Hanging Basket Impatiens Wilting? Check for Rot or Fertilizer Burn

New hanging basket impatiens wilting despite daily watering and shade suggest either root/crown rot (too wet) or fertilizer burn (salts drying tissues). Both mimic drought stress.

Diagnose

1. Lift basket—feel soil. Damp before watering? Rot likely.
2. Check stem base: darker, sunken, or "swampy" smell = crown rot.
3. If soil dry but plant wilts after feeding: fertilizer burn.

Remedies

• Rot: Repot in fresh mix, trim brown roots, bury stem nodes to re-root. Water sparingly.
• Burn: Cut plant to 4", flush soil with water, wait 3 weeks for regrowth.

Daily watering in shade often keeps soil soggy. Water only when top inch is dry. Fertilize monthly, not weekly, and only after watering.