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Impatiens under Attack

Question: My impatiens were beautiful.  Now, it seems that something is attacking them.  I can't see anything, but the leaves are bumpy underneath and curling under.  What should I do?

Thanks, Marion

 

Hi Marion

I wonder if you are inquiring about new guinea inpatients or impatiens walleriana.

There is a possibility that your plants have impatiens necrotic spot virus. Here is a picture of the damage on impatiens walleriana and the damage on the New Guinea impatiens.

 

 

 

 

 

The leaf distortion that you described looks similar to the distortion found on the impatiens walleriana. A photograph would be more helpful for diagnosis.

Where's your nearest garden center? I would take some of the leaves in a baggie and see if the folks in the garden center can id the problem and offer an appropriate solution or treatment.
Consider the cost though. It may be cheaper to discard the plants and buy new ones than it would be to purchase whatever remedy is required. If you do not have this problem with other plants I would tend to consider that it came with the plants! So be sure to replace with plants from another source!

Alternatively your local Botanical Garden might have people that you can talk to.

Hope this helps.

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