Thymely Tips for Growing Pansies in Containers

It’s so easy to add color and vibrancy to your garden with beautiful pansies! Here are a few thymely tips for Growing Pansies in Containers!

These adorable flowers are one of the first flowers to bloom in the Spring! Are you looking for tips on growing pansies in containers?  Let me share some of the things I have learned!

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

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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!

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 !

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!

Since one of the sentiments of pansies is “I am missing you” , it just seemed perfect timing to share 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 (really 2!) 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 that part about forbidding me to ever own a restaurant!  You can read more about that here: Sprout, Grow, Bloom

and now, back to how to grow pansies in a container…..

Thymely tips for Growing Pansies in Containers

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.

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 in Illinois.

To plant pansies the heart shaped container (or any container), add some potting soil to the bottom. You will want to use a good quality, light and airy potting mix.   You can choose one specifically blended for flowers and vegetables, or opt for an all-purpose mix fortified with food-grade slow release fertilizer. It’s important not to pack the soil down too tightly as this can restrict root growth and impair drainage.

When choosing your pot or container, be sure to pick one that is large enough for your plants to develop properly. This will also prevent moisture buildup in the root zone which can cause problems with root rot.

After your container is filled about 2/3 full with potting mix, 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!

A Few More Thymely Tips for Growing Pansies in Containers

1. fertilize monthly with water-soluble bloom fertilizer
   Fertilizing your pansies is an important step in ensuring they thrive and develop lots of beautiful blooms. Monthly feeding with a  water-soluble bloom fertilizer is recommended. Before applying the fertilizer, dilute the solution to half the strength written on the label, as too much fertilizer can damage the plants. Follow label instructions for proper dosages depending on container size and plant age, remembering to cut the fertilizer amount in half.
2. provide plenty of sun and water to containers daily
   Pansies do much better if they have plenty of direct sun (at least 6 hours a day). Pansies also need to be watered regularly.  Be sure to check the soil daily and water until it’s damp.   Water in the mornings so that any excess moisture has time to evaporate before evening.

 

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