For garden center operators and customers, this virus disease can be very difficult to diagnose because the symptoms look like so many other problems. The end result is unhappy customers with impatiens that don't perform in the garden. The plants can remain stunted, have dark brown areas on the stems, crinkled deformed leaves, and sometimes purple ringspots, on the leaves. Throw out infected plants. The disease is transmitted by western flower thrips either in production or in the landscape later in the season.
Insect control is very important in the greenhouse, but much more difficult outdoors.
The cool weather is favoring symptom development of rose mosaic. The bright yellow line patterns, and the green mottling and mosaic patterns are very diagnostic. It is not spread on pruners or by insects, but through propagation, so buying virus free roses is the best safeguard. Fortunately the disease is not very debilitating to roses, but can make them more susceptible to winter injury. It is very effective against black spot and powdery mildew.