week. The key is that the soil should be dry 3" below the surface before watering.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike