Emily Chan
Potted pansies may need a little more water than ones that are in the ground. To tell when they need a good soak, stick your finger into the soil down to the knuckle to see if it’s dry. Every two weeks, apply a well-balanced fertilizer to your winter pansies.
Keep winter pansies in temperatures that range from 40 to 60 degrees. While they can withstand cooler weather, you’ll want to protect them from prolonged cold spells and deep freezes. When harsher conditions approach, shield your crop with a towel, sheet, or a layer of mulch. Be sure to continue watering the flowers until a hard freeze.
Common Problems
One issue you might come face to face with is leaf discoloration. If the leaves start to turn yellow, that’s usually a sign of overwatering. If any of the yellow leaves drop, remove them immediately so disease won’t develop.
Brown or black leaves also indicate improper watering. It may also be the result of a fungal disease. If this is the case, remove the affected foliage and apply fungicides to control the spread.
Winter pansies make a tasty snack for aphids and slugs, so watch out for those greedy pests. A clever trick to get rid of slugs is to fill a shallow dish with a bit of beer and place it at ground level. The slugs will be drawn to the liquid and leave your pansies alone. You can deter aphids by treating the foliage with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
