Growing pansies in pots can be a fun gardening project. If you position the pots close to the house, you can easily access these edible flowers for use in the kitchen. Learn all about potted pansy care, and keep your adorable pansies in tip top shape throughout the growing season.
Pansies are easy to grow from seed, starting them indoors in early spring. You can also pick up pansy and viola seedlings from garden centers in spring, to transplant out into your pots and containers for the growing season.
The names 'pansy' and 'viola' are often used interchangeably, although pansies are larger and more ornamental than violas, from which pansies have been bred. Pansies are identified as viola x wittrockiana, within the viola Genus.
The pansies that I grow from seed are generally transplanted into pots, rather than grown in the garden. You can however grow pansies and violas in your garden beds as well.
The flexibility of potted pansies makes them easy to care for throughout the summer, and they can be moved if necessary to different locations to help them to thrive during the summer heat.
Benefits Of Growing In Pots
Cold Tolerance
Pansies and violas are wonderful cool season flowers. They grow well with the cooler temperatures of spring, and as well at the end of the season as fall approaches.
You can start your outdoor pots earlier as a result of this cold tolerance, having containers of colorful flowers to display early in spring.
In milder climates, pansies can even bloom throughout the winter, providing color in seasons when most other plants are dormant.
Versatility In Placement
Although pansies grow well in the cool weather of spring, they don't grow well in the hot weather of summer.
The great thing about growing pansies and violas in pots, is that the plants become portable, and can be moved to a more protected location, when the hot summer temperatures hit.
Pansies do not do well in a hot sunny spot in the middle of summer, however will thrive in a cooler shady location at this time.
As well, because they are grown in pots, pansies can be placed in a variety for locations, such as on balconies, patios, window boxes, and even indoors. This makes pansies versatile, and allows even those with limited garden space to enjoy these adorable blooms.
Edible Qualities
One thing that I love about these darling flowers is that their edible nature makes them a great choice for culinary use.
Growing the flowers in pots therefore helps to keep them protected all season long, as well as grown within easy reach, so they can be used well beyond their spring growth.
A Flower That Keeps On Giving
Another less common benefit of growing pansies in pots is that pansy flowers tend to reseed easily within the pot itself.
If the pot is left outside in winter, there is natural stratification of the seeds. Then when the weather warms up, the pansy seeds begin to germinate.
Therefore you can have multiple years of pansies growing in the same pot, from the original planting.
Potted Pansy Care
Pansies grown in pots are relatively easy to care for. Their maintenance routines are straightforward, making them suitable for most gardeners.
Choosing The Right Pot
Choosing the right pot for pansies is important to ensure that they thrive. Pansies really will grow well in any sized pot, however look great with multiple plantings, so the more you grow, the larger the pot you will need.
The most important consideration is that your pot has good drainage, with drainage holes at the bottom. The pot should also be light enough so that you can move it, if in a location that becomes too warm in the summer heat.
Soil And Planting
Pansies thrive in fertile, loamy, and well-drained soil. They prefer a soil mix that is full of organic matter, and one which retains moisture without becoming waterlogged, because good moisture retention supports consistent flowering.
If the seedlings are started from seed indoors, plant out after your last frost date.
When planting, pansies should be spaced about 6 to 8 inches apart. For a standard 12-inch pot, you can typically plant about three to five pansies comfortably, allowing each plant enough room to spread and flourish without overcrowding.
Don't plant too deeply, as the plants are vulnerable to crown rot.
Moisture Requirements
Pansies like to be kept in moist soil, so regular watering is important, especially during dry spells. The top layer of soil should feel slightly damp to the touch.
Keep the potting soil moist for best flowering results, and especially while the plants are getting established in the pot.
Make sure however not to provide excess water or to overwater, and that there is good drainage, to prevent soggy soil which can lead to root rot.
A light mulching on the soil surface can help to retain soil moisture for the plants, and help to reduce watering needs.
Light Requirements
Pansies prefer a full sun to partial shade location.
For best results, a less intense sun, such as morning sun or late afternoon sunlight is ideal. The plants should receive at least 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Best to have some shade during the hottest part of the day, especially in the heat of mid summer.
Remember that potted pansies should be moved if they are located in an area where they are getting scorched by the sun.
Deadheading After Flowering
Pansies and violas will often produce lots of seed heads after flowering, which are full of tiny little seeds.
By deadheading spent blooms, you can prevent the formation of these seed heads. This will conserve the plants energy for more bloom production.
Deadheading therefore can lead to continuous blooms throughout the season.
Allow some plants to produce seeds towards the end of the season however. You can collect the seeds, or allow to the plants to self seed, for more flowers in the next growing season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do Pansies Last?
Pansies are usually grown as annuals. They are planted in late winter, bloom through the cooler months, and then decline as temperatures start to rise.
If they are protected from the summer heat, and with proper potted pansy care, the plants can grow throughout the season until the late fall.
Do Pansies Need Big Pots?
Pansies do not necessarily need big pots to thrive. They do however require adequate space for root growth and overall health.
If you are growing a large group of pansies, a big pot would be required. However, you can also plant a single pansy in a small pot.
I love the look of multiple small pots with potted pansies, set up as a mini display.
Pansies also look great when grown in container gardens with other plants.
What Temperatures Will Kill Pansies?
Pansies are known for their cold tolerance and ability to survive relatively low temperatures. This makes them popular for adding color to gardens during cooler months. However, they do have their limits when it comes to both cold and heat.
A hard freeze (temperatures below 25°F or -4°C for multiple consecutive hours) can damage or kill pansies if they are not adequately protected.
Temperatures consistently above 75°F (24°C) can stress the plants. Pansies typically start to decline as nighttime temperatures do not drop below 60°F (15°C) consistently.
What To Do With Pansies After Flowering?
If pansies have completed their flowering period in spring, there are several steps you can take to manage the plants and prepare for future growth.
Remove any spent blooms, and cut back leggy overgrowth. Place in a cooler location, and continue to care for the plants in hopes that they will rebloom when the weather begins to get cooler.
If the plants have bloomed throughout the season, and are finished blooming in fall, consider collecting some seeds to plant out next season. Prune back the plants and allow the roots to compost back into the soil.
Conclusion
Caring for pansies in pots can be a fun project, especially if you keep the flowers blooming throughout the gardening season with proper potted pansy care.
Try using some of the blooms as edible flowers. You can also preserve some for later use by pressing the pansies.
Remember to adjust your care routine with the changing seasons, and fluctuating temperatures. Don't be quick to discard your pansy plants if they stop flowering. With a little effort and care, they can continue to flower.
With these simple steps, your potted pansies will flourish, providing a delightful splash of color to your outdoor or indoor space.
Have you ever grown pansies in pots, throughout the entire gardening season? Be sure to leave a comment below to share your experience!
Other Posts You May Like:
PIN IT FOR LATER!
Leave a Reply