How To Grow Pretty Winter Pansy – About The Garden Magazine

Position

For good flowering, pansies need a sunny position but in warm climates they usually prefer some protection from the hot afternoon sun. In such cases, ensure they have sun for at least half the day. Pansies can get spindly and won’t flower well in full shade.

Watering

Pansies have shallow roots which means they can dry out quickly in hot spells, so keep them moist and well mulched. Mulching also helps insulate the roots and discourages weeds.

Feeding

Pansies need good nutrition to support their profuse flowering, so feed them fortnightly with Searles Flourish Soluble Plant Food. This excellent fertiliser is specially formulated for boosting blooms and will absorb quickly through the leaves for fast results. For an excellent fertiliser that is fully organic, use SeaMax Organic Fertiliser Liquid.

Preparing the soil

Pansies are not fussy but prefer a loose, rich, well-drained soil, preferably with a slightly acidic pH. For best results, improve the soil with Searles 5IN1 Plus and Searles Complete Plant Food two weeks before planting.

Ongoing care

Once established, keep pansies moist and well fed. Regular removal of spent blooms will keep them flowering well; picking a pretty posy every few days can keep pansies in good health and vigour!

Growing in pots

Pansies are perfect for growing in pots (Easy as! Re-potting Pot Plants). Plant them in Searles Platinum Potting Mix or Searles Premium Potting Mix for best results.

Growing from seed

To grow pansies from seed, sow them into plastic punnets or recycled toilet rolls filled with Searles Seed Raising Mix and keep them moist in a cool, well-lit place. They should germinate in about 2 weeks. Seedling punnets can be wrapped in clear plastic cling wrap to conserve moisture. Once seedlings have a few leaves, they can be planted into pots or garden beds. Keep them moist, especially when young.

Did you know?

Like their cousins the violets and violas, pansies are edible and can make an exciting garnish or addition to fresh garden salads.