GMG's Friday Find: A Blooming Alternative for Impatiens Lovers!

For years, gardeners have enjoyed impatiens in their gardens and containers, so much so it had become the nation's top selling annual.  Then along came impatiens downy mildew, a disease that can carry airborne spores over 100 miles and attacks the underside of standard garden impatiens leaves killing the plant. And worse, the mildew can remain in the infected soil for several years.

Many garden centers are keeping impatiens off their shelves this year, but don't panic! There are several alternatives to impatiens, and a terrific plant that has real flower power is the Summer Wave® Torenia.

This beautiful torenia from The Suntory® Collection is not just a pretty face. The gorgeous blooms that continue from spring until fall are also self-cleaning -- no dead-heading needed.  This is a wonderfully durable plant that loves the heat.  When other plants begin wilting under the summer sun, Summer Wave® Torenia thrives. She loves the shade but it can't get too hot for this beauty!

Coming in 11 different colors, you can choose from two different varieties.  The trailing, creeping variety grows 6"-10" high and spreads to 30".  The branches spread wide and abundantly and it's perfect for landscapes, hanging baskets and containers.  The Summer Wave® Bouquet Torenia is more compact with a mounding style that grows 10"-15" high, yet can also spread 25"-30" making it terrific for window boxes and containers. These plants look great in combinations, or as standout stand-alone for a dramatic pop of monochromatic color.

Another interesting feature of  Summer Wave is a unique 'fishbone' inside each flower that gives the bloom an added dimension. And best of all, these torenia plants resist disease.

Nature works in mysterious ways, as we've all heard and know first hand, and although the dear impatiens may have to step aside, a new garden star is waiting to flower up your landscape, containers and baskets with staying power you won't be disappointed with. 

Give The Summer Wave® a try this year.  We'd love to hear about your success with this hardy, beautiful alternative to impatiens.

~Peggy
Garden Media Group

Move Over Sponge Bob

This summer I'm finally going to dress up my porch with some beautiful hanging baskets adorned with colorful flowering plants. The only problem is that I really don't want to spend every couple of days watering them.

Well, my prayers have been answered thanks to a new space-age self-watering system for plants called Aqualok™ from Costa Farms. Developed by a rocket scientist, Aqualok is a high-tech foam substance that lines the inside of your hanging basket and holds water and oxygen and releases it when needed -- allowing you more time to relax and enjoy life. How simple is that!

What is really cool about this product is that it cuts watering frequency in half. Now instead of watering my hanging baskets every two to three days, Aqualok will enable me to water only once a week giving me more me time.

Look for Aqualok this spring in 10-inch annual hanging baskets at your favorite home improvement store.

- Stacey

For more gardening news, check out Garden Media Group.

Top Performing Annuals with Allan Armitage

Webinar Wed, Dec 2, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Are the varieties you are growing and selling true performers? Find out and maximize your spring offerings by registering for this free webinar hosted by Greenhouse Grower.

Greenhouse Grower's resident varieties guru Dr. Allan Armitage of the University of Georgia (UGA) presents the top performing annuals based on responses from hundreds of visitors to UGA’s trial gardens in 2009.

UGA’s trial gardens have become the litmus test for plants that can withstand heat and humidity. Armitage will talk about annuals that have looked good for extended periods of time and award winners from the Trial gardens at UGA. As Armitage says, if the plant will perform well in Georgia, it will perform most anywhere.

Sign up for the Greenhouse Grower Dec 2 webinar with Allan here.