Question
Hi, my mother has three hanging impatiens baskets in the front of her home and one behind on her back porch. All of the plants came from the same greenhouse at the same time. The plants are located in partial sun and are watered religiously, yet the three baskets up front act as if they are wilting continuously. My mother has tried everything and the only thing that works is when she takes the three baskets in the garage...they then spring back to life and are fine. The one basket in the back is gorgeous and full. We live in upstate NY and obviously have had a very warm summer...does that have something to do with it...or is she not taking care of them properly? Thanks for any information you could share!!

Answer
There are so many reasons for Impatiens to wilt, I am reluctant to post my answer.  Let me tell you what I can, and if you would like to re-post your question with more information, we can revisit it.

It seems thatt he key clue here is wilting.  Although (if I understand you correctly) you note that the entire Impatiens collection is growing in 'partial sun', exposures on one side of the house would have to be different from the other side -- North v South; East v West, morning v afternoon v no sun.

Still, searing temperatures have taken a toll on most plants this Summer, and it's been murder on moisture-lovers like Impatiens.  During a heat wave, the amount of water Impatiens need to grow is almost negligible compared with the amount of moisture that pours out of the leaves (you've heard of 'transpiration'?).  Typically, as much as 98 percent of the water that enters the roots is lost to transpiration.  Since this is precisely what keeps plants cool in the Summer, watering once a day -- when it's 100 degrees F in the shade -- is not going to cut the mustard here.

Let me point out that this can get very serious if this is the problem.  When plants run low on water, and they wilt, their pores (stomata, underneath their leaves) snap closed, to save water.  There are unwanted side effects to this.  Plants get CO2 via the stomata, a vital step in Photosynthesis.  Imagine you could not breathe air that was 90 degrees F., and you'll see how hard it is for these plants under extreme temps.

Add to that the light of the sun, beating down on those exposed Impatiens leaves, and you have a definite case of heat stroke.

Simply moving these plants to a cooler, shaded position would be ideal.  Not only is it gentle enough a change not to be a shock, but it gives the vascular system a chance to catch up with the rate of transpiration.

Overwatering could cause the same symptoms.  If transpiration was able to keep up with the water, the losing side of the house would be the side that is too slow.

But if I had to guess, and it seems like I do, I would bet the unbearable Fahrenheit reading is what is making your Impatiens faint on a daily basis.  Water twice a day with room temperature water, and soak thoroughly.  When the thermometer hits the 90's, don't wait for wilt.  Move them asap.  Then pour them all a glass of ice cold lemonade, and chat about the weather.

I'll take a glass, too.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER