| For some reason my Snapdragons, Pansies & Impatience are starting to wilt. I water them every evening and I use Miracle Grow once a week on them. Could the humidity and dry air cause them to wilt? What can I do to make them bloom and look beautiful again? |
| in the late afternoon. Often you will find that they perk up again as soon as it cools off, and look better in the morning than in the evening. If this is the case, you may actually be watering enough. Having said all that, I should mention that pansies really prefer cool weather and will sulk when the temperatures turn hot. Some gardeners use them as spring and fall plants and replace them for the summer for this reason. You might try cutting them back in late August and see if they rejuvenate to make a nice fall show; if they are in pots you might try setting them in a cooler location until the temperatures begin to come down. Snapdragons also tend to bloom well in the spring and early summer then take a bit of a rest and come back strong in the fall. Deadhead them (cut off spent flowers) regularly to encourage blooms. If it seems they are resting, cut them back to about four inches, topdress with compost and continue watering. They should come back to bloom for you in the fall as well. Impatiens are tropical plants and enjoy the heat, so they are often a mainstay of the summer planting. They do best in shade to part shade, so if they are in sun you may find that they wilt no matter what you do until the weather cools off a bit. in the late afternoon. Often you will find that they perk up again as soon as it cools off, and look better in the morning than in the evening. If this is the case, you may actually be watering enough. Having said all that, I should mention that pansies really prefer cool weather and will sulk when the temperatures turn hot. Some gardeners use them as spring and fall plants and replace them for the summer for this reason. You might try cutting them back in late August and see if they rejuvenate to make a nice fall show; if they are in pots you might try setting them in a cooler location until the temperatures begin to come down. Snapdragons also tend to bloom well in the spring and early summer then take a bit of a rest and come back strong in the fall. Deadhead them (cut off spent flowers) regularly to encourage blooms. If it seems they are resting, cut them back to about four inches, topdress with compost and continue watering. They should come back to bloom for you in the fall as well. Impatiens are tropical plants and enjoy the heat, so they are often a mainstay of the summer planting. They do best in shade to part shade, so if they are in sun you may find that they wilt no matter what you do until the weather cools off a bit. |
