Expert: C.L. Fornari - 5/13/2008

Question
My Mother bought me 3 new guinea impatients hanging baskets for mother's day.  They are hanging from my porch.  Today I noticed that 1 of the plants is very droopy,  I'm afraid that it may have gotten too cold last night.  I have it in the house right now.  Do you think it will die or will it come back?  The other two seem fine

Answer
Phyllis,
Only time will tell if it will recover if cold was responsible...put the back at outside during the day and bring it indoors at night as long as the temps at night are below 50 degrees. Once they are reliably above 50 every night you can leave it out.  If the soil is already damp don't water - you don't want the plants to rot from too much water.  Check too to see if the plant might have gotten bent or broken in the trip to your house - sometimes a plant will wilt if the stem has been bent or crushed. If that's the case, clip off the stem at the bent area and perhaps it will come back if there is more than two inches below the break.  If the plant remains wilted for three or more days and you think it's because of the cold, clip the stem in half leaving some leaves below where you cut, and give the plant a WEAK liquid fertilizer after you water. (Never fertilize a thirsty plant!)

I hope this helps!

C.L.