Commercial Production of New Guinea Impatiens

HIL #526 Revised 8/99
Douglas A. Bailey, Professor
Department of Horticultural Science
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
North Carolina State University

New Guinea impatiens have steadily increased in popularity since their introduction into the U.S. in 1972. Today's varieties offer a wide range of flower colors as well as variegated foliage types. The versatility of this plant allows for its sale as bedding plants, 4 inch potted plants, and up to 12 inch hanging baskets.

Propagation
New Guinea impatiens are started from rooted cuttings, except for Spectra F1 hybrids, which are grown from seed. Most cultivars are patented, so do not take cuttings of New Guinea impatiens unless you are a licensed propagator or you are certain you are growing a non-patented variety. A 3/4 to 1 inch tip cutting is the best material to propagate. Root cuttings using 72 to 75 °F bottom heat in a mist bed. Cuttings root in 8 to 18 days, depending on the variety; most well-drained substrates are adequate for propagation purposes.

Substrate Selection and Potting
Plant rooted cuttings in a well-drained substrate that does not contain a large nutrient charge; New Guineas are very susceptible to salts injury. A substrate pH of 5.8 to 6.2 is preferable for a soilless substrate. Substrates containing 20% or more mineral soil by volume should have a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. The number of cuttings per container depends on the container size and the production schedule. In general, use a single cutting for 4 and 5 inch pots; two for 6 inch pots; three to four for an 8 inch and four to five for a 10 to 12 inch basket.

Pinching
Newer New Guinea impatiens varieties are free-branching and do not require pinching. Pinching will delay flowering by 2 to 3 weeks. Pinching can be used as a timing device to delay flowering, if necessary.

Watering
After potting, water only with clear water (no fertilizer) for the first two weeks. New Guineas grow best if the substrate is allowed to dry out between waterings, but not to the point of severe wilting. Avoid overwatering plants throughout production.

Nutrition
Do not over fertilize New Guineas. They are susceptible to salts injury. Micronutrient toxicities can occur if substrate pH is too low. Excess micronutrients cause dieback of the growing tips, marginal necrosis of leaves, and eventual plant collapse.

Fertilization should begin once roots are visible in the soil ball at the edge of the pot. Use 100 to 150 ppm nitrogen, 50 to 75 ppm phosphorus, and 100 to 150 ppm potassium at each watering, once plants are established. If fertilizer is not applied at every watering, then use 300 to 350 ppm nitrogen, 100 ppm phosphorus, and 300 to 350 ppm potassium every third watering. Use recommended saturated media (paste) substrate tests and foliar analysis test levels for New Guinea impatiens as guides to monitor the crop's nutrient status (Tables 1 and 2).

Table 1. Recommended saturated media (paste) substrate test ranges for New Guinea impatiens grown in a soilless substrate.*

pH
EC
NO3-N
NH4-N
P
K
Ca
Mg
Na
Fe
Mn
Zn
B
5.8 to 6.2
1.5 to 2.25
75 to 125
0 to 10
5 to 10
75 to 125
100 to 200
30 to 70
0 to 20
0.3 to 3.0
0.02 to 3.0
0.3 to 3.0
0.05 to 0.5

*From the University of Minnesota. Units for EC are dS/cm (mmhos/cm). Units for all elements are ppm.

Table 2. Recommended tissue analysis standards for New Guinea impatiens.*

Macronutrients (%)

Nitrogen

2.5 to 4.5

Phosphorus

0.3 to 0.8

Potassium

1.9 to 2.7

Calcium

1.0 to 2.0

Magnesium

0.3 to 0.8

Sulfur

0.13 to 0.75

Micronutrients (ppm)

Iron

150 to 250

Manganese

100 to 250

Zinc

40 to 85

Copper

5 to 10

Boron

50 to 60

Mo

1 to 10

*From the University of Minnesota.

Light
Full light is needed during winter and early spring. A minimum of 3000 to 4000 footcandles (fc) is suggested. Too low of a light level reduces variegation and color intensity in leaves and results in poor flowering. Apply shadecloth if light levels exceed 6000 fc to avoid sun burn of foliage.

Temperature
Proper plant development requires relatively warm temperatures. After rooting, use a 65 to 68 °F night temperature and a 75 °F venting temperature. Night temperatures above 72 °F can cause a delay in flowering and should be avoided. Once plants are well established, the night temperature can be dropped to 62 to 64 °F.

Height Control
Excessive stretching is best controlled through maintaining high light levels, adequate spacing, and proper fertilization and watering practices. Many of the newest cultivars have a compact growth habit and do not require chemical height control. For cultivars that stretch, use a foliar spray of Bonzi™ at 5 to 30 ppm. New Guinea impatiens also respond to a negative DIF, and height can be controlled by maintaining slightly higher night temperatures than day temperatures.

Spacing and Scheduling

Spacing too close will result in excessive stretching. After cuttings are potted, maintain pot to pot spacing until plant canopies reach the edge of the pot. Afterwards, space out according to need (Table 3).

Table 3. Spacing and scheduling recommendations for New Guinea impatiens.

Pot or basket size (inches diameter)

Spacing (inches)

Number of cuttings per container

Weeks from potting to finish

4

7 x 7

1

6 to 8

5

8 x 8

1

7 to 9

6

10 x 10

2

8 to 10

8

14 x 14

3

8 to 10

10

18 x 18

4

12 to 14

12

20 x 20

5

12 to 14

The timing of New Guinea impatiens depends on several factors, including cultivar, light level, temperature, number of cuttings per pot, and pot size. Use Table 3 as a guide in scheduling your New Guinea crops.

Cultivars
The number of varieties available to growers increases each year. A recent survey conducted by Clemson University concluded that growers are producing the following percentages of each flower color for their New Guinea impatiens hanging baskets: reds = 30 to 35%; pinks plus pink bicolors = 45 to 50%; lavenders = 10 to 15%; and whites = 5%. This is a good starting point in planning a marketing mix for colors. The problem arises when trying to determine the percentage of leaf colors and variegations. Table 4 lists many of the currently available cultivars to assist in cultivar selection. The final column in Table 4 indicates the landscape performance of many of the cultivars. The performance ratings are from annual bedding plant trials conducted at NC State University and Clemson University. These ratings should assist growers in selecting cultivars best suited for the Southeastern landscape.

Table 4. New Guinea impatiens cultivars sorted by flower color.

Flower Color

SeriesZ

Cultivar

Leaf Color

Variegated Foliage?Y

Growth HabitX

Landscape RatingW

White

Baby Bonita

White

Medium Green

No

1


White

Celebration

White

Medium Green

No

2

3.4

White

Celebrette

Frost

Medium Green

No

1


White

Danziger

Waltz

Medium Green

No

3

2.1

White

Harmony

White

Medium Green

No



White

Lasting Impressions

Innocence

Dark Green

Slight

3

2.8

White

Paradise

White (Moorea)

Medium Green

No

2

2.6

White

Patriot

White

Medium Green

No

3

3.6

White

Pizzazz

White (Jose)

Medium Green

No

3


White

Pot O’ Gold

White

Medium Green

No

2


White

Spectra

White

Dark Green

Yes

2

2.8

White

Sunshine

Cirrus

Medium Green

Yes

4

2.2

White

Sunshine

Milkyway

Medium Green

Yes

3

3.5

White

Twice As Nice

Allegro

Medium Green

No

2


White w/ Pink Eye

Paradise

Pearl White (Improved Samoa)

Medium Green

No

3

4.0

Light Pink

Bull

Melanie

Dark Green

No

3

3.4

Light Pink

Celebration

Blush Pink

Medium Green

No

2

4.1

Light Pink

Celebrette

Light Pink

Medium Green

No

1


Light Pink

Harmony

Light Orchid

Medium Green

No

2


Light Pink

Harmony

Light Pink

Medium Green

No

2


Light Pink

Java

Pearl

Medium Green

No

2


Light Pink

Lasting Impressions

Illusion

Medium Green

No

4

4.6

Light Pink

Paradise

Light Pink (Woya)

Dark Green

No

3

3.5

Light Pink

Patriot

Soft Pink

Medium Green

No

3

3.9

Light Pink

Spectra

Light Pink Shades

Medium Green

Yes

3

2.1

Light Pink

Sunshine

Equinox

Bronze

Yes*

3

3.4

Light Pink

Twice As Nice

Canon

Medium Green

No

2


Pink

Baby Bonita

Mid-Pink

Medium Green

No

1


Pink

Bull

Barbara

Medium Green

No

2

1.4

Pink

Bull

Doerte

Bronze

No

2


Pink

Bull

Lisa

Medium Green

Yes**

2


Pink

Bull

Tina

Dark Green

No

3


Pink

Celebration

Deep Pink

Dark Green

No

2

3.7

Pink

Celebrette

Hot Pink

Medium Green

No

1


Pink

Harmony

Pink

Medium Green

No

2


Pink

Java

Pink

Medium Green

No

2


Pink

Lasting Impressions

Rosetta

Dark Green

No

3

2.3

Pink

Patriot

Pink

Medium Green

No

3

3.6

Pink

Pizzazz

Light Pink (Juan)

Dark Green

No

3


Pink

Pot O’ Gold

Pink

Medium Green

No

2


Pink

Pure Beauty

Light Pink (Kallima)

Bronze

No

2

1.9

Pink

Pure Beauty

Rose (Aglia)

Medium Green

Yes**

3

3.7

Pink

Sunshine

Gemini

Medium Green

Yes

5

3.3

Pink

Twice As Nice

Minuet

Medium Green

No

2


Pink

Twice As Nice

Waltz

Medium Green

No

2


Dark Pink

Bull

Doerte

Dark Green

No

3

2.0

Dark Pink

Celebration

Electric Pink

Dark Green

No

3

4.0

Dark Pink

Celebration

Sangria

Dark Green

No

3


Dark Pink

Celebrette

Pink Jewel

Medium Green

No

1


Dark Pink

Danziger

Dandin

Dark Green

No

4

3.6

Dark Pink

Danziger

Dangal

Medium Green

No

3

4.9

Dark Pink

Harmony

Magenta

Medium Green

No

2


Dark Pink

Paradise

Deep Pink (Bonaire)

Dark Green

No

3

2.9

Dark Pink

Patriot

Pink Salmon

Medium Green

No

2

3.0

Dark Pink

Pure Beauty

Fuchsia (Apollon)

Dark Green

No

5

4.4

Dark Pink

Pure Beauty

Magenta (Jolana)

Dark Green

No

5

4.0

Dark Pink

Pure Beauty

Pink (Dark Delias)

Medium Green

No

1

4.2

Dark Pink

Sunshine

Enterprise

Dark Green

Yes

4

0.0

Dark Pink

Twice As Nice

Etude

Medium Green

No

2


Pink w/ Rose Bicolor

Celebration

Candy Pink

Dark Green

No

3

2.9

Pink w/ Rose Bicolor

Lasting Impressions

Impulse

Medium Green

No

3

4.9

Pink w/ Rose Bicolor

Twice As Nice

Duet

Medium Green

No

2


Pink w/ Fuchsia Bicolor

Liberty

Lilac & Red

Dark Green

No

4

4.1

Pink w/ Fuchsia Bicolor

Paradise

Fuchsia on Lavender (Improved Guadeloupe)

Dark Green

No

2

3.6

Pink w/ Fuchsia Bicolor

Pot O’ Gold

Purple Bicolor

Dark Bronze

No

2


Pink w/ Rose Bicolor

Celebration

Rose Star

Medium Green

No

5


Pink w/ Red Bicolor

Paradise

Red on Pink (Pago Pago)

Dark Green

No

2

3.8

Pink w/ Red Bicolor

Pure Beauty

Lavender on Purple (Octavia)

Medium Green

No

4


Pink w/ Red Bicolor

Pure Beauty

Red on Pink (Neptis)

Medium Green

No

4

3.5

Pink w/ White Eye

Paradise

Pink Frost (Tortola)

Medium Green

No

3


Light Pink w/ Fuchsia Eye

Celebrette

Apple Blossom

Medium Green

No

1


Pink w/ Red Eye

Paradise

Tahiti

Medium Green

No

2

3.6

Pink w/ Purple Eye

Danziger

Danlight

Dark Green

No

4

2.9

Pink w/ Purple Eye

Harmony

Purple Eye

Medium Green

No

2


Pink w/ Lavender Bicolor

Paradise

Orchid on Blue (Tonga)

Dark Bronze

No

1

3.8

Light Salmon

Celebration

Light Salmon Improved

Medium Green

Yes

3


Light Salmon

Harmony

Light Coral

Medium Green

No

2


Light Salmon

Pure Beauty

Light Coral (Melissa)

Dark Green

No

3

4.2

Lt. Salmon w/ White Eye

Celebrette

Peach

Bronze

No

1


Salmon w/ White Eye

Paradise

Salmon Flare

Dark Green

Yes*

2


Salmon

Baby Bonita

Salmon

Medium Green

No

1


Salmon

Bull

Alice

Medium Green

No

3


Salmon

Bull

Flora

Bronze

No

3


Salmon

Bull

Marien

Dark Green

No

3


Salmon

Celebration

Salmon

Medium Green

Yes

3

5.0

Salmon

Harmony

Salmon

Medium Green

No

2


Salmon

Liberty

Salmon Orange

Dark Green

No

3

3.6

Salmon

Paradise

Deep Coral (Lopinga)

Medium Green

No

2

3.0

Salmon

Paradise

Salmon (Grenada)

Dark Green

No

2

3.0

Salmon

Pizzazz

Salmon (Pablo)

Dark Green

No

3


Salmon

Pot O’ Gold

Salmon

Bronze

No

2


Salmon

Pure Beauty

Salmon Pink

Dark Green

Yes*

2


Salmon

Spectra

Salmon Shades

Medium Green

No

3

2.7

Dark Salmon

Celebration

Bright Coral

Dark Green

No

3

5.0

Dark Salmon

Celebration

Deep Coral

Bronze

Yes

3

4.1

Dark Salmon

Harmony

Deep Salmon

Medium Green

No

2


Salmon Pink

Lasting Impressions

Cameo

Medium Green

Slight

4

3.1

Salmon Coral

Bull

Inge

Bronze

No

2

0.0

Coral

Bull

Natalie

Bronze

No

2


Salmon Coral

Bull

Rosemarie

Dark Green

No

3

1.4

Salmon Orange

Danziger

Danshir

Dark Green

No

2

3.7

Salmon Orange

Lasting Impressions

Charade

Dark Green

No

2

2.5

Orange

Bull

Mathilde

Dark Bronze

No

3

2.5

Orange

Celebration

Apricot

Dark Green

No

3


Orange

Celebration

Orange

Medium Green

No

3


Orange

Harmony

Orange

Medium Green

No

2


Orange

Java

Orange Flame

Medium Green

No

2


Orange

Lasting Impressions

Ambrosia

Dark Green

No

4

3.4

Orange

Lasting Impressions

Escapade

Dark Green

No

3

5.0

Orange

Paradise

Apricot

Medium Green

No

2


Orange

Paradise

Electric Orange (Timor)

Medium Green

No

1

4.6

Orange

Paradise

Orange (Xanthia)

Medium Green

No

2

2.7

Orange

Patriot

Orange

Medium Green

No

3

3.7

Orange

Pizzazz

Orange (Saul)

Dark Green

No

3


Orange

Pot O’ Gold

Orange

Bronze

No

2


Orange

Sunshine

Nebulous

Dark Green

No

4

4.9

Orange

Sunshine

Zenith

Medium Green

Yes

3

2.4

Orange

Twice As Nice

Sonata

Medium Green

No

2


Dark Orange

Bull

Suzanne

Medium Green

No

4

2.5

Dark Orange

Celebration

Bonfire Orange

Dark Bronze

No

2

4.4

Dark Orange

Paradise

Tanna

Dark Green

No

3

1.9

Dark Orange

Sunshine

Nova

Dark Green

Yes

2

2.8

Orange Red

Harmony

Flame

Medium Green

No

2


Orange Red

Pure Beauty

Scarlet (Marpesia)

Dark Bronze

No

3

3.4

Orange w/ Fuchsia Eye

Celebrette

Orange Crush

Dark Green

No

1


Orange w/ White Bicolor

Lasting Impressions

Tempest

Dark Green

Yes

1

1.2

Orange w/ White Bicolor

Pure Beauty

Orange on White (Lycia)

Medium Green

No

4

3.6

Orange w/ Pink Bicolor

Lasting Impressions

Ambience

Medium Green

No

3

2.4

Orange w/ Salmon Bicolor

Sunshine

Sunburst

Bronze

Slight

3

3.5

Orange w/ Salmon Bicolor

Sunshine

Sunglow

Dark Green

Yes

1

1.4

Orange w/ Salmon Bicolor

Sunshine

Twilight

Bronze

Yes

3

1.0

Orange w/ Dark Orange Bicolor

Pure Beauty

Orange on Orange

Dark Green

No

2


Orange w/ Red Bicolor

Danziger

Danova

Dark Bronze

No

3

1.9

Orange w/ Red Bicolor

Pot O’ Gold

Red Bicolor

Dark Bronze

No

2


Rose

Baby Bonita

Rose (Improved Tolinga)

Medium Green

No

1


Rose

Celebration

Electric Rose

Dark Green

Yes

3

3.3

Rose

Celebration

Rose

Medium Green

No

3

3.5

Rose

Pizzazz

Rose

Dark Green

No

3


Rose

Spectra

Rose Shades

Medium Green

Slight

3

2.0

Rose w/ Fuchsia Eye

Paradise

Cherry Rose (Anguilla)

Dark Green

No

2


Fuchsia

Bull

Wanda

Dark Green

No

3


Fuchsia

Harmony

Fuchsia

Medium Green

No

2


Fuchsia

Paradise

Fuchsia (Papete)

Medium Green

No

1


Fuchsia

Sunshine

Pulsar

Dark Green

Yes

3

3.6

Fuchsia

Sunshine

Radiance

Medium Green

Yes

2

4.6

Fuchsia Red

Bull

Anna

Dark Green

No

3

1.1

Fuchsia w/ Purple Eye

Celebrette

Hot Rose

Medium Greeen

No

1


Red

Baby Bonita

Scarlet

Medium Green

No

1


Red

Bull

Betty

Dark Green

No

3


Red

Bull

Karina

Dark Green

No

2

1.9

Red

Celebration

Cherry Red

Medium Green

No

4


Red

Celebration

Deep Red

Dark Green

No

2


Red

Celebration

Red

Dark Green

No

3

4.9

Red

Celebrette

Cherry

Dark Green

No

1


Red

Celebrette

Cherry Rose

Medium Green

No

1


Red

Celebrette

Scarlet

Medium Green

No

1


Red

Danziger

Danhill

Medium Green

No

4

3.3

Red

Danziger

Rhondo

Medium Green

No

3

2.0

Red

Harmony

Cherry Rose

Medium Green

No

2


Red

Harmony

Royal Red

Medium Green

No

2


Red

Harmony

Scarlet

Medium Green

No

2


Red

Lasting Impressions

Masquerade

Dark Bronze

No

3


Red

Paradise

Bright Red (Tarawa)

Medium Green

No

3

3.8

Red

Paradise

Cherry Red (Martinique)

Medium Green

No

2

2.6

Red

Paradise

Red (Lanai)

Medium Green

No

3


Red

Paradise

Scarlet (Antigua)

Medium Green

No

3

4.4

Red

Paradise

True Red (Moala)

Medium Green

No

3

3.1

Red

Patriot

Red

Medium Green

No

2

3.3

Red

Pizzazz

Cherry Rose (Ramon)

Dark Green

No

3


Red

Pizzazz

Scarlet Red (Raul)

Dark Green

No

3


Red

Pot O’ Gold

Red

Medium Green

No

2


Red

Pure Beauty

Bright Red (Prepona)

Dark Green

No

2

1.6

Red

Pure Beauty

Red (Anaea)

Medium Green

No

3


Red

Spectra

Red Shades

Medium Green

No

3

3.2

Red

Sunshine

Mirach

Medium Green

Yes

3

4.2

Red

Twice As Nice

Largo

Medium Green

No

2


Dark Red

Harmony

Dark Red

Medium Green

No

2


Dark Red

Lasting Impressions

Blazon

Dark Green

Slight

3

3.1

Dark Red

Paradise

Wine (Noctua)

Dark Green

No

2


Dark Red

Patriot

Dark Red

Dark Green

No

3

4.0

Red w/ Pink Bicolor

Celebration

Cherry Star

Dark Bronze

No

2

2.9

Red w/ Dark Red Bicolor

Electra

Red

Medium Green

No

2


Lavender

Baby Bonita

Lavender

Medium Green

No

1


Lavender

Bull

Jennifer

Dark Green

No

2


Lavender

Celebration

Lavender Glow

Medium Green

No

3

3.6

Lavender

Celebration

Light Lavender Improved

Medium Green

No

3


Lavender

Celebrette

Orchid

Medium Green

No

1


Lavender

Danziger

Flamenco

Medium Green

No

3

1.8

Lavender

Harmony

Lavender Purple

Medium Green

No

2


Lavender

Harmony

Light Purple

Medium Green

No

2


Lavender

Java

Lilac Flame

Medium Green

No

2


Lavender

Lasting Impressions

Heathermist

Dark Green

No

3

3.4

Lavender

Lasting Impressions

Serenade

Medium Green

No

3

3.6

Lavender

Lasting Impressions

Tiffany

Dark Green

No

3


Lavender

Liberty

Lavender

Dark Green

No

2

3.6

Lavender

Paradise

Lavender Blue (Toga)

Medium Green

No

2

4.1

Lavender

Patriot

Lavender

Medium Green

No

3

2.6

Lavender

Twice As Nice

Baroque

Medium Green

No

2


Light Purple

Paradise

Orchid (Pascua)

Medium Green

No

2

3.8

Purple

Baby Bonita

Purple

Medium Green

No

1


Purple

Bull

Mary

Bronze

No

2


Purple

Celebration

Purple

Medium Green

No

3


Purple

Celebrette

Grape Crush

Medium Green

No

1


White

Celebrette

White

Medium Green

No

1


Purple

Celebrette

Wild Plum

Medium Green

No

1

3.3

Purple

Danziger

Danserra

Dark Green

No

2

2.5

Purple

Danziger

Samba

Dark Green

No

3

1.6

Purple

Harmony

Grape

Medium Green

No



Purple

Harmony

Purple

Medium Green

No

2


Purple

Paradise

Violet (Bora-Bora)

Medium Green

No

2


Purple

Patriot

Lilac

Medium Green

No

2


Purple

Patriot

Violet

Medium Green

No

3

3.3

Purple

Pizzazz

Purple (Carlos)

Dark Green

No

3


Purple

Pot O’ Gold

Violet

Bronze

No

2


Purple

Pure Beauty

Light Purple

Dark Green

No

2


Purple

Pure Beauty

Purple (Aruba)

Dark Green

No

1

4.6

Purple

Pure Beauty

Violet

Dark Green

No

2


Dark Purple

Lasting Impressions

Rhapsody

Medium Green

No

4

1.7

Dark Purple

Patriot

Purple Lilac

Medium Green

No

3


Purple Rose

Celebration

Raspberry Rose

Medium Green

No

2

4.5

Purple Red

Danziger

Lambada

Bronze

No

2

4.3

Purple Lavender

Sunshine

Antares

Medium Green

Slight

2

3.9

Purple w/ Pink Bicolor

Pure Beauty

Purple on Lilac

Medium Green

No

2


Purple w/ Lavender Bicolor

Celebration

Purple Star

Bronze

No

3


Purple w/ Lavender Bicolor

Lasting Impressions

Shadow

Dark Green

No

3

2.8

Purple w/ Lavender Bicolor

Sunshine

Sunregal

Dark Green

Slight

1

3.1

ZBaby Bonita®, Paradise®, Pizzazz®, and Pure Beauty™ series are products of Kientzler Jungpflanzen, Gensingen, Germany. Bull series is a product of Gartenbau Norbert Bull, Goennebek, Germany. Celebration and Celebrette series are products of Ball FloraPlant, West Chicago, Illinois. Danziger and Harmony series are products of Dan Flower Farm, Beit Dagan, Israel. Electra® series is by Harlan and Sue Cosner and is a product of the Paul Ecke Ranch, Encinitas, California. Lasting Impressions™, Sunshine™, Pot O' Gold™ and Twice as Nice™ series are products of Mikkelens, Inc., now owned by Oglevee, Ltd. Liberty and Patriot are products of Dümmen USA, Vancouver, Washington. Java™ and Spectra™ series are products of PanAmerican Seed Company, West Chicago, Illinois.

YFoliage is either non-variegated (No); has white variegation that is prominent (Yes) or slight (Slight); has red variegation (Yes*); or has yellow variegation (Yes**).

XThe growth habit number indicates how the cultivar develops in the greenhouse during production. The rating ranges from 1 (very compact) to 5 (very vigorous).

WLandscape ratings are compiled from trials conducted at NC State University and Clemson University. The rating ranges from 5.0 (excellent) to 1 (poor).

Insect and Related Pests
The main pest problems of New Guinea impatiens are the two-spotted spider mite, cyclamen mite, and western flower thrips. Western flower thrips is the most serious pest on New Guineas, as they serve as a vector for Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV; formerly called Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus), a destructive disease. Thrips can spread this virus to susceptible species throughout a greenhouse, including New Guinea impatiens, garden impatiens, gloxinias, cyclamen, gerbera daisies, and many other floricultural crops. Careful routing of infected plants, monitoring of sticky cards, frequent inspection of flowers to check for the presence of thrips, and thorough spraying are essential in controlling thrips and INSV.

Other insects that can be a problem include fungus gnats, mealybugs, and aphids. Consult the current year's N.C. Agricultural Chemical Manual for suggested control measures for all of these pests.

 Diseases
Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus is the most serious disease on New Guinea impatiens. It starts as foliar and stem lesions and eventually destroys the marketability of plants. The only control is prevention via purchasing plants from reliable propagators, rouging infected plants, and control of the vector, western flower thrips.

Botrytis blight can be a serious disease on New Guinea impatiens. Too cool night temperatures and / or too high relative humidity can increase the severity and incidence of Botrytis, so maintain at least 62 °F night temperatures and vent to reduce humidity in the greenhouse whenever possible. The other major above-ground disease is Rhizoctonia stem rot and web blight.

Root rot caused by Pythium spp. or Phytophthora spp. also affect New Guinea production. Avoid overwatering plants as a water-soaked substrate can increase the incidence of root rot. Consult the current year's N.C. Agricultural Chemical Manual for control measures for the diseases mentioned above.

For Further Information
Contact your County Cooperative Extension Center for related Horticulture Information Leaflets, Ornamental Disease Notes, and Ornamental and Turf Integrated Pest Management Insect Notes. Also consult the current edition of the N.C. Agricultural Chemicals Manual for pest and disease control recommendations. Other general information sources on New Guinea impatiens production used in the development of this handout include:

 


Recommendations for the use of chemicals are included in this publication as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage and examine a current product label before applying any chemical. For assistance, contact an agent of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in your county.

Published by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service


Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University at Raleigh, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. 



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