By Sheilar
Sunderland Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
BIZZIE LIZZIES - I have two tubs of bizzie lizzies (I think they're the New Guinea variety) which don't seem to be affected by the virus that's going around. Is this strain not affected at all? See pictures below:
- 14 Aug, 2011
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Answers
Thought as much, thanks Jen h. Sheila
14 Aug, 2011
Jenh, that's not the information according to the RHS - all impatiens varieties, including this one, are subject to attack by either tomato spotted wilt or necrotic spot virus. Count yourself lucky, Sheilar - you've got away with it this year. The other thing which is affecting them badly this year is Downy Mildew, which also affects this variety. Generally, it may well be down to where you bought your plants - all of these infections are big, big problems in commercial greenhouses, where the stock is grown, and particularly with the viruses, you may have inadvertently bought plants already affected, but not yet showing symptoms - they can take months to show signs of the viruses.
14 Aug, 2011
OK Bamboo, I'll keep an eye on them, first sign of virus I'll get rid.
14 Aug, 2011
I am only talking about the one relative new virulent disease which seems to have been brought in from abroad and is affecting the bizzie lizzies. It has been a subject on our local radio this lunchtime. There is a blog on the subject. http://www.growsonyou.com/drc726/blog/16434-the-end-of-busy-lizzies
14 Aug, 2011
I must have got away with it too Mine are in Hessian bags hanging from my fence and have been flowering happily for months and are still full of buds I am so pleased cos mine are a vareigated variety and are so pretty
14 Aug, 2011
Sorry Jenh, but its inaccurate. To enlarge on what I said above, reports from Australia and here suggest that the new guinea hybrids are also hosts to Impatiens Downy Mildew.
14 Aug, 2011
I will stand corrected the garden expert on the local radio station must be wrong. You might like to read this article http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=205
14 Aug, 2011
Are you saying the report findings published this morning are inaccurate Bamboo?
14 Aug, 2011
Possibly - maybe the reporting's at fault, maybe their research is at fault - I'm saying other reports paint a different picture = needs more research to compare which opinions say what, and how many agree with one another. Certainly the brief research I did this morning indicates all Impatiens are host plants for it, from two different sources. So yes, possibly it's wrong, but possibly the two I looked at are wrong. I shall devote a bit more time to it when I have the time... I always reserve judgement for corroborating evidence, never take as gospel what I hear the first time I hear it. Currently I can see no reason why Impatiens Downy Mildew would studiously ignore one of the hybrids, doesn't make sense to me, but maybe it does. I shall post something when I get more info.
14 Aug, 2011
Thanks Bamboo
14 Aug, 2011
Done a bit more research - the regime suggested for professional growers suggests caution regarding spraying the New Guinea hybrids, for they are sensitive to fungicides and pesticides, and so far, no such infection has presented in them in the UK- I. walleriana are the ones which are really suffering, which we already know. However, another source I looked at suggests it has been seen in New Guinea hybrids in two locations in Australia - that report also suggests the original source was infected material imported from the States. So, current state of play suggests its only I.walleriana plants which are badly affected - although the real problem is the mildew has become resistant to the fungicide which has always been used to treat for it, because downy mildew's been around for a while. There's even some suggestion the infection may be present in seed. I doubt it'll be long before one of the pharmas comes up with a new treatment... there's money in them thar hills, always the driving force behind new treatments.
14 Aug, 2011
Okey dokey, bit more info - no cases have been detected by growers of New Guinea hybrids, in other words, in commercial greenhouses. There seems also to be some suggestion that the Sunpatiens variety may be resistant, but I've only found one source for that so far.
14 Aug, 2011
Thanks for all the information you have been providing Bamboo, I've been following it with interest. Sheila
14 Aug, 2011
Thanks Bamboo.
14 Aug, 2011
The Sunpatiens strain appears to be bred from New Guinea hybrids - you'd think that info would be dead easy to come across, but confirming it wasn't easy. The trouble with sites that sell stuff is you can't rely on the accuracy of their information... Anyway, seems, so far, New Guineas and all their offshoots are resistant. The two sources which said they'd seen it on plants in Australia were uncorroborated by anything resembling an official horticultural body, so I'm keeping an open mind, but am now more convinced that what's been reported officially in the UK on the subject is accurate. Though even New Guinea hybrids can be subject to western thrips, the vector for the two viral problems. It's tough to keep up, no wonder doctors lose the plot and misdiagnose, it's just the same with human health.
So Sheilar, be thrilled if you'd let us all know if at any time you see any problems on your New Guineas, specially next year.
15 Aug, 2011
Thanks again Bamboo, I appreciate your research. As my two are in pots, I'm going to overwinter them in the shed and see how they do next year. I'll certainly keep you posted. Sheila
15 Aug, 2011
!! I have been looking at this problem for a few years we are now keeping watch in case it spreads to the New Guinea type.
16 Aug, 2011
Blimey first I'd heard of the issues with impatiens (where have I been eh). Glad I spotted this though, I only picked up a flat which had been reduced in the GC last week. New Guinea's though. 4 of the 6 plants looked very healthy, one had little to no soil around its roots and looked a bit leggy but otherwise ok (even had buds). The sixth a dead loss, nothing but a slightly slimy stem. I've planted mine in the border but am thinking about getting them up later in the year before the frosts hit and trying to over winter them. I'll keep my eye on them and let you all know if I see anything developing.
Thanks for the information Bamboo, very helpful as always.
16 Aug, 2011
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I understand that the New Guinea variety are not affected by this virus that is killing the bedding ones.
14 Aug, 2011