Expert: C.L. Fornari - 8/26/2008

Question
This year I have planted over 100 Impatiens, I have given over 50 plants away, I have been away and come back to find all of the flowers have gone leaving just the stems,the plants in the tubs and baskets don't seem to be affected. My friends plants have also suffered. Is there some kind of virus around?

Answer
Paul,
Plant viruses cause the entire plant to be distorted and perhaps yellowed - they don't cause flowers to disappear. Animals however,do eat flowers and leaves and leave stems.  Might you have rabbits, deer, or woodchucks?  Look at these plants in the early dawn hours or late evening and if they continue to disappear then you have an animal at work.  The fact that the ones in tubs and baskets haven't been touched leads me to think that there is an animal at work here.

You might try one of the animal repellants - Deer Stop or Liquid Fence work for deer and rabbits although nothing much works for woodchucks except a covering of floating row cover or chicken wire.

I hope this helps,
C.L.