Question
I have some new guinea impatience that are losing all their blooms.  I have been keeping them watered but they are in full shade. They are planted in the ground and I am located in Kentucky. What is the best way to keep them blooming?  Thanks!

Answer
Donna,
Unfortunately, New Guinea Impatiens don't bloom well in full shade.  Even regular impatiens bloom better when they have an hour or two of direct sunlight. If you have a spot where you could move them, where they would get at least three hours of sunlight, I'd move them now so that you can enjoy their blooms for the rest of the summer.

Full shade is tough when it comes to annuals for color...coleus work well, however, and I often recommend that gardeners use very colorful pots filled with ferns sold for houseplants in shady areas - the ferns can come in the house during the winter, and the color from the pots adds brightness to the shade.

all the best,
C.L.