Expert: Mike Mascio - 10/3/2008

Question
Have lots of impatients and slowly something started eating the stems and leaves from bottom up, front of house and back stems gone, and then of course plants dies, leaves have small black spots,  not all plants infected jumped all over from plant in ground to in pots.  Last year it started,  did regiment of mircle grow, and insecticide.

Answer
I'm not sure if you've actually seen the insects, but the symptoms you have described sound more like a fungus disease that is slowly infecting the plants.

I use a product called Soap-Shield from Gardens Alive. It is a copper-based fungicide that is highly effective against black spot and other diseases.

If you have seen insects and suspect they are doing the damage, I would recommend spraying pyrethrum once every three days until the insects are gone.

Also, be sure to plant the impatiens in organic soil comprised of compost, peat, and aged manure. Organic soil deters insects and wards off disease. It also supplies a constant source of nutrients to the plants.

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

Regards,

Mike