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Buzzy lizzies
Caz8
Posts: 69
I have had beautiful displays of buzzy lizzies (in pots), but suddenly the blooms have gone, they look like they are dying. Would anyone know if this could be over watering as we have had a lot of heavy rain recently. Or maybe the opposite. If not what am I doing wrong. I have grown buzzy lizzies for years and they normally go onto late September. If antone can help it would be most appreciated
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Mine are the same Caz and I thought it was just me, they were late to flower too soI've probably only had flowers for about 6 weeks
I think it may be the combination of too much rain, then not enough rain and far too much wind 
Thanks orchid lady, I think you have hit it on the head, but the earth doesn't feel wet just damp, do you think I should water them as the wind is probably drying them out.?
I'm not the best person to ask I'm afraid Caz, fairly new to gardening and not made the best job of it!! Although in the last busy Lizzie's are the ones thing I have managed do to grow successfully
Downy mildew has been devastating impatiens for the last couple of years and even if you bought yours from healthy stock they can be affected by the disease as it's carried in the air, rain and overhead watering can be the culprits as it's a water mold. Because these plants like the shade when they are watered they stay damp and can then be susceptible to the disease. Not saying it is that but early signs are a yellowing of leaves, poor growth and then a fuzzy grey mold appears and the leaves and flowers drop off. I wouldn't plant any impatiens in the same place for the next couple of years as the spores can stay in the ground, so you have to be really clean with them. On a good note the New Guinea impatiens seem to be a lot more resilient to it.
Thanks early riser, I don't think this is Downey mildew, as all leaves are green what are left and no mildew they just look leggy and the flowers and leaves are just falling so I have bare stems, do you think if I cut them back they may have a second flourish?
I think it could still be downey mildew. The leaves go a bit yellow, the flowers drop off, then the leaves, all quite quickly. There is a fine white powdery mould under the leaves, but it's not very noticeable. Busy Lizzies actually like water but so does the disease. If that's it then they need throwing away, in bags, not on the compost.
You could try cutting them back to force a more bushy plant but it sounds to me like you may have a soil born pathogen, nothing you have done, it just happens, Water stress can cause leaf and flower drop but don't over water them they don't like to be soggy, just moist and make sure that they are in a shady area. Also don't plant them too close together as that can encourage mold. Sorry can't think of anything else. All the best.
Thanks all, I think ill experiment and just cut them back, I've nothing more to lose. If it doesn't work I will throw them away.
It has been cold these last few days - think it may be that?
Having read through these posts that's what I thought would add to the problem Lizzbusy, especially if the pots are in the open. As well as water stress, as Early riser points out, any plant can suffer from wind stress - the wind transpiring leaf moisture.Whilst I have a small Impatients in a north facing window box it is relatively sheltered and still flowering
slight yellowong of some leaves and the soil is just damp.
Agree, you have nothing to loose by cutting back for new growth. Be interested to hear how it grows