Pansies are popular and versatile bedding plants, known for their cheerful blooms and ability to provide colour in gardens, borders and containers. However, their delicate petals can get damaged easily by getting too much sun or too much rain. This makes caring for them essential throughout the blooming period.
Whilst their petals may begin to fade in the summer, you can extend their blooming period for much longer. A gardening blogger has said pansies will “bloom big well beyond spring” if you follow three essential tasks, including fertilising them, deadheading and watering.
The This is My Garden blogger said: “With a little fertilising, deadheading and good watering, panies can continue to flourish not only through late spring but even into the early weeks of summer, bringing long-lasting colour to flowerbeds and containers in the process.”
1. Fertilising
Providing pansies with the right nutrients is essential for maintaining strong growth and, according to the expert, these acid-loving plants require a balanced supply of nitrogen and potassium.
This unique preference sets them apart from other popular flowers, which often thrive on high levels of phosphorus.
The trick to feeding these garden plants is to apply nutrients in smaller, more frequent doses rather than large amounts infrequently.
2. Deadheading
Another way to keep pansies blooming is by deadheading them, removing the faded flowers as soon as they start to wilt.
Not only does this keep the plant looking tidy, according to the blogger, it also helps “encourage” new blooms to form fast.
The blogger said: “When old flowers stay on the plant, they drain energy that could be used for fresh growth.
“By removing these old and fading blooms, you allow the plant to focus its energy on creating more flowers.”
3. Watering
Pansies need regular watering to keep them healthy and blooming for as long as possible, according to the This is My Garden blog.
They prefer consistently moist soil but not overly wet conditions so make sure to water deeply when the top inch of the soil feels dry, ensuring it reaches the roots.
However, avoid letting it become too soggy as pansies are prone to root rot in overly damp environments.
The perfect time to water them is in the morning, as it allows the foliage to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.