How to Care for Your Pansies

Pansies are very easy to care for when planted in the right type of soil.

Feeding - Pansies are a low nutrient plant meaning they do not require much fertilizer. At time of planting fertilize with a timed-release plant food to feed your pansies over many months. Use a specialty Pansy Food that contains nitrate nitrogen. Mixing the fertilizer into the soil before setting out the plants is recommended. Reapply fertilizer in late winter/early Spring to promote profuse blooming. Alternatively, you may use a natural or organic fertilizer every 4 to 6 weeks to promote health and increased blooming. Removing faded blooms will also stimulate more flower production.

Pruning - Pansies do not require pruning, however deadheading (removing spent flowers and stems) helps to increase flowering. If you purchase pansy plants that have "stretched" (become leggy) in the pots they are growing in, cut them back by 50% of their height at time of planting. Doing so will promote quicker "rooting in" and a bushier plant that will produce more stems and flowers.

Watering - Water your pansies only when necessary and during the morning hours. Watering in the late evening or at night may cause fungus development. Overly-saturated or consistently wet soil can promote the onset of damaging disease such as stem rot. Allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings to avoid this and other diseases. Remember, during the cooler months soils do not dry out as quickly.

Pest and Disease Problems - Pansies don't have many problems with insects as most are not active during the cool season. If you plant your pansies in well-drained soil ,and don't over-water, diseases are usually not a problem. If any individual plants develop stem rot, identified by a black ring or section of the stem, remove them immediately and discard to avoid spreading.