Expert: Long Island Gardener - 7/7/2010

Question
I have several double flowered impatiens that have an odd flowering problem.  As the flower develops the outer covering gets brown and papery and won't allow the flower to open.  It deteriorates and drops off.  Any ideas?

Answer
The problem you are describing has a name:  BUD ABSCISSION. Sounds like a moisture problem to me.  Get the hang of watering these, and they'll bloom so beautifully they'll practically sing to you.

Impatiens are not drought tolerant.  But they are not moisture-tolerant, either.  And double Impatiens are a little tricky, so they are more sensitive to less-than-perfect care.

When you water these, take the whole pot and completely saturate the Soil.  That may mean immersing it for 5 or 10 minutes underwater.  Not HOURS or DAYS, just a long time -- long enough to replace air pockets with H2O.

When you lift the pot, it should feel heavy.  Remember what that weight feels like.  The soil will be dark.

And wait.

Don't water again until needed and DO NOT CHEAT.  If you have other plants you are watering, don't walk past these and say, Oh, As long as I'm here, why don't I just sprinkle a little on the Soil of these Impatiens?  DO NOT DO THAT.

Instead, wait.

Watch the color of the Soil as it turns paler.  Lift the pot and feel it get lighter.  When the Soil feels dry, the pot feels light, the surface is not as dark as it was after you watered it, it will be time to water again.

That means SATURATE the Soil, the way you did at the beginning of this treatise.

Don't fertilize these.  They don't need it, not unless you are growing them in pure water or sand.  Most Soil has plenty of vitamins and minerals and everything you need to grow a great garden.  Don't waste your money.  Notice I am not a spokesman for Miracle Gro.  So I have nothing to gain.  You will spend less and you can buy more Impatiens, or perhaps a beautiful pot.

There are actually a long list of reasons for bud abscission, Nancy.  Alabama Cooperative Extension posts its analysis, which includes sensitivity to Ethylene and lists it as a possible explanation for bud drop.  They also include some tricks of the trade for professional Impatiens growers on their website:

www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1113/ANR-1113.pdf

They also state: 'Water stress causes leaf and flower bud abscission.'

Case closed.  Thanks for writing.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER