Bottom Leaves Of Impatiens Are Turning Brown

Question From: Prospect, Connecticut, United States
Q: Am I overwatering my New Guinea impatience plants if the bottom leaves are turning brown? They are in sun, so we have been watering them every day and they look beautiful except for the bottom leaves now

A: My guess, and it is a guess that your plants have some sort of fungal disease. In hot dry weather they may need daily watering, but the secret is to keep the water off the leaves. I use a long handled watering wand. It the leaves begin to wilt or drop off treat them with a fungicide. The problem is you will need to be sure to spray the bottoms of the leaves. I'd use a product called Serenade or Natria Disease Control, both of which are organic and OMRI listed. Best Nancy