Guide to Growing and Planting Pansies

Pansies are an early blooming flower. They bring the joy of spring to a winter weary gardener. I find a clay pot full of pansies out on the front steps or porch to be very cheerful. Seeing this flower in bloom is a sign that full on spring will arrive shortly. In warmer climates pansies will grow during the winter months too.

Pansies: A Colorful Flower

Pansies grow in a riot of color. This flower is not neatly contained. The pansy flowers are rambunctious; that is part of their charm.

Pansy seeds can be grown indoors to get plants ready early, notes Martha Stewart. If you want to try growing the seeds inside keep them moist and in darkness. Placing a dark towel or garbage bag over the seed flats helps maintain darkness and moisture. Start the seeds about two months before you want to place the plants outside.

However, pansies are inexpensive and thus most people buy the flowers already grown and available in flats. I usually get my pansies from the flea market, where the prices are very low and the selection is abundant.

Purple & Yellow Pansies

I like to combine purple and yellow pansies in pots and flower boxes. I find the contrast of the dark and light flowers pleasing. A variety of colors in one pot is a way to add some depth to the flowers. I find pots of all one color pansies a bit dull, but to each his or her own style of growing flowers.

Pansies come in a wide variety of colors. You can find pansies to suit any mood or color scheme. Indeed often people buy far more pansies than expected because once you see them you can't resist getting a few different colors of the flower.

Place Pots of Pansies in Full Sun

Pansies like the sun. They will flower profusely if they get enough sunlight. Also being in the sun highlights the joyous colors of pansies.

Use Pots with Drainage Holes

Use a pot with at least one drainage hole to allow water to run out of the pot when it rains. If water accumulates the pansy roots may rot. I like using a clay pot with pansies, as the pot has a bit of a rustic look.

Deadhead the Pansies Regularly

Once the pansies are flowering take a few minutes to deadhead the pansies regularly. This helps the flowers keep blooming. It also gives you a reason to spend a few more minutes outside when arriving home from work. While you deadhead the pansies it is fun to admire the flowers and enjoy the feeling of being outside, cultivating nature and enjoying the feel of the spring sun on the face.

Edible Flowers

The pansy flower is edible if you don't use toxic commercial fertilizer or sprays on them. Wedding cakes are often decorated with colorful pansies. Some people also eat pansies in salads.

Party Uses for Pansies

Pansies floated in a bowl of water make a pretty decoration for a party table. Also you can use large paper or plastic empty milk cartons to make ice blocks to decorate with at parties. Add a few pansies to the water before freezing and you will have a flower decoration in the icy to add a pretty touch to a buffet table.

One of My Favorite Flowers

I had pots of pansies outside when I used to travel for business a lot. An upstairs neighbor watered them for me when I was away. Upon my arrival home the sight of the cheerful flowers always brought me joy. I would think to myself as I spotted the pansies on the steps "Oh hello my pansies!" The joyful pansies blowing in the wind seemed so free in spirit.

Now I try to always have a pot of pansies on the porch in the early spring months. This helps the spring start a bit earlier. It is delightful to go outside and see flowers in bloom. I am grateful to pansies for stretching out the flower season a bit longer by bursting into bloom in the very early spring.

Sources:

Personal experience

Martha Stewart