These pretty flowers like frosty weatherhere’s how to grow them for guaranteed vibrant blooms.
Pansies arenot high maintenance, says horticulturist and landscape designer Nathan Heinrich.
With the right care, they will continue to dazzle you with their blooms for many months.
Photo:DE AGOSTINI PICTURE LIBRARY/Getty Images
In our guide, the experts share tips on growing and caring for your own vibrant pansies.
I plant another round of pansies in late summer or early fall.
This strategy allows the plants to establish themselves before winter, promising an even more vibrant display come spring.
Pansies thrive in partial sun and do best in areas with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Large pots sized 14 to 16 inches can hold five or six pansies.
This ensures youll enjoy blooms for a longer period.
Choose compact, bushy pansies and avoid leggy plants with stretched stems and spaced-out leaves.
In terms of varieties, there are many to choose from.
The Majestic Giants are popular for their large blooms and vibrant colors.
Matrix Series tends to do well in warmer climates, while the Delta Series has excellent cold tolerance.
Are Pansies Perennials?
Pansies are technicallyshort-lived perennials, meaning they can survive for more than one growing season under ideal conditions.
Pansies can also be grown as biennials in areas with mild winters.
Growing Conditions
In general, pansies grow best in well-draining soil with indirect sunlight.
Read on to learn more about specific growing conditions to achieve those pretty blooms.
Pansies are a great winter-friendly flower, but temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit may kill them.
Soil
These colorful plants thrive in neutral or acidicsoil rich in nutrients.
Water
Pansies needregular wateringto thrive.
Aim for consistently moist soil, avoiding extremes of waterlogged conditions and dry spells.
The key to watering pansies is to keep the soil moist without over-watering, Heinrich says.
You may be able to go weeks or even longer without watering during the winter months.
Before watering, check the soil to see if it is dry.
Water only when the soil is almost dried out.
When you water, water thoroughly.
verify to use a fertilizer with plenty of phosphorus and potassium to encourage root growth and strong blooms.
Trimming and Pruning
Trim your pansies in the spring to remove damaged growth from the winter months.
you’re able to also cut back bare sections of stems at any time.
This encourages new growth and prevents the plant from wasting energy on seed production.
Deadheading will helpyour pansies bloom to their fullest potential.
Choose pansies with wilted petals and faded colors for deadheading.
This will redirect the energy into root growth, leading to even more flowers the following month.
This will result in a vibrant display of color.
That said, pansiescanwithstand cold better than many flowers, but they are not immune to extreme cold.
During extreme or prolonged freezes, add an extra layer of protection with frost blankets or other protective covers.
Use breathable materials that allow some airflow and light penetration.
Common Pests
Some common peststhat can plague pansies include slugs, snails, and aphids.
Insecticidal soap offers a good line of defense against aphids.
Slug and snail bait can ward off common pests.
The most notorious pests for pansies are slugs and snails, Heinrich says.
They can be kept at bay by using a pet-safe slug and snail bait.
In the spring, you may also have to spray for caterpillars.
I like to use a rosemary orneem oil sprayto keep flying or crawling insects away from pansies or violas.
Are Pansies Poisonous to Pets?
Pansies are non-toxic, making them an excellentflower for pet owners.
