Re: Impatiens Downy Mildew

**S* M* <s*@gardenmediagroup.com>**

Costa Farms' Proactive Fight Against Downy Mildew offers solutions to impatiens disease for home gardeners and landscapers

Miami, Florida February 24, 2012-Costa Farms, the leading bedding and indoor houseplant grower in North America, is getting ahead of the downy mildew disease that is infecting Impatiens walleriana or standard garden impatiens.

"Downy mildew is only infecting Impatiens walleriana," explains Dr. Kate Santos, director of research and development for Costa Farms. "Gardeners can be assured it is not infecting other plant species like New Guinea Impatiens and SunPatiens."

Plasmopara obducens, the type of downy mildew that's attacking impatiens, has been reported in several states and first made its appearance in the Palm Beach County area of Florida in late 2011. At this time, downy mildew cannot be cured after it is detected; only prevented.  

"The best defense is a strong offense so we at Costa Farms have initiated a 3-prong approach to alert people about the disease, prevent infestation, and provide alternatives to have healthy, beautiful plants in their landscape," explains Santos.  "We're determined to help contain and minimize the spread of this disease."

Know the symptoms. The time from infection to the appearance of symptoms varies from about 5 to 14 days. Be on the lookout for early leaf symptoms of the disease.

Laura Sanagorski and Bill Schall, environmental and commercial horticulture extension agents at the University of Florida's IFAS Palm Beach County Extension, reported that young plants and new growth are most susceptible to the disease. 
"Signs are yellow or light green foliage with speckling on the infected leaves, and then a white, downy-like growth composed of spores visible on the underside of the infected leaves," explains Santos.

Santos warns that sometimes the first sign is a downward leaf curling. She says if unchecked, eventually the leaves and flowers will drop, resulting in bare stems with only a few tiny, yellow leaves remaining.

One of the keys is weather. "Cool temperatures, moist air and wet foliage are ideal conditions for the disease that is spread by air or water movement," says Santos.  

An ounce of prevention.   Sanagorski and Schall suggest that prevention is the most effective management strategy. They recommend eliminating nighttime watering and excessive fertilization to help avoid or reduce the occurrence of the disease.
"If infected impatiens are discovered, immediately remove the entire plant-roots, leaves and top part of plants, put into a plastic bag, tie it off and dispose," explains Santos. 

Costa Farms is currently using preventative measures that will protect its crops from downy mildew for several weeks after leaving the farm. 

"Consumers can feel confident that Costa Farms is employing every measure to protect the plants prior to leaving the farm," says Santos. "We'd like to remind consumers to only plant impatiens in beds that have not previously shown symptoms of downy mildew."
Alternatives.  The good news is there are plenty of bedding plants that are ideal replacement for standard impatiens. 
"If your impatiens are in the shade you may lean to begonias or New Guinea Impatiens," says Santos, "and if your garden is in the sun, plant SunPatiens, phlox and petunia or lobelia.

"Remember, check your bedding impatiens and use alternative flowers to create that wow color you love for your garden this year," she adds.

For more information or to see a gallery of alternative flowers to replace, visit www.costafarms.com.
# # #

About Costa Farms: Costa Farms is the largest producer of indoor houseplants in the world.  Founded in 1961 by Jose Costa, Costa Farms is a third generation, family owned business that globally stretches over 3,800 acres and employs 2,800 people.  Along with thriving indoor and bedding plant divisions, Costa Farms operations are located in Florida and North Carolina, and abroad in the Dominican Republic, and Far East.

Suzi McCoy
520 W. State Street
Kennett Square, PA 19348
Phone 610-444-3040
Cell 610-220-8400 

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-----Original Message-----
From: gardenwriters-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [g*@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of C.L. Fornari
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2013 11:10 AM
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
Subject: Re: [GWL] Impatiens Downy Mildew

John wrote:  "Has anyone here written about the developing Impatiens downy mildew problem, and how it will affect home gardeners? If anyone has written about it, a link would be appreciated." I wrote an article for the Feb or March issue of Prime Time Magazine - it's not online yet but I'll send you the link when it appears. (Don't remember which issue becaues I deliver my articles three months in advance. It's crossed off my list, out of my brain, and at the mercy of the editor.) My focus in this article is alternatives since this area was hit HARD by IDM for the past two summers. One point I tried to stress in the article is that the way many Cape Cod landscapes are managed are practically a prescription for IDM: the plants are put in during a month that's still cool and damp in this area (May) because people "Have to get all my annuals in before Memorial Day." Then they are watered by automatic irrigation systems that are set to go off either daily or every other day at th
 e coolest part of the day: 5 or 6 AM! If people insist on planting I. walleriana again this year they should wait until sometime in June to plant and turn off that blasted automatic irrigation! (I tend to rant when it comes to these systems.) I'll pass on the link once it's up.  all the best,
 C.L.

www.gardenlady.com
 blog www.wholelifegardening.com
 "Looking for relaxation and inspiration? It's all in your own backyard"
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