Planting, growing and caring for pansies outdoors

Cute and gentle Pansies adorn most summer cottages. Low bushes with bright variegated flowers enliven the view and delight the eye. Viola is a favorite of flower growers, she is appreciated for its unpretentiousness and long decorative effect. Consider the details of growing Pansies - planting and care, variety selection, as well as the main problems of inexperienced growers.

Description and features

Pansies are called flowers with the name Viola (Viola), belonging to the Violet family. Other names are violet, tricolor viola, Ivan da Marya. All the names have firmly taken root, the flower has long been grown in summer cottages, flower beds, in pots and flowerpots.

Natural species of viola came from the northern hemisphere, known since ancient times. Pansies are loved for long flowering, unpretentiousness, brightness, refined simplicity. They are able to decorate the site with a colorful carpet, their cheerful appearance pleases the eye and cheers up.

Garden violets are herbaceous plants cultivated as annuals, biennials or perennials.

The viola bush grows up to 10-30 centimeters, the leaves are simple or dissected. Flowers are solitary, occasionally collected in medium-sized inflorescences (brush, panicle, spike). The fruit is a capsule with a large number of seeds.

By crossing natural species, breeders have obtained many varieties and hybrids. In recent years, F1 hybrids have become more common. They bloom for a long time, get sick less, retain their decorative effect for several months. Flowers are even, absolutely identical in color.

Older viola varieties, with long flowering, gradually became paler and smaller, hybrids are just as good in autumn as at the beginning of the season.

Natural species of viola are colored yellow, white and purple, as a result of selection, the color of flowers has expanded. Multicolor varieties appeared, with strokes, specks, and a border. The colors of the petals are very different - orange, pink (Northern Lights), purple (Red Giant), almost black.

In the process of breeding, viola varieties with simple and corrugated petals, double and semi-double flowers were created. By removing faded buds, you can extend the flowering period. High frost resistance allows you to grow Pansies in any region.

Viola varieties with large (up to 10 centimeters) flowers are especially popular. Small-flowered species delight with a large number of buds, which almost completely hide the greenery.

Growing seedlings

For early flowering, Pansies are best planted with seedlings. Most species tolerate transplanting even with buds and flowers. Many growers, with a delay in planting, admire the bright violets at home.

How to plant correctly

For planting viola, use new or carefully treated with fungicides used containers with a depth of 10 centimeters. A drainage layer is laid out at the bottom, the soil is lightly tamped, spilled and left until moisture is completely absorbed. Small grooves are made on the surface (up to 5 millimeters). Dry viola seeds are scattered from a pinch or from a sheet of paper into the ground, trying to maintain a distance of 0.6-1 centimeters.

Fall asleep with dry soil, rubbing it in the palms. Pour warm water from a spray bottle. The container is covered with foil or glass and left in a dark place at a temperature of 15-20 °. Viola shoots appear in 6-10 days.

Soil selection

Ready-made soil mixture for violets is the best choice for planting. When self-preparation of soil for viola, humus, peat, sand and fertile soil are combined in equal parts. Before using its own soil, it is disinfected by calcining or freezing.

Seed preparation

The seeds of Pansies are small and difficult to work with. Most plant seed without germination, since the viola sprouts are easy to break. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for an hour in a stimulant solution - Zircon or Epin. Then they are dried by spreading them out on paper.

Timing

For early planting of viola in the ground, sowing is carried out in February, for cold regions - in early March. Even if you have to plant Pansies with flowers and buds, rooting will take place quickly. To get early-flowering varieties, seeds are sown in the summer, right into the ground, so that the bushes have time to take root and strengthen. In this case, in April, Pansies will bloom from last year's planting.

Watering

After emergence, the containers are transferred to a lighted place. Watering is carried out as the soil dries out - Pansies cannot stand excess moisture and puddles. Watered gently, under the root, with a small watering can or spray.

Top dressing

Top dressing for viols is necessary no more than once every 2 weeks. They use special fertilizers for violets or ordinary mineral complexes with potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen. It is important not to exceed the norms recommended in the instructions.

Picking

A pick of Pansies is carried out when growing 2 leaves. The seedling is removed from the container with a clod of earth, the central root is carefully pruned. This stimulates lateral root growth and rapid engraftment.

Overgrown seedlings can be dived again, deepening to the leaves and without bending the roots.

Topping

After regrowth of 4-6 permanent leaves, the top of the viola is pinched to form lateral shoots. This is done in the absence of the sun, at a temperature of 15-18 °.

Landing in open ground

The timing of the landing of Pansies depends on climatic conditions and weather. In order not to destroy the seedlings, they wait for persistent heat. For cultivation on loggias and balconies, they can be planted in April, viola seedlings are transferred to open ground in May-June.

Many people sow Pansies directly into the ground. This is advisable in the following cases:

• for early flowering next year - sowing in July-August;
• for flowering in late summer-autumn - sowing in May-June.

When sown in the ground in May, some varieties of Pansies bloom before snow, and the next year they bloom in April.

Seat selection

Pansies bloom well in partial shade and in the sun. Features of growing viola in different conditions:

• in constant sun, in heat, flowering can stop until autumn;
• in shaded areas, the flowers are smaller, but flowering is not interrupted, the site should be in the sun for 5-6 hours.

Pansies love drained soils without stagnant water; in places where puddles accumulate, the roots can rot.

Soil requirements

The soil for the viola is prepared in advance, the beds are dug up, spilled with fungicides. Humus, sand, peat are added to the soil. Fresh manure is not used. The acidity of the soil is neutral, Pansies do not like excess sand.

Take a look also

Planting and caring for Rogers in the open field, its types and growing rules

How to plant

Planting Pansies should not be thickened - the recommended distance between flowers is 15-30 centimeters, depending on the size of the bush. With a closer neighborhood, crowding contributes to poor ventilation, fungal diseases develop, and pests spread more easily. When planting viola in containers, the plant needs 1-2 liters of soil.

When sowing seeds in the ground, it is important not to cover with too much soil. The soil needs to be kneaded well, it is better to sift.

Care

In order for the viola flowers to be large and bright, the bushes to give many buds, it is important to follow the rules of care.

Watering

Watering is carried out with warm water in the morning or evening. In hot weather, the bushes can be sprayed when there is no sun. Viols do not like stagnant water - you need to water it sparingly, waiting for the soil to dry out.

Loosening and weeding

Weeding provides air to the viola roots and improves vegetation. They loosen the soil around the plants regularly, removing weeds and dead parts of the bushes.

If the summer is hot, to maintain moisture, the Pansy beds are mulched with organic matter.

Pruning

Old viola bushes need to be pruned in time to start a new growing season. All old shoots are cut off, leaving 5-6 centimeters with leaves. The bush will grow quickly, give buds. To ensure the continued growth of the buds, the wilted flowers are removed, preventing the seed pods from growing.

Top dressing

The bushes are fed 2-3 times per season. Choose mineral complexes or individual fertilizers with potassium (potassium nitrate), phosphorus (superphosphate), nitrogen. It is useful to use biological products for root and foliar dressing, Agricola.

Important: organics are not used for violets.

Wintering

Preparing Pansies for winter is easy. Bushes need to be cut at the beginning of a cold snap, watering and fertilization are not required. Perennial varieties of viola are distinguished by good winter hardiness. For insulation, they are covered with spruce branches, dry hay or foliage. Synthetic materials are not used. It is important to remove the insulation in early spring in order to prevent decay.

Transfer

The transplant is used to rejuvenate the culture, transfer to a more convenient place with better conditions. It is not necessary to grow viola in one place for a long time.

Pansy bushes are dug out in early spring, when there is no active growth. The beds and soil must be prepared in advance. Some summer residents are dividing the bushes, although there is a risk of ruining the plant completely. In autumn, the viola is not transplanted so as not to weaken before frost.

Main problems

Let's consider the most common problems when growing seedlings of Pansies.

Seeds do not sprout

The reason for the absence of viola shoots can be:

• non-viable seeds;
• excessive burial into the soil;
• heavy soil.

You should be patient - sometimes sprouts appear after a month. If you want to sow new seeds, you need to take into account these errors.

Seedlings are thin, lie down

The main reasons for the thinning of viola sprouts:

1. Dense planting. Plants are cramped, there is not enough space. Thinning is done very carefully.
2. Lack of light. In low light, use an electric light for the Pansy seedlings.

Plants may lack nitrogen and weaken and fall. Conduct top dressing with nitrofoskoy (NPK complex).

Seedlings withered as soon as the glass was removed

When the shelter is removed from the viola, the water balance and temperature around the seedlings change. The microclimate inside the greenhouse is different than in the room. It is necessary to establish proper watering, transfer containers to a cool place without direct sunlight.

Another cause of wilting can be root rot that has passed from the infected soil. It is necessary to inspect the viola sprouts, if necessary, pour them with fungicides.

Reproduction

Like most plants, viola is propagated by seeds and vegetatively.

Cuttings

Planting viola cuttings allows you to propagate hybrid varieties, fully preserving the maternal properties of the culture.

For cuttings, take the final shoots with 2-3 nodes. The garden bed is made in a shaded place. The soil is prepared, enriched with humus and mineral fertilizers, well moistened. Viola cuttings are planted tightly, deepening a centimeter so that the foliage of neighbors is in contact. Increase moisture by making a greenhouse shelter.

The appearance of new leaves indicates rooting. Ready viola seedlings are transferred to a permanent place. So the outdated plantings of Pansies are rejuvenated.

Self seeding

The life of a viola flower ends with the formation of a seed box. When spreading seeds, the plantation is enlarged by self-seeding. Note that hybrids do not reproduce in this way.

Young shoots of Pansies from discarded seeds often do not have high decorative properties. Many summer residents pick off faded buds in order to increase the flowering time and leave the plant strength without the formation of seeds.

Diseases and pests

Most viola diseases are fungal in nature and develop with an excess of watering, an incorrectly selected area or a rainy summer.

Powdery mildew

Whitish spots on the foliage of Pansies indicate a powdery mildew infection. They gradually increase, they can tighten the entire plant. The diseased bush is removed. The rest of the viols are treated with folk remedies or fungicides.

Gray rot

The fungal infection affects stems, foliage and flowers. First, gray-brown spots appear on the lower old leaves; if untreated, they spread to the entire viola bush. For elimination use fungicides, regulate watering.

Blackleg

More often affects young bushes. Identified by a dark ring on the stem near the soil. The stem rots, the bush collapses. Sick viols are isolated, treated with fungicides, biological products.

Spotting

Spots appear on different parts of the leaf, it curls and dries out. A diseased specimen of viola is dug up. The rest are treated with Bordeaux liquid 2-3 times.

Caterpillars of clover scoop and mother-of-pearl violet

If holes appear on the leaves of the viola, these are traces of pests eating the plant. The bushes are examined, the caterpillars are removed manually. With a large number of pests, insecticides are used. From folk remedies, tobacco infusion is used.

Collection and storage of seeds

Viola seeds are harvested from fully ripe seed pods. They appear in place of faded buds in August-September. You need to wait for the box to dry and open. The collected seeds are dried at home and sent to the refrigerator for storage.

Reference: if seeds are not harvested, viola multiplies by self-sowing. The plantings are thickening, the bushes interfere with each other.

Kinds

More than 500 types of viola are known. Breeders have created many varieties and hybrids with large flowers, bright colors, frost and disease resistance.

Wittrock

Natural species are found in temperate zones. The main difference is the real peephole in the center, which gave the name to the flowers.A small bush grows up to 15-40 centimeters, the diameter of the flowers is 5-10 centimeters. Terry and simple varieties from this species are cultivated. They grow more often, like biennials.

Single color

It occurs naturally in the Far East and Siberia. It has a slightly deepened rhizome, from which leaves and bright yellow flowers grow in spring. The flower lives for 2 weeks, the bush continues to develop until mid-August, then retires until spring. Popular varieties are Blue Boy, Viola Belaya.

Bicolor

In bicolor viols, they combine tones of similar color, the petals are colored differently, the upper ones are usually lighter than the lower ones. Varieties - Jupiter, Saint Knud.

Spotted

Spotted species are often distinguished by an outlandish color with individual specks and stripes along the edges. Petal colors are the most extraordinary, often contrasting. There are many hybrids popular with flower growers.

Horned

The bushes spread along the ground and form a carpet. Stems - triangular, foliage with teeth, up to 6 centimeters. The main feature is a small bent petal (horn) at the bottom of the flower. There are many flowers, the diameter is 3-5 centimeters, the color is in a violet-lilac scale with a yellow center.

Reference: many varieties of viola bloom from May to September.

Fragrant

A perennial plant with a pleasant aroma. The foliage is rounded, very large. Flowers of violet shades. In nature, it blooms in May for about 20 days, often blooms again in the fall, after rest.

Moth

Viola moth blooms in single flowers. The color of all petals, except for the upper one, is purple, the center is white-yellow. The upper petal is white with a lilac stripe in the center. Long bloom - April-June.

Small-flowered

Species and varieties with small flowers usually bloom profusely, bushes are strewn with buds. The plant has up to 15-20 flowers. They are cute, look great in high planters and planters, and create fields with lots of bright spots.

Large-flowered

Varieties with large flowers are a priority for many summer residents. Breeders have worked to create large-flowered varieties and hybrids:

• Spring Matrix Block Mix;
• Morpheus;
• White;
• Cats.

Flowers grow up to 9-11 centimeters, well decorate borders, alpine slides.

Cornut

Viola cornuta, she is also horned, is distinguished by the presence of a separately located spur on the back of the lower side of the flower. Some hybrids hibernate poorly, they cannot withstand severe frosts. The hybrids are colored red, orange, yellow; varieties are usually in purple tones.

Popular varieties

Some of the most popular varieties are Pansies with a long flowering period, bright, fancy colors.

White

An exquisitely simple flower with snow-white petals. It is enlivened by a small yellow core. The representative of the species is Wittrock. It blooms well in the sun and shade. Easily survives a transplant in a flowering state.

Blue fight

On low bushes (up to 15 centimeters), bluish-blue flowers with a yellow core.

Rua de Negri

Differs in long flowering, which, under favorable conditions, lasts from May to October. The yellow peephole in the center stands out brightly against a very dark velvet background. Flower size - 4-6 centimeters, petals with a small flounce along the edge.

Red

Red flower lovers will appreciate this variety of Pansies. Deep red petals with almost invisible dark center. The size is impressive - almost 7 centimeters.

Jupiter

Small bushes are covered with flowers (up to 12-17 pieces). The bright purple center of the petals is surrounded by a white border that expands at the top of the flower. Pleasing to the eye all summer, winters firmly.

Beaconsfield

Lord Beaconsfield has two kinds of petals. The lower ones are deep purple, with an even darker middle, the upper ones are white, with lilac veins. They bloom for a long time, maintaining brightness and contrast.

Saint Knud

The bush blooms with a large number of flowers (up to 20). The color of the petals is different - a combination of different tones of orange and red.

Shalom Purim

A fancy violet that combines orange-red and purple tones. Flowers with corrugated petals, thick and full. When grown in the shade, they are more lush.

F1 tiger eyes

Amazing brindle flowers. On a yellow-orange background, dark stripes densely cover all the petals. The same dark circle surrounds the yellow core. Flowers with a diameter of 3-4 centimeters are strewn with a small bush.

Cassis F1

Lovers of dark tones will appreciate the Cassis hybrid. A thin white border runs along the edges of the dark purple petals, bringing the flower to life. Winter hardy hybrid.

Arkwright Ruby

A bright red flower with a very dark spot on the lower petals. Looks great in combination with light Pansies.

Balmont Blu

A great option for lovers of blue violets. The color of the petals is from blue to bright blue. There are streaks of a darker or lighter tone. A beautiful climbing bush with a large number of shoots.

Pearl Duet

The upper and lower petals of the viola differ in color. Together they form a beautiful pink-burgundy flower.

Rosina

A graceful flower with bent petals, like a small bird in flight. Color - pink, thickening towards the base. Smells good.

Charlotte

Perennial with a low bush that grows up to 15 centimeters. The color of the petals is purple. It blooms better in sunny areas, with shading the number of buds decreases.

King

Popular cultivar with scented light purple flowers. In flower beds, they are grown in a group with other monochromatic viols.

Freckles

One of the most unpretentious varieties of Pansies. Blooms in May. On the white field of the petals are purple specks. Bushes grow up to 20 centimeters.

Royal Robe

The color of the petals of this viola variety ranges from light purple to deep purple. The center of the petals is shaded with light and dark lines. The petals are slightly bent towards the stem.

Red Giant

Viola Red Giant suits fans of purple-red shades. Flowering starts in June and lasts all summer, until September. Pansies stand beautifully on long stems, towering over the bush.

Hansa

Small bushes of Hansa are dotted with bright blue-blue flowers of simple shape, thin and graceful.

Caesar

The fragrant flowers of Caesar have purple petals, the bush is not tall, the flowering is long.

Red charm

The petals are of a pronounced red-purple color, with small veins of a darker tone, the middle is yellow. The stem is creeping, takes root easily, young bushes develop quickly. Smells good, can grow in the shade of trees. It blooms in late spring and autumn.

La France

La France flowers have a classic shape, a deep purple hue, the center is yellow. They quickly occupy the entire area of ​​the pot, grow well.

Rumba

Bushes grow up to 25 centimeters. The flower is large, the color of the petals is different, the seeds are often sold as a mixture.

Pearl waterfall

An excellent option for ampelous cultivation in pots. The abundance of flowers and bright greenery tighten the walls of the pots. The color of the petals is white-violet. The edges and middle are dark, white spots in the center of the petals. Blooms until late autumn.

Sparkler

Ampel variety, looks good in pots and on alpine slides. The color of the petals is yellow with burgundy.

Amber kiss

The leader in popularity among lovers of warm colors. Viola Amber Kiss is painted in an unusual bronze-orange color. It has a long flowering period and is used for cultivation all year round. Flowers - 3.5-4.2 centimeters.

Frose chocolate

The flowers of this hybrid are yellow-chocolate in color, grow up to 3 centimeters. The bushes are even, do not stretch up, form a thick carpet in the flower beds. They tolerate high temperatures well, bloom profusely in the shade.

Bambini

Children will love the cheerful Bambini flowers. On the light field of the petals, cilia are drawn in the form of dark strokes. The color of the petals varies in white and yellow colors. The flowers are medium-sized, bloom in May-June.

Cats

Cat's blue pansies have a blue-blue complex color. The upper petals are lighter in color, along the lower ones there are blue streaks, similar to veins. The bright yellow center enlivens the blue palette. The flowers are large - 9-10 centimeters, flowering lasts from June to October.

Mammoth

The Mammoth Viol series is distinguished by a wide variety of colors. All species are large-flowered, grow up to 9-10 centimeters. Among the representatives there are one-color Pansies (white, red, purple) and with fantasy patterns (Pink Berry).

Flowers of the Mammoth series are viable, grow quickly, easily tolerate drought.

Use in landscape design

Bright glades of Pansies can decorate any flower bed, free area in the country. They enliven the territory, look great in pots on balconies and loggias.

Varieties with small flowers are planted in large carpets, combining with other plants in tone. White viols are in harmony with red peonies, crocuses, lilac - with daisies. Alpine slides, rabatki, rockeries become more fun with Pansies. Violas are planted as a curb. They are combined with the greenery of ornamental bushes and coniferous dwarfs.

Viola is a wonderful decoration of the site. Growing does not require special knowledge, busy people who appear at the dacha once a week and workers who work daily can take care of Pansies. A wide variety of colors, a funny look and unpretentiousness make the viola a universal favorite.