Plant Health Problems
New Guinea impatiens are susceptible to the same diseases as impatiens. See Impatiens for a detailed discussion of these problems.

Diseases caused by Viruses:

Impatiens necrotic spot and Tomato spotted wilt, viruses (INSV and TSWV).
These diseases are the most important problems on impatiens and can be extremely damaging. They are particularly troublesome on double-flowering varieties. Symptoms can appear as black ringspots, mosaics, and necrotic spots with tan centers and brown margins. Petals can develop a color breaking and leaves can pucker, become distorted, yellow, and abscise. Stems occasionally develop distinctly black areas or lesions and plants can be stunted. These pathogens are transmitted by the western flower thrips.

Control of these diseases is focused on prevention since once plants are infected, they cannot be cured. It is important to eliminate and remove infected plants as soon as they are recognized and to eliminate other symptomatic plants since these viruses have very broad host ranges. It is also critical to manage the thrips population.

Diseases caused by Physiological/Environmental Factors:

Sunburn, environmental.
When planted in full sun, many cultivars of New Guinea impatiens develop a marginal necrosis or brown patches on the leaves.

This disease is generally not very serious and can be avoided by not planting susceptible cultivars in full sun.

Insect Problems:

See Impatiens.