The balsam withers and drops its leaves. Treatment of diseases and control of pests affecting the wet roly flower. Viruses that infect plants
The plant belongs to perennials. In common people he is also called Vanka wet, Touchy and Diligent Lizzie. Its stems are quite fragile, the leaves are oval in shape with jagged edges. Their color varies from green to brown-purple. The flowering period is from May to December.
The main pests on Balsam are insects such as whitefly, spider mites, thrips and mites.
As for diseases, this is gray rot or other fungal diseases caused by excess moisture.
Why do balsam leaves fall off - what to do?
Like many representatives of this species, the leaves fall off due to hypothermia and lack of light. If the plant is on a windowsill, then it must be moved to a warmer place, but with sufficient lighting.
The problem may also arise due to irregular watering. If the soil in the pot is dry, then it is worth increasing the frequency of watering.
In some cases, leaf drop may be caused by pest infestation. In this case, identify the threat and treat the entire plant with a special pest control preparation.
Why do balsam leaves curl - what to do?
Curling of leaves is a symptom of mites or spider mites. Infected parts must be removed, and the flower itself must be treated with a special solution.
Why do balsam leaves turn yellow?
Yellowing of the leaves can be caused by a lack of moisture or the appearance of spider mites.
It is necessary to adjust the frequency of watering and treat the leaves against this pest, after first making sure of its appearance.
Why do Balsam's buds fall off?
Impatiens sheds buds when the soil becomes too dry or waterlogged.
Buds may fall off during the adaptation period, when it was recently purchased and is trying to adapt to new conditions.
Balsam leaves are drying up - what to do?
This means the plant feels a lack of moisture. It is necessary to increase the frequency of watering.
Stems stretch out
The stems stretch due to lack of light and excessively high air temperature in the room.
To avoid problems, move the flower to a brighter and cooler place.
Weak flowering
If the plant blooms weakly, This means he may lack light and nutrients. The problem may also be hypothermia and premature transplantation.
Place the flower in a sunny place where it is warm enough and fertilize with any suitable fertilizer.
Viruses that infect plants
A flower can usually be affected by only one virus - gray mold. This happens due to excessive watering and high humidity in the room.
Signs of gray rot are wilting and falling leaves.
To avoid root rotting, adjust the watering process and replant the plant in a pot with new soil, after rinsing the roots to get rid of the virus in the soil. Water only after the soil is completely dry.
Balsam pests
Spider mite
Signs of spider mites are yellow specks on the surface of the leaves. If left untreated, these specks will later develop into large spots that will be discolored and dry.
Spider mites are small insects that live on the inner surface of leaves.
Typically, the appearance of spider mites is caused by dry air and elevated indoor temperatures. Therefore, for prevention, constantly spray the plant with water.
To avoid the spread of the pest, the affected parts of the flower must be removed. If the lesions are still mild, you can wash the leaves with soapy water or mineral oil.
If the disease is already quite severe, the leaves need to be treated “Fitoverm”, “Akarin”, “Vertimek”, “zipper” or other drugs.
Whitefly
A whitefly is a small insect, two to three millimeters in size with white wings; the insect larvae are also white and they cause the most harm.
The disease can be noticed by the yellowing of the leaves and the presence of specific sticky secretions on them; insects can also be seen on the inside and outside of the leaves.
To resist whitefly, the leaves are treated with special agents, based on potassium soap or other preparations:“Aktellik”, “spark”, “biotlin”, “tanrek”, “bison”, “karbofos”, “inta-vir” and others.
Multi-clawed mites
Multi-clawed mites are small transparent white insects, about a third of a millimeter in size.
Symptoms of multi-clawed mites include hardening and distortion of leaves. They practically do not grow and begin to curl at the edges.
The cause of multi-clawed mites is increased temperature and humidity in the room.
To prevent mites, you need to check the plant regularly.
If the balsam is already infected, use drugs to treat it, such as: “fitoverm”, “lightning”, “vertimek”, “akarin”.
Trips
Signs of this disease are deformation of young leaves, since their growing point is bent under the influence of thrips. Also signs of their appearance are the appearance of spots on flowers and browning of the petals along the edges.
Thrips actively appear in the area of flower stamens and are carriers of bronze leaves.
In order to combat thrips, it is necessary to immediately remove infected leaves and flowers. You should especially carefully monitor young plants, since even short-term contact with pests can cause them to be permanently damaged.
It is necessary to treat the flower against thrips such drugs, like “aktara”, “fufanon”, “aktellik”, “spark”, “tanarek” and others.
Prevention
In order to avoid the occurrence of diseases in the plant, it is necessary to carefully care for it.
Water the flower on time. Do not over-moisten the soil, maintain temperature conditions. The optimal temperature is 12-25 degrees.
To prevent the occurrence of various diseases, fertilize once every 15-20 days from May to September, and periodically wipe the leaves with soapy water and then rinse them with a shower.
How to revive a flower?
In order to revive an already damaged flower, it is necessary to remove the infected areas. The plant itself must be treated with special preparations that help get rid of insects.
If you are afraid of recurrence, re-treat after 5-6 days. This will allow you to get rid of insects that, at different phases of their life cycle, may be immune to the components of such drugs.
If the problem has become gray mold or root rot, then limit watering until the soil is completely dry.
Impatiens is a rather finicky, but beautiful indoor plant. It will be easy to grow if you follow all the requirements regarding watering, lighting and temperatures.
Photo
Fast growing, almost continuously blooming and always elegant, balsams are considered one of the best indoor plants for beginning gardeners. Bright impatiens-lights, which delighted our grandmothers, are still desirable residents of window sills, loggias and garden plots. They respond to simple care with the formation of new buds and shiny foliage.
But this unpretentious plant sometimes becomes a victim of insect pests and pathogens of various diseases. What dangers threaten the balsam flower? How to identify them and, if necessary, provide treatment for ornamental plants?
Most often, the reasons for the weakening of a green pet, its withering or cessation of growth are failure to comply with the required conditions of maintenance or lack of attention. In nature, balsams live in regions with a warm, fairly humid climate, where there are no sudden changes in temperature and, especially, frost.
The minimum permissible temperature for a balsam flower is 13 °C, but if an indoor or garden specimen is decorated with variegated foliage, then the air should not cool below 15 °C. The optimal temperature for flowering is 18–20 °C. In a hotter room, flowers fall off faster and the formation of new buds slows down. In addition, other serious problems are inevitable.
It’s not for nothing that balsam has been called Vanka Mokry since ancient times. Plants are not only extremely critical of soil drying out, but also love moist air.
Asking the question: “Why do balsam leaves fall?”, the florist must analyze the conditions in which the flower is located. Operating heating devices affect both the room temperature and air humidity. The lower it is, the stronger the evaporation of moisture from the leaves, and the balsam weakens faster. This is also caused by frequent drying out of the soil, especially during active growth.
As a result, flowering and the growth of new shoots are inhibited, and the leaves, starting from the lower ones, turn yellow and fall off. Insects and mites often take advantage of this situation.
An excessive decrease in air temperature is also an unfavorable factor. Impatiens cannot tolerate even short-term cooling, so it is better to remove plants taken out into the garden or onto the balcony at night from the second half of summer at night.
Balsam diseases and their treatment
At low temperatures, the need for moisture decreases, so watering must be reduced. If this is not done, the appearance of rot and other diseases and pests of balsam, as in the photo, cannot be avoided.
Among balsam diseases, downy mildew causes the greatest harm to plants located outdoors.
Several years ago, a real epidemic of this disease struck balsams in the United States. The development of infection was facilitated by:
- cool wet weather;
- crowded plantings, in which moisture does not have time to evaporate from the soil surface;
- insufficient attention to plant care.
The first signs of a disease caused by harmful fungi appear at temperatures below 16–18 °C with 100% humidity. The pathogens penetrate the leaf tissue with moisture, and after a couple of days, a healthy balsam flower is transformed. First, a whitish coating appears on the back of the leaves, then they turn black and fall off.
New foliage becomes smaller or growth stops altogether. As a result, only non-viable shoot remnants remain from the flowering balsam. To prevent plant death during cold weather:
- reduce the frequency of watering;
- protect balsams from cold dew;
- take measures to ventilate the room.
At the first signs of the disease, all balsams affected by the disease are removed, and plants are treated with systemic fungicides without visible damage.
Impatiens that are forced to grow in excessively wet soil often become victims of putrefactive bacteria.
An additional factor contributing to the spread of dangerous fungi and microorganisms is low air temperature. In such conditions, plants need less moisture, their metabolic processes and growth slow down.
Rot affects stems in contact with the ground, as well as leaves and other parts of the plant. An infected shoot or leaf stalk turns brown, becomes thinner and dies. The greatest attention should be paid to balsam disease and its treatment if traces of gili are found on young specimens and seedlings that have just taken root.
As a preventive measure, cuttings prepared for rooting must be treated with a systemic fungicide, then repeated treatment is carried out at planting, not forgetting to irrigate the soil at the base of the stem well with the product.
Insect pests, spider mites and balsam diseases
The balsam flower is not only moisture-loving, but also demanding of lighting. With a lack of sunlight:
- the shoots begin to stretch out and become thinner;
- foliage growth slows down;
- buds are poorly laid and opened.
Direct sunlight will also not bring beauty and health to ornamental crops. The balsam flower quickly loses moisture, the natural course of metabolic processes is disrupted, and the plant inevitably weakens.
Similar symptoms can be noticed when there is a lack of nutrients, when the plant has not been replanted or fertilized for a long time. As well as a long stay in dry air, this can attract diseases and pests to the emaciated balsam, as in the photo.
An attack by thrips on impatiens can be recognized by the characteristic deformation of young foliage at the tops of shoots and a change in the appearance of the growing point. As the infection progresses, the appearance of balsam flowers also changes. The edges of the petals become dry, brown, and in the center of the corolla the culprits of the plant disease are easily visible.
Thrips are doubly dangerous, since they not only weaken the flower, disfigure it and prevent it from growing, these pests carry the mosaic virus, another disease of balsam.
Young specimens are more susceptible to thrips infection than adults. The sooner signs of pests are noticed and treatment of plants with insecticides is started, the higher the likelihood of cure and preservation of the decorative value of the crop.
Affected plants are isolated, and damaged parts of the bush are destroyed. Spraying is repeated several times, every 4–5 days, until insects at all stages of development are covered by the treatment.
Aphids that colonize balsams outdoors, as well as thrips, contribute to the spread of various viruses on plants that cause mosaic disease. It can appear in the form of spots of different colors and shapes, gradually leading to the drying and falling of flowers and leaves.
It is almost impossible to cure affected specimens, so they are destroyed and increased attention is paid to preventive measures, that is, the fight against insect vectors.
In addition to aphids and thrips, balsam is threatened by soil nematodes, whiteflies and all kinds of mites.
To get rid of sucking insects, use systemic insecticides or proven home remedies, such as herbal infusions. But mites, as the most frequent “guests” on balsams, require a separate approach.
Among the pests of balsams and their diseases, the spider mite is the most annoying and dangerous enemy of the ornamental crop. Signs of its appearance are easy to notice if you carefully examine:
- internodes;
- leaf petioles;
- back sides of leaf plates.
In addition to the finest cobwebs and tiny yellowish mites, up to 0.5 millimeters in length, the owner of the balsam plant will notice that the plant has become lethargic, the leaves have lost their shine, and the intensity of flowering has noticeably decreased.
The spread of spider mites and other types of mites is facilitated by high air temperatures and low humidity. If you delay in taking control measures, the shoots, leaves and buds of balsam, infested with mites, will become covered with lifeless scabs, the plant will weaken and may die.
Having noticed the presence of pests on a balsam flower, seriously damaged parts of the plant are cut off, and the rest is treated with soapy water. It is best to use green or tar soap for this. The foam applied to the plant is washed off after 5–7 minutes, and the procedure is repeated a week later. If the degree of infection is high, the use of acaricides, for example, Fitoverm, Vertimek and other drugs, cannot be avoided.
Only compliance with agricultural technology and constant attention to flowering balsams will guarantee the health of the plants, their rapid growth and lush flowering both outside the house and on the indoor windowsill.
Treatment of balsam flower - video
Photo gallery (13 photos):
The plant belongs to perennials. In common people he is also called Vanka wet, Touchy and Diligent Lizzie. Its stems are quite fragile, the leaves are oval in shape with jagged edges. Their color varies from green to brown-purple. The flowering period is from May to December.
The main pests on Balsam are insects such as whitefly, spider mites, thrips and mites.
As for diseases, this is gray rot or other fungal diseases caused by excess moisture.
Why do balsam leaves fall off - what to do?
Like many representatives of this species, the leaves fall off due to hypothermia and lack of light. If the plant is on a windowsill, then it must be moved to a warmer place, but with sufficient lighting.
The problem may also arise due to irregular watering. If the soil in the pot is dry, then it is worth increasing the frequency of watering.
In some cases, leaf drop may be caused by pest infestation. In this case, identify the threat and treat the entire plant with a special pest control preparation.
Why do balsam leaves curl - what to do?
Curling of leaves is a symptom of mites or spider mites. Infected parts must be removed, and the flower itself must be treated with a special solution.
Why do balsam leaves turn yellow?
Yellowing of the leaves can be caused by a lack of moisture or the appearance of spider mites.
It is necessary to adjust the frequency of watering and treat the leaves against this pest, after first making sure of its appearance.
Why do Balsam's buds fall off?
Impatiens sheds buds when the soil becomes too dry or waterlogged.
Buds may fall off during the adaptation period, when it was recently purchased and is trying to adapt to new conditions.
Balsam leaves are drying up - what to do?
This means the plant feels a lack of moisture. It is necessary to increase the frequency of watering.
Stems stretch out
The stems stretch due to lack of light and excessively high air temperature in the room.
To avoid problems, move the flower to a brighter and cooler place.
Weak flowering
If the plant blooms weakly, This means he may lack light and nutrients. The problem may also be hypothermia and premature transplantation.
Place the flower in a sunny place where it is warm enough and fertilize with any suitable fertilizer.
Viruses that infect plants
A flower can usually be affected by only one virus - gray mold. This happens due to excessive watering and high humidity in the room.
Signs of gray rot are wilting and falling leaves.
To avoid root rotting, adjust the watering process and replant the plant in a pot with new soil, after rinsing the roots to get rid of the virus in the soil. Water only after the soil is completely dry.
Balsam pests
Spider mite
Signs of spider mites are yellow specks on the surface of the leaves. If left untreated, these specks will later develop into large spots that will be discolored and dry.
Spider mites are small insects that live on the inner surface of leaves.
Typically, the appearance of spider mites is caused by dry air and elevated indoor temperatures. Therefore, for prevention, constantly spray the plant with water.
To avoid the spread of the pest, the affected parts of the flower must be removed. If the lesions are still mild, you can wash the leaves with soapy water or mineral oil.
If the disease is already quite severe, the leaves need to be treated “Fitoverm”, “Akarin”, “Vertimek”, “zipper” or other drugs.
Whitefly
A whitefly is a small insect, two to three millimeters in size with white wings; the insect larvae are also white and they cause the most harm.
The disease can be noticed by the yellowing of the leaves and the presence of specific sticky secretions on them; insects can also be seen on the inside and outside of the leaves.
To resist whitefly, the leaves are treated with special agents, based on potassium soap or other preparations:“Aktellik”, “spark”, “biotlin”, “tanrek”, “bison”, “karbofos”, “inta-vir” and others.
Multi-clawed mites
Multi-clawed mites are small transparent white insects, about a third of a millimeter in size.
Symptoms of multi-clawed mites include hardening and distortion of leaves. They practically do not grow and begin to curl at the edges.
The cause of multi-clawed mites is increased temperature and humidity in the room.
To prevent mites, you need to check the plant regularly.
If the balsam is already infected, use drugs to treat it, such as: “fitoverm”, “lightning”, “vertimek”, “akarin”.
Trips
Signs of this disease are deformation of young leaves, since their growing point is bent under the influence of thrips. Also signs of their appearance are the appearance of spots on flowers and browning of the petals along the edges.
Thrips actively appear in the area of flower stamens and are carriers of bronze leaves.
In order to combat thrips, it is necessary to immediately remove infected leaves and flowers. You should especially carefully monitor young plants, since even short-term contact with pests can cause them to be permanently damaged.
It is necessary to treat the flower against thrips such drugs, like “aktara”, “fufanon”, “aktellik”, “spark”, “tanarek” and others.
Prevention
In order to avoid the occurrence of diseases in the plant, it is necessary to carefully monitor it.
Water the flower on time. Do not over-moisten the soil, maintain temperature conditions. The optimal temperature is 12-25 degrees.
To prevent the occurrence of various diseases, fertilize once every 15-20 days from May to September, and periodically wipe the leaves with soapy water and then rinse them with a shower.
How to revive a flower?
For 
In order to revive an already damaged flower, it is necessary to remove the infected areas. The plant itself must be treated with special preparations that help get rid of insects.
If you are afraid of recurrence, re-treat after 5-6 days. This will allow you to get rid of insects that, at different phases of their life cycle, may be immune to the components of such drugs.
If the problem has become gray mold or root rot, then limit watering until the soil is completely dry.
Impatiens is a rather finicky, but beautiful indoor plant. It will be easy to grow if you follow all the requirements regarding watering, lighting and temperatures.
Photo
Next you will see photos of diseases and pests of Balsam: 
Most likely, your pet’s illnesses will be spared. But it’s not always possible to take perfect care of your flower, because summer has come - it’s time for vacations. What to do if you were away from home for a long time, and upon arrival you discovered that your Balsam was sick? Read the next article, in which we will talk about how to deal with diseases and pests of indoor Balsam.
Impatiens, if they are well cared for, do not get sick more often than other indoor plants. But gross violations of the conditions of keeping the flower can lead to dire consequences.
If moisture often stagnates in the soil, this can lead to diseases of the root system - the so-called Root Rot. At the first signs of disease, the plant can still be saved. Remove damaged roots and replant the plant in new soil with good drainage.
Gray rot
If brown spots appear on the leaves, and the stems become covered with a white coating and begin to wither, the plant has become infected with a fungal infection called Gray rot. Infection occurs only if the watering regime and other vital indicators of maintenance are violated.
In any case, you should urgently transplant the flower into a new substrate suitable in composition for Balsam. Check the pot for drainage holes and a layer of expanded clay. Water the flower with a solution of “Fitosporin” or some fungicide against rot and fungal infection. Do not allow water to stagnate in the pan after watering. Use soft, settled water at room temperature.
In a hot, dry room with stagnant water in the pan, Balsam runs the risk of contracting a disease such as powdery mildew. The pathogen enters the plant along with moisture. After three to four days, spots with a whitish coating appear on the stems. It is precisely by this whitish coating (mycelium) that an infected plant can be recognized. Droplets of liquid appear on the leaves after the spores ripen. Hence the name of the disease - powdery mildew. The lower leaves are affected first - they begin to darken and fall off. Soon, the plaque will cover the entire plant. The balsam may die.
Stop watering the plant. Remove all affected parts of the flower. Spray the flower with a suitable fungicide for powdery mildew (Skor, Fundazol, Topaz). Treating a diseased plant with solutions of copper sulfate, soap solution, and soda ash also helps. It is advisable to feed the bush with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers or, better yet, replant it in new nutrient soil.
Also, due to excess moisture at low temperatures, the leaves of Balsam may become covered with black spots. This dangerous disease is called Bacteriosis. It cannot be treated - the bush must be destroyed so that other plants do not become infected.
Bronzing is another untreatable disease of Balsam. The disease is recognized by wilting leaves and stems, deformation of the leaves, and the formation of holes of different sizes on them. The diseased plant should be destroyed.
Mosaic
We have described almost all the diseases that indoor Balsam can suffer from. At the first signs of illness, begin treatment and take measures to prevent the disease from spreading to other flowers.
Other growing problems
But, if Balsam is grown incorrectly, other problems of a non-infectious nature also occur. Let's consider them too.
If the Balsam suddenly began to shed its leaves, turn yellow and wither, then this is the first sign that it was stressed: there was a sharp fluctuation in temperature, or the lighting changed for the worse, or the flower was forgotten to be removed from a cold draft when ventilating the room, or it became cramped in the room. tiny pot. Analyze all options and correct errors immediately.
With a lack of light and heat, Balsam leaves will curl and fall off. The plant will not bloom. Eliminate the deficiencies in care, and the Balsam will grow new leaves. Similar symptoms occur if an old pot becomes too small for Balsam - it grows out of it. The plant should be transplanted into a suitable container.
If the Balsam does not bloom, but only grows a green crown, then you planted it in a pot that is too large. The flower is trying to weave its roots around the entire earthen lump, and you will have to wait until it copes with this.
There are two options: transplant the bush into a smaller pot or plant a couple of cuttings in this pot, perhaps of a different variety, with a different color of flowers. The root system will master the earthen ball, and flowering will begin faster. When fertilizing, make sure that the fertilizer contains nitrogen in small quantities. It is preferable to use fertilizers high in potassium and phosphorus.
At high temperatures and low humidity, the leaves of the plant droop and flowering becomes sluggish. Adjust the humidity and temperature indicators - and the flower will return to its original blooming appearance.
If Balsam's buds and flowers fall off, then the room temperature is most likely low or the air is too dry. Or maybe you are not watering “Wet Vanka” enough. Poor lighting of his place of residence and an excess of fertilizers in the soil can also lead to this problem.
With a lack of lighting, bright variegated specimens of Balsam may lose their spectacular coloring and become faded and expressionless. In addition, their shoots will begin to stretch, lose their lower leaves and become bare. The decorative effect of the flower will suffer. Place the pot closer to the light source, rotate it around its axis - then the bush will develop proportionally, the color of the leaves and flowers will become intense and bright.
If Balsam's leaves turn yellow in summer, it is due to sunburn. This can often be observed if a young flower is standing in direct sunlight. In winter, the leaves turn yellow due to too low room temperatures.
Pests
Impatiens rarely suffer from the invasion of harmful insects, but, in case of gross violations of their living conditions, they can be affected by small sucking insect pests such as aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and sciarids.
Aphid 
Whitefly
Aphids and whiteflies can fly to you through an open window from a neighboring balcony or from a tree outside the window. They settle on leaves, especially young ones, and feed on their juice. They multiply quickly.
Spider mites appear when indoor air is too dry, especially in hot, dry weather. A thin cobweb appears in the internodes on the stems. Spraying the ambient air and any other methods of humidifying the air in the room helps in the fight against spider mites.
Sciarids are small midges that appear in waterlogged soil. If sciarids are detected, the plant should be transplanted into new soil.
In case of severe pest damage, Balsam is sprayed with insecticides such as Aktara, Aktellik, Fitoverm and others.
Conclusion
Impatiens is an unusually beautiful indoor plant. It can live in your home for a long time and delight you with extraordinary flowering. You just need to rejuvenate it in time, replant it, propagate it and, of course, treat it when it gets sick. We are confident that you will succeed, and your Light will always look very impressive and will become the main decoration of your home.
Mosaic is one of the most common flower diseases. Caused by tomato spotted wilt virus. It is quite simple to recognize the mosaic: first the leaves begin to deform, and after a while yellow spots appear on them. Subsequently, if the fight is not started, necrosis appears on the plant, the stem turns yellow and dries out. As a result, the plant stops growing. This virus has a lot of “hosts”, but thrips is considered its most common carrier. If you notice this pest, then most likely you will have to deal with the mosaic. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for this disease.
Therefore, the best solution would be constant monitoring and monitoring of balsam, and treating flowers with insecticidal preparations.
Insecticidal drug against flower pests
To make balsam more resistant to pests and diseases, you need to provide the flower with proper care. It is better to place flower pots on a window facing south or east - there is more sun there. At the same time, try to make sure that the flower does not receive direct sunlight. For example, cover your plants with a fabric screen. It is also worth remembering that:
- Impatiens need a lot of water. That is why watering should be regular and plentiful. Due to lack of moisture, the leaves may begin to wilt. And to avoid the risk of diseases associated with waterlogging of the soil, it is worth providing a high-quality drainage layer.
- In winter, watering should be reduced. Also at this time, the flower is moved to a cool place with a temperature of no more than 15 degrees.
- Spray the leaves regularly. It is advisable to ensure that water does not get on the flowers.
- In spring, young shoots are pinched. Thanks to this, the flower will become more branched. You should also remove old shoots that absorb water and nutrients, but do not grow or produce flowers.
- From March to November, balsam needs to be fed with fertilizers every 2-3 weeks. Fertilizers must contain nitrogen and phosphorus.
Balsam care