Viola x wittrockiana (Pansy) is a biennial or short-lived perennial, often grow as an annual. A most popular bedding plant for cool weather, it boasts large, 2-4 in. across (5-10 cm), rounded, lightly scented flowers with a face pattern.
Consistent moisture keeps pansy blossoms soft and supple, but roots won't tolerate soggy soil. Water pansies regularly through the growing season, but allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. The drier soil conditions also help pansies harden off and tolerate cold.
They do best in full sun to partial shade. In borders, pansies can make a display on their own or mixed with other bedding plants.
The standard fertility program used on summer annuals — 200 ppm 20-20-20 or a slow release/granular fertilizer — should work well for pansies during the remainder of the growing season.
If you find that your Pansies aren't blooming and areas are thick with stem growth, you should prune them. Pruning the thick areas will allow the nutrients to feed the other parts of the plant and produce blooms. Remove all dropped leaves, blossoms and stems on the ground.
Pansies grow best when soil temperatures range between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring planting roughly coincides with planting your earliest spring vegetables. Long, cool springs in northern gardens equate to long-lasting pansy displays.
