Pansies are some of the most charming of potted flowers, with their cheerful faces in shades of purple, yellow, and white brightening the late winter and early spring. They’re equally well-suited to planting indoors or outside in pots.
Potted pansies can last for a couple of years, they will bloom for an extended period when given proper care. Their flowering can last for months when they are deadheaded regularly, watered and fed, and kept out of the hot summer sun. Even better, they may well survive the winter and bloom again the following year!
How to Care for Potted Pansies?
1. Set out pansy plants in pots with fresh, well-draining soil. Water them well, but never let them sit in water, which will rot their roots.
2. Feed them every month or so with a high-phosphorus fertilizer.
3. Keep them in a cool spot in bright, indirect light.
4. Deadhead spent flowers to prevent the plant from going to seed.
5. Provide them with some winter protection outdoors, or bring them in to bloom all winter.
Can Pansies Survive the Winter in Pots?
Depending on the severity of the winter and the variety you’re growing, pansies should be able to survive in large pots through the cold months. They will have a better chance if they are given some protection in either an unheated greenhouse or garage, but it’s not necessary to bring them in to a heated building for the winter.
Potted Pansies Temperature Tolerance?
Pansies will bloom best between 40°-60°F (4°-15°C), making them ideal outdoor potted plants for the early spring. They do not appreciate hot temperatures, so move them to a shady spot for the summer months and keep them well-watered. They will bounce back and bloom again when things cool down in the fall.
However, once temperatures fall below 25°F (-4°C), the foliage will die back and the plants will become dormant for the winter.
Do Potted Pansies Come Back Each Year?
Many gardeners grow pansies as annuals, but they are in fact biennials. After growing for their first season, they go dormant in the winter and will come back if they are given some protection.
In their second year, they flower, set seed, and then die. Often, they self-seed, leading some to think that they are in fact perennials when new flowers spring up in the same spot in succeeding years.
When Should You Plant Pansies in a Pot?
If you’ve brought home pansy plants from the nursery in early spring, you can plant them out in outdoor pots as soon as the soil can be worked. They can survive a late snowfall as long as temperatures don’t plunge too far below freezing.
You can also pot some pansies up in small containers to brighten up the indoors.
Later in the season, as the weather heats up, it’s best to transplant the potted pansies to a spot in your vegetable or flower bed with deep shade to keep them as cool as possible through the hot summer months.
You can then return them to pots on your deck or patio as things cool down in the fall, before moving them to a more sheltered location for the winter.
How Long Do Potted Pansies Take to Grow?
If you are starting them from seed, pansies will take a couple of weeks to germinate, and then about 4 months before they start blooming. If you want them for early spring, you will need to start them inside in late fall and grow them under lights through the winter.
Most gardeners buy plants that are just about to bloom from nurseries, which can then be planted out in the garden or in pots.
How Long Will Potted Pansies Last Inside?
Potted pansies can last for many months when grown indoors, as long as they get the proper care. Plant them in well-draining soil that will stay moist, and keep them out of the direct sun. Deadhead spent flowers and feed them with a high-phosphorus fertilizer to keep them pumping out fresh blooms.
Final Thoughts
You should be able to enjoy the cheerful flowers of pansies almost year-round, between planting them outdoors in spring and fall, or growing them indoors throughout the year!
Read my related potted plants articles:
- How Long Do Potted Gerbera Daisies Last?
- How Long Do Potted Easter Lilies Last?
- How Long Do Potted Hydrangeas Last?
- How Long Do Potted Daffodils Last?
- How Long Do Potted Geraniums Last?
- How Long Do Potted Azaleas Last?
- What to Do with Potted Plants at End of Season?
- How Long Do Potted Hyacinths Last?
Janice is a retired High School teacher who is spending her leisure years keeping busy with all sorts of projects. Aside from freelance writing, she’s an enthusiastic amateur chef, home wine maker, and tends a large raised-bed vegetable garden, while at the same time running a Bed & Breakfast.