Flower (pansy) problems?

I bought a pot of Pansies from WalMart in early May. Those stupid things won't stay alive! I water them daily, but it looks like they're as dead as a doornail.





A friend of mine (who is slighly more knowledgable about flowers than I am -- and that's not much! LOL) said that they really hate a ton of sun and hot weather, and they'll get better in the fall, as long as I keep taking care of them like I'm doing now, even though they look pretty pathetic.





Is this true? or should I give up the fight?

Flower (pansy) problems?
Pansy's do best in the spring and can tolerate light frost. We plant them in our window boxes for early spring color in late March. By June the foliage, as you have noticed is a little worse for the wear. We pull them out, put them in the compost pile and plant the next flowers, this year impatiens and sweet potato vines.





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Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
Reply:Pansies don't like heat. The cooler temps that you get with rain help them think it's still springtime.





I use them in my beds in spring and fall for color, knowing that the heat is gonna take them down by June.





They do stay with me all winter where I live though.. that's a plus!
Reply:They're a spring/fall flower, love. In Ohio, many don't even return in the fall.





Just deadhead the dying blossoms and pinch off the dried stem and leaf parts so the ones left living are getting all the nutrition instead of sharing it with the dying parts. You might also want to bring them in while you're at work and set them out on your deck in the evening hours so they're not getting the harsher heat of the day.
Reply:return them - they are defective...
Reply:Too much water
Reply:Pansies are annual flowers, meaning they need to be replanted each year. They are also cold hardy plants , they will trade the beach for the mountains anytime. Struggle as you may, your likelihood of keeping them alive to their next season is slim. When you plant them in the fall, keep this tidbit of information handy: They are one of the few plants that bloom on nitrogen. Also edible, some finer restaurants will use the blooms in salads.
Reply:Pansies will get alittle sick in real hot weather and yes you might be overwatering them. Mind are in a semi shade spot. Full sun in the morning and alittle bit of shade in the mid to late day sun. They do not like to be in real damp conditions and can tolerate some dryness. I would cut back on the watering alot, maybe only twice a week. Set them where they are shaded alittle more and if you remove the spent blooms with few of the leaves also this will promote more blooms and growth. It is hard to say if they have pasted their limit but I would say that since you noticed a few more blooms that they are still salvageable. Most of the time they will stop producing as many blooms when they weather gets too hot but yes they normally will give you another show when the evenings start to get cooler again and they should last up to late fall. I have had them bloom with snow around them in the early spring and late fall here in the NC mtns.


You might also want to check to make sure that the aphids are not sucking the sap out of them. If you see small green, red or gray insects that cluster near tops of shoots, hose them off with a water hose or spray with a solution of water mixed with alittle dish soap to kill them. This might possibly be the problem also. But I would cut back on the water too.


I hope this helps. Good luck and don't give up. You can get that green thumb with practice.


~smiles~


Mely
Reply:I'm from Kentucky and I have pansies. Even though it is really hot and they are in full sun, they're doing great. Try only watering them every other day. In the meantime pinch off the deadheads so the others that are blooming will get more nutrition. I say don't give up the fight. Keep trying.
Reply:Pansies are members of the viola family, which includes violets. They like it cool, so they thrive in the spring and fall. They can even winter over in some places in the south where the freezes are not too severe.





Now, another problem is that you purchased these plants from Walmart. Who knows where they came from. I would suggest supporting a local greenhouse in the future, as long as the price differential is not so great.
Reply:They do better in the ground, mulch will also help keep the roots cooler. Pick a nice shady spot, if they make it you will have Pansy's again in the fall. Sometimes they can survive a mild winter too.
Reply:1. She's right. Pansies and Violas are generally Spring and Fall flowers. Typically, they're planted in the Fall for a little color, overwinter, and then come back strong in the Spring. But they are treated more like Annuals in that most gardeners remove them over the summer and replant. Pansies and Violas do not like hot weather - period. They hate it.





2. And do watch the water. More plants drown than dry up.





3. If this is in a bed, you can add Marigolds or Impatiens in between the Pansies for color. They'll die back later in the seaon and next Spring your Pansies will be bigger and stronger than ever.
Reply:Contrary to prior comment - I've bought a lot of plants at WalMart (they have a great selection and great prices) and they're all thriving.





Pansies definitely don't like the heat. Whereabouts do you live? Do you have them still in the pot or did you plant them in your yard? Can you move the pot or replant them in a different area of your yard where they'll get less sunlight? Mine are on my deck so they get sun in the morning only - and they're thriving. I have noticed, though, that if it's particularly warm (not all that often here in WA) they get a bit wilted.

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