My busy lizzies appear to be going on strike

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Have seven pots of white trailing impatiens plants (suspended from railing on terrace) and they have bloomed spectacularly well from the start of the season until last week.

Then they started to go a bit brown around the edges, the leaves are looking a lighter shade than normal and they are not flowering as frequently ....one of the plants has died as we took a chance being away for two nights last week and of course it was one of the hottest days of the summer ....and I think it got too dry

I had the same variety last year and they flowered right through until mid September as far as I can recall.

Do you think they have suffered from getting too dry? Or do you think they need feeding?

What should I do? We have a big event coming up at home at the end of August, and I would like them to recover for that if possible ...any advice gratefully received ... thanks!!!!

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Anyone?

[Uriel]

I'd feed them. I use Miracle-Gro.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Thanks Uriel .. was getting a bit impatiens there

Live abroad (mainland Europoe) but sure I can find Miracle-Gro equivalent - will get some tomorrow

Just slightly concerned because they all look a bit diseased ....

[Uriel]

Diseased? Hmm. What do the leaves look like exactly? Lack of feeding can make the leaves paler - to the point of going yellow and falling off.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Hi again Uriel

Sorry - just got back in -

the little leaves along all the stems are starting to turn brown and the big leaves are yellow/light green in colour - not healthy green as they were before

they've been flowering so prolifically all summer that I was thinking they may have outgrown the nutrients in the pots ....

[Uriel]

You can get these water-retaining mats that you can stand plant pots on - that could help if you go away? I usually use some of that water-retaining gel mixed in with the compost when the plants first go in the pot.

Let me know if the feeding works for you. I've used a combination of Miracle-Gro granules on top of the compost and Miracle-Gro liquid feed every now and then and my plants are massive and covered in flowers.

[Countingthegreyhairs]

Uriel - that's great advice - thanks a million

will let you know ....