I have the same problem with busy lizzies this year,which is rapidly destroying every plant within hours of replacing or initial planting.Flower petal all over the ground below pots and then buds,stem and leaves stripped within hours.Spraying slug pellets have no effect.Plants in borders are the same.no sign of slug trails.Could it be mice,pigeons or sparrows.It's notrain as it happens within hours regardless of weather. HELP!!
I planted nine containers of Busy Lizzies. Every container is completely decimated. My neighbour also has the same problem. Through, looking at various sites I found out that there is a virus affecting Busy Lizzie's which is exacerbated by damp wet weather. Which we certainly had this summer.!! Most sites give the advice not to plant busy Lizzie's in the same spot for several years. If you're using a container the advice to thoroughly wash and disinfect because SPORES remain for several years. However, the good news is, it doesn't seem to affect other plants. I'm off to look for some winter flowering pansies. Hope this is of use to you.
i have had this problem with busy lizzies being stripped of their leaves and flowers for three consecutive years' i do have problems with small snails,but i would have thought other plants would be affected.i always disinfect containers before use and fresh compost each year is used .this problem is annoying.im wondering earwigs.
Downy Mildew disease has been widespread in 2011, and my normal bedding busy Lizzies have been infected and died.
However, the larger flowers New Guinea Impatiens do not get this disease, and I don’t think the varieties called SunPatiens get downy mildew either.
Otherwise, looking ahead to 2012 I’d recommend people grow something different.
The Busy Lizzy market is said to be valued at around £25million, so the loss of this market could have a big impact. However, most gardeners and parks departments will grow an alternative, so perhaps this won’t have too much impact on commercial growers.
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within hours.Spraying slug pellets have no effect.Plants in borders are the same.no sign of slug trails.Could it be mice,pigeons or sparrows.It's notrain as it happens within hours regardless of weather. HELP!!
Most sites give the advice not to plant busy Lizzie's in the same spot for several years. If you're using a container the advice to thoroughly wash and disinfect because SPORES remain for several years. However, the good news is, it doesn't seem to affect other plants. I'm off to look for some winter flowering pansies. Hope this is of use to you.
However, the larger flowers New Guinea Impatiens do not get this disease, and I don’t think the varieties called SunPatiens get downy mildew either.
Otherwise, looking ahead to 2012 I’d recommend people grow something different.
The Busy Lizzy market is said to be valued at around £25million, so the loss of this market could have a big impact. However, most gardeners and parks departments will grow an alternative, so perhaps this won’t have too much impact on commercial growers.