Consider planting winter pansies for some cheerfulcolor throughout the off-season.
The flowers on winter pansies are slightly smaller than other pansy types.
Winter pansies grow best in cool weather and can withstand both freezing temperatures and snow cover.
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How to Plant Winter Pansies
Winter pansies are grown in the ground and in containers.
Plant pansies 7 to 12 inches apart in moist, loamy, well-draining soil.
Amend garden soil with aged compost, though standard potting soil works fine for container grown plants.
Winter Pansy Care
The more attention you give your winter pansies the better they will do.
Light
Winter pansies need about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
This pansy key in will grow in part shade but flowers may be fewer and smaller.
Soil
Moist, humus-rich loam that drains well is ideal for winter pansies.
They require an acidic pH between 4.8 and 5.8 somake necessary adjustmentsprior to planting.
Water
Winter pansies require regular watering so that soil stays consistently moist.
If plants start to look gray and wilted, they need water.
Insufficient watering is a common mistake and may seem counterintuitive.
Container plants need more frequent watering than in-ground plants.
Temperature and Humidity
Winter pansies grow best at temperatures between 40F and 60F.
They can withstand a freeze, snow cover, and temperatures as low as 25F.
Plants may look wilted in those temperatures, but they will rebound once they receive enough sun exposure.
An water-soluble product with anNPK 15-30-15works well.
Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers which produce more foliage and fewer flowers.
Here are a few popular types to keep your garden alive during the off-season.
Gather together your preferred container, pansy plants, and good quality potting soil and follow these directions.
Winter pansies are eitherbiennialsor short-lived perennials, but they are most often grown as annuals.
Repotting isn’t necessary.
Pests include sap sucking insects likeaphids,whitefly, and spider mites.
Slugs and snails also are attracted to your pansy plants.
Apply insecticidal soap to discourage insect pests.
A gritty mulch such as coffee grounds or broken eggshells will deter slugs and snails.
Common diseases to watch for includepowdery mildew,root rot, gray mold, andanthracnose.
Discourage these problems by watering correctly, and avoid exposing your plants to excessive bright, direct sunlight.
In areas with harsher winters, autumn planted winter pansies may not flower until March.
What Do Winter Pansies Look and Smell Like?
Single colors often have contrasting centers, and bi-colors feature the well-loved pansy blotch.
Flowers have a delicate perfume-like scent most noticeable in the morning and evening.
Yellow and blue varieties are said to have the strongest scent.
How to Encourage More Blooms
Pinching out faded flowers is critical for keeping you winter pansy blooming.
If your plant becomes leggy as the weather warms, cut back the main stem leaving a couple leaves.
Keep soil moist and feed your plant with a balanced liquid fertilizer to help it regrow.
Move potted plants to a new location that receives afternoon shade.
Caring For Winter Pansies After They Bloom
Winter pansies are often grown for a single season.
Winter pansies need an acidic soil with a pH of 4.8 to 5.8.
Winter pansieswithstand colder weather than other pansy typesand will continue to bloom even after a freeze or snow.
Winter pansies are usually set out in autumn while other pansies are planted from late winter to early spring.
Plant winter pansies in late September and October to allow a good root system to develop.
Winter pansies planted in November won’t have as good a chance of surviving freezing weather.
you could also plant winter pansies in late winter or early spring once temperatures warm to an average 40F.
Winter pansies put on their best show with 6 hours of full sun exposure daily.
Texas A&M University, Aggie horticulture.
