Sometimes a single kind of flower sticks out to you, and you have the inspiration to grow it. The reasons for this may vary. Maybe you just saw some of them in a movie, or maybe this flower has a color you like. It could even be a situation where this flower is the last piece to your garden’s puzzle.
Whatever the case may be, you may not get very far if you don’t know what you’re doing. While flowers share certain basic requirements, you need to know how to take care of each one to achieve the results you want.
If pansies are the flowers that you want to grow, then you’ve come to the right article. You can expect to learn some helpful things here, such as:
- When to plant your pansies
- The best planting conditions
- Diseases and pests
- Caring for pansies
- Recommended pansies
When to Plant Your Pansies
You may be tempted to plant your pansies whenever you get the feeling, but you’d best hold on a moment. When pansies are established, they are not so hard to care for. However, at the seed stage, things can get a bit crazy.
The best time to plant your pansy seeds is during late winter. This means that you can expect flowering in the early spring and summer. If that doesn’t work for you, then plant them during late summer. This allows for fall and winter flowering.
Note that the seeds do not germinate quickly. It could take up to three weeks. Soil temperature has a lot to do with it. So, it’s best to begin planting your seeds indoors around eight weeks before the last spring frost.
A light frost can’t do much damage to your pansies, but you shouldn’t plant them in freezing soil.
The Best Planting Conditions
A pansy is not one of those plants that should face a blast of sunlight. While they do need the sun to thrive, these plants usually prefer partial sun. There are varieties that do like the full sun, but even they thrive in cooler temperatures. It’s best for them to get morning sun, but not late afternoon heat.
Plant spacing is a requirement for growth. Anywhere between seven and 12 inches is acceptable for spacing. During their growth, pansies can grow as high as nine inches. They can also spread as wide as 12 inches.
The soil that you use also needs to meet the plants’ preference. It should be moist, well-drained, and hummus rich. Failure to provide the pansies with these conditions can result in doomed plants.
Once you factor all this in as you plant your pansies, it’s reasonable to expect strong, healthy, and continuous growth from them.
Diseases and Pests
Diseases and pests are things that no plant owner wants to deal with. However, they are normal issues that you may face during plant care. Unfortunately, pansies are plants that have many diseases that they are susceptible to, as well as a few pests.
The most dangerous pansy diseases are mosaic viruses, which mottle leaves with spots and streaks. These streaks can be numerous colors, such as dark green, light green, yellow, or white. The only thing you can do to an infected pansy is to remove and destroy it. You can work on mitigating weed and insect presence to lessen the likelihood of having infected plants. Other pansy diseases include rust, gray mold, root and crown rot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew.
While there are many diseases, pansies don’t have too many pest varieties. Your worries here are aphids, slugs, and snails.
Caring for Pansies
Pansy care is the next item to focus on, as messing up can result in a sad time for you. Watering is the first thing to remember. Pansies need water regularly. In fact, most pansy failures happen because the plants never got enough water. It may be the reason that yours aren’t looking so hot.
Dead and faded flowers can hamper the progress of healthy pansies. They can’t thrive as well as they should if these aren’t removed. You should conduct inspections for these during the blooming season. Removing them not only prolongs said season, but it also fosters the production of more blooms.
Finally, there is fertilizer. An all-purpose, general fertilizer works best for pansies and their growth. Avoid those filled with nitrogen, as you could achieve an unwanted result. While those fertilizers may not kill your pansies, they can cause you to have fewer flowers and more foliage.
Recommended Pansies
Finally, there is the matter of the recommended varieties of pansies. While there are many that can beautify your garden, there are three that grant the most beautiful displays.
The first of these is known as the Jelly Joker. This pansy is known for its beautiful orange flowers. These flowers are complemented by deep purple upper petals and a purple outline. Blooming tends to take place in summer and spring.
The next recommended variety is known as the Princess series. It looks as majestic as the name sounds when it is in bloom. These pansies can produce a variety of colors, which include blue, yellow, and purple. Seeing them in unison is an incredible sight.
The final recommended pansy type is known as the Fama series. While the flower offers some amazing solid colors, it has beautiful mixed color flowers as well. The Fama series blooms in spring and winter.
Summary
There are many different plants that you can choose from to plant and enjoy. However, you can’t get the desired results unless you care for these plants in the manner that best suits them. One of the best plants that you can add to your garden is the pansy. While it has specific requirements, the results are worth it.
Plant your pansies around eight weeks prior to the last spring frost. The soil you use must be well-drained, moist, and hummus rich. Spacing should be done at seven to 12 inches apart. Mosaic viruses are the deadliest to pansies, since the plants cannot be saved. There are also snails, slugs, and aphids that you need to look out for. Consider getting Jelly Joker, Princess series, or Fama series pansies for the best results.
