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How to Grow Pansies in A Pot

May 1, 2025 by Kimberly Snyder 2 Comments

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These adorable flowers are one of the first flowers to bloom in the Spring! Are you curious about how to grow pansies in a pot?

Before I get into the specifics of how to grow pansies in a pot or container, I would like to share a few things about pansies!

spring flower tower made with pansies

The origin of the pansy actually stems from the tri-color viola which is a European wildflower.  Both pansies and violas are attractive, versatile and compact plants.  They are the perfect plants to be used in borders, window boxes and patio pots.

The way the petals are arranged and the various colors that the plants come in, some people call the blossoms “faces”.  Pansies have such sweet faces!  Pansies come in a wide range of colors, including red, white, purple, yellow, and apricot. They are even available in a diverse assortment of shades of blue!   Very few flowers are available in the color blue!

peat pot with blue pansies

Pansies and violas are considered cold-tolerant annuals.  They really don’t like the heat so they are best enjoyed from fall thru spring.  To learn more about cold-tolerant annuals, please visit this post: Cold Tolerant Annuals for Spring Planting

White Violas

Pansies & The Language of Flowers

The language of flowers is very interesting topic. The language of herbs and flowers has been used in Europe for centuries, but it reached its height of popularity during the reign of Queen Victoria.  The first floral dictionary was assembled in France in 1819.  This work became the basis for several floral dictionaries that were published in later years.

Every plant had a different meaning.  Sometimes a single plant could have different meanings depending on how the plant was used or grown.  Certain plants had religious significance as well.  The language of herbs and flowers is called floriography.

In Victorian times, messages were sent via the use of tussie mussies.  Tussie mussies date back to the 1400s. They were small bundles of herbs and flowers, each with a symbolic meaning, carried to help ward off sickness and freshen the air.  Tussie mussies are sometimes referred to as nosegays. The name came from ladies holding the bouquets close to their noses whenever they would leave their homes.

Tussie mussies were often wrapped in a doily.  The sender would carefully chose a variety of herbs and flowers to convey various sentiments. The pansy had several different meanings but they are surrounded the word thought or thinking.  Using pansies in a tussie mussie could also signify that one person was missing the other person.

Which is leads nicely into the reason I am talking about pansies this week!

Mother’s Day is Coming Soon!

With Mother’s Day only a little more than a week away and one of the sentiments of pansies is “I am missing you” , it just seems perfect timing to write this post!  Pansies were one of my Mom’s favorite flowers! She also liked violets, iris and roses!  But today, we will focus on her love of pansies!

My parents were older when they had me.  My Mom had at least two miscarriages and then she gave birth to my sister, Robin. Robin was born in February.  Did you know each month has a birth flower?  Can you guess what the flower for February is?  That’s right, pansies!

I am not sure if that is why my Mom loved pansies but it an interesting coincidence! Sadly, Robin only lived 11 days.  When I was going thru family papers during the downsizing/moving process, I discovered a scrapbook I had never seen before.  At first, I thought it was about me but I had already found one about my birth, so I was a bit puzzled.  I opened it and found that it was one that my Mom had put together for Robin.  It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. It started out with her birth announcement and all the letters and cards my parents received congratulating them.  The first half was full of happy mementos. Her birth certificate from the hospital with her little footprint on it was in there, too.  About midway thru the scrapbook, I found her death announcement and the sympathy cards and letters.  It was gut wrenching.

My Mom didn’t talk about it much, so I don’t have all the facts.   Medical technology has come a long way since the 1950s. I knew my sister was born premature and only weighed a little over 4 pounds. I was told that my Mom never got to hold her.  She was in an incubator the whole time she was alive.  Piecing together things I remember hearing and what I found in the scrapbook, I believe Robin caught bacterial meningitis while she was being born.  My Mom spent 6 days in the hospital before coming home. Robin died 5 days later. They only had one picture of her.  Mom must have used the process of making the scrapbook as a way to remember Robin while working thru her grief. Looking back, I don’t remember my Dad ever talking about Robin.  He kept all his feeling tucked away.

As you can expect, the loss of my sister Robin affected them deeply. So when I finally arrived 6 years later, I was very sheltered as I was growing up.  And maybe a tad spoiled….

It really wasn’t until after my Mom was gone that I realized that she was my biggest cheerleader.  She supported me in whatever I decided to do.  Well, except for the part about forbidding me to ever own a restaurant!  You can read more about that here: Sprout, Grow, Bloom

Mother & Daughter 7/10/93 wedding

How to Grow Pansies In A Pot or Container

Pansies actually do quite well in a container.  It is important to use potting soil designed for plants in containers.  Water the pansies regularly. Keep the container in a sunny location during the cooler months.  When it starts to get hotter, the containers can be moved to a location where they will get the morning sun.

planter in the shape of a heart

This heart shaped container will make a great container for planting pansies!  The drainage hole looks like it is plugged up so I will be sure to fix that before I add my potting soil!

Pansies are often sold by the flat or in smaller packs.  There is a flat of pansies on the bottom left of this potting bench.  This bench used to sit outside my flower shop.

To plant the heart shaped container, add some potting soil to the bottom.  Gently remove the pansy plants from the packaging and place in the container.  Add enough potting soil to cover the roots and add support to the pansy plants.  If you want, you can add some sheet moss over the top of the soil to help retain moisture.  It also helps the planter look more finished!

heart shaped planter with pansies

Pansy Themed Decor Items

If you have been following me for very long, you probably already know that my Mom collected a lot of different things.  She once wrote down the alphabet and she had a collection for every letter except X  I think!  While I wasn’t able to keep everything from all of her collections, I did keep several of her pansy items.

a trio of pansy themed decor items

I even added a few items of my own!

pansy themed place setting

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Blog Post, Flowers Tagged With: Language of Flowers, Mother's Day, Spring

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  1. Mother's Day "Forget Me Not" Dough Bowl - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    May 7, 2022 at 7:02 am

    […] Since I am making this arrangement for a Mother’s Day brunch, I wanted to choose plants that would remind me of my mother.  I lost her almost 8 years ago.  More about my Mom can be found here How to Grow Pansies in a Pot […]

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  2. Tips for Growing Pansies in the Fall - From Farmhouse to Florida says:
    July 4, 2023 at 2:06 pm

    […] How to Grow Pansies in a Pot […]

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Hello! Kimberly (Kim) Snyder and I'm glad you're here. An entrepreneurial spirit, I've owned a flower shop and antiques store, a pizza parlor and now we're in Florida living a new adventure. Join me as we downsize into our new digs and continue the adventures! WRITER & BLOGGER

Kimberly Snyder shares the adventures of moving to Florida and beginning again in a new space as a herbalist, a creative, and a serial entrepreneur

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Not sure if I ever shared this version of the pott Not sure if I ever shared this version of the potting bench. I started decorating it with a lavender theme. I must have gotten distracted before I finished it! It just needs a few potted lavender plants ti finish it! #lavender #farmhousedecorating #gardenstyle #fromfarmhousetoflorida #pottingbench
Simple Summer sugar mold idea! I made the flower o Simple Summer sugar mold idea! I made the flower out of the trim from an old pillowcase.  #sugarmoldcenterpiece #sugarmolddecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida #farmhousedecor #fauxhydrangeas #gardenstyledecor #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
Mother’s Day week is here! If you have been foll Mother’s Day week is here! If you have been following me for a while, you know I can’t resist filling a dough bowl (or2) with blooming plants! I designed this one with a combination of vintage garden tools, an old book and a selection of plants.  It would make the perfect gift fire that special Mom in your life! #mothersdaygifts #mothersday #mothersdaygiftideas #gardenstyle #farmhousedoughbowl #doughbowl #kimstyledecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida
I don’t talk about my faith a lot. I do believe I don’t talk about my faith a lot.  I do believe God puts certain people in your path for a reason.  An example of this occurred on Tuesday.  It was colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy day.  I was really nervous about how it would all work since it was my first time since I had my cancer surgery. 

 The nurse that was taking care of me in the pre op area turned out to be the same nurse who had prayed for me last year. My husband was in the parking lot of the medical center speaking with his friend who happened to work at the center with this particular nurse. I was very sick at the time and they prayed for my healing.  It was great to be able to thank her in person and let her see that the prayers had been answered. ❤️

Then the anesthesiologist came in and told me about his cousin who had also been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer about a year ago. He mentioned some of the treatments his cousin had had and how important a positive attitude is.  I was touched that he took the time to tell me about his cousin’s experience. 

 We had arranged in advance to have my husband’s friend as the nurse anesthesist.  He was able to pray with us as well as reassure us about the procedure.

The procedure went well. The three polyps that the surgeon removed were sent to pathology.  The report is already back and there no evidence of cancer.  Prayers were answered again❤️

#coloncancersurvivor #coloncancer  #coloncancersucks  #colonoscopy #sigmoidoscopy  #fromfarmhousetoflorida
Celebrating my “roots” for Earth Day and beyon Celebrating my “roots” for Earth Day and beyond! The tractor was painted a few years ago by a dear family friend @annrund  The two white wooden hearts were purchased at one of my favorite shops in Illinois @thefeatherednest1  #fromfarmhousetoflorida #farmhousedecorating #gardenstyledecor #gardenstyle #kimstyledecor
Instagram post 18068406688937948 Instagram post 18068406688937948
Two different ways to display this Easter bunny: r Two different ways to display this Easter bunny: rustic wooden box or an oval dough bowl! Which do you like better? #eastervignette #fromfarmhousetoflorida #easterdisplay #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
Need a quick dough bowl decor idea? Simply tie mus Need a quick dough bowl decor idea? Simply tie muslin ribbon around a bouquet of silk tulips! I used white but any color would work! #doughbowls #farmhousedoughbowl #farmhousedecor #fromfarmhousetoflorida #cottagedecor #kimstyledecor
In honor of National Pet Day, sharing the first ti In honor of National Pet Day, sharing the first time I met Mowgli! He jumped right up into my arms proving he was #destinedtofly  I just happened to be wearing a #antomiestyle tank!  With Capri jeans, it makes an #everydayanatomie look!

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