Growing Needs for Pansies

Find a location in the landscape to plant pansies located in full to part sun. Full sun is exposure to at least six hours of direct sunlight each day and part sun is exposure to at least four hours. Morning sun exposure is better than afternoon sun exposure because it warms the plants faster during cold weather. Select a well-drained location, as pansies rot if planted in cold wet soil.

Take a soil test to find out the pH of the soil. Pansies grow best when the pH level of the soil is 5.6 to 6.0 and grow stunted or have yellow leaves if the pH level is incorrect. Contact your local county agricultural extension office for assistance with a soil test.

Remove all competing vegetation from the planting area. Incorporate a 4- to 6-inch layer of compost, along with the recommended soil amendments from the soil test, into the top 6 inches of soil using a shovel and a hoe. Rake the area smooth.

Purchase pansy plants when they arrive at your local nursery. The local nursery will sell the correct variety of pansy plants for your area at the time of year when you need to plant them. The number of pansy plants needed depends on the size of the planting area. Plant pansies growing in six or eight packs 6 inches apart and plant larger specimens in 4-inch pots, 8 inches apart. Look for healthy, sturdy plants with no sign of stress or disease.

Plant the pansies in a checkerboard fashion beginning from the back of the flowerbed. Plant them at the same depth as they are planted in their planting container.

Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch around the pansy plants to conserve moisture and keep the soil cool. Pansies grow best when the soil temperature is 65 degrees Fahrenheit and cooler.

Water pansies as often as necessary to keep them from becoming stressed from lack of water. Always water pansies by placing the water around the plants so the foliage, flowers and the center of the plant do not get wet. Do not allow the soil around the pansies to remain waterlogged, however.

Fertilize pansies with a low-phosphorous water-soluble fertilizer with a fertilizer ratio of 15-3-20 or similar. The middle number, which represents phosphorous, should be dramatically lower than the other two numbers that represent nitrogen and potassium. Fertilize according to directions on the fertilizer label.

Pinch off the old pansy blooms to force the plant to create more blooms and have a bushier growth habit.