Potted Pansy: Cultivation Methods and Precautions
The pansy is a common wildflower species in Europe, also known as cat's face, butterfly flower, and face flower. It is a biennial or perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Viola in the family Violaceae, often cultivated in parks, and is the national flower of Iceland and Poland. The flowers usually have three colors per bloom: purple, white, and yellow, hence the name pansy. It is relatively cold-tolerant and prefers cool conditions, and flowering is greatly affected by light. Let's take a look at how to grow potted pansies!
Growth Habits of Pansies
Pansies are relatively cold-tolerant, prefer cool conditions, and like sunlight. They develop well under conditions of a daytime temperature of 15-25°C and a nighttime temperature of 3-5°C. They dislike high temperatures and waterlogging, are cold-tolerant and frost-resistant. If the daytime temperature stays continuously above 30°C, the flower buds disappear or petals do not form. If the daytime temperature stays at 25°C, they only bloom without setting seed, and even if they do set seed, the seeds develop poorly. The root system can tolerate low temperatures of -15°C, but below -5°C the leaves freeze and the edges turn yellow. Day length has a greater effect on flowering than light intensity; poor sunlight results in poor flowering. They prefer fertile, well-drained neutral loam or clay loam rich in organic matter, with a pH of 5.4-7.4.
Propagation Methods of Pansies
1. Sowing: For sowing, it is advisable to use a relatively loose artificial medium. Bed sowing or box sowing can be used, and if conditions permit, plug tray seedling raising can be used. The medium should have a pH of 5.5-5.8 and be disinfected. After sowing, maintain the medium temperature at 18-22°C, avoid light and provide shade, and seedlings will emerge successively in 5-7 days. The radicle emerges in 5-7 days. After sowing, the medium must always be kept moist, and it needs to be covered with coarse vermiculite or medium sand, with the coverage being just enough that the seeds are not visible. Pansy seeds often germinate very unevenly, with emergence times differing by up to 1 week. During this period, fully keep the soil medium moist.
2. Cuttings: Cuttings are taken in May-June. Cut shoots sprouting from the base of the plant and insert them into peat, keeping the air moist. They root 15-20 days after insertion, with a high survival rate.
3. Division: Division is often carried out after flowering. Cut off side branches with adventitious roots or new rooted shoots sprouting from the rhizome, and they can be directly potted and placed in a semi-shaded place to recover.
How to grow potted pansies?
1. Temperature: Pansies prefer cool conditions, dislike high temperatures, and fear severe cold. They grow well within a temperature range of 12-18°C and can tolerate low temperatures of 0°C. Temperature is a limiting factor affecting pansy flowering. They develop well under conditions of a daytime temperature of 15-25°C and a nighttime temperature of 3-5°C. Seedlings must go through 28-56 days of low-temperature conditions to bloom successfully. If they are planted directly in a warm environment, flowering will instead be delayed. If the daytime temperature stays continuously above 30°C, the flower buds disappear or petals do not form. If there is sudden heat with high temperatures reaching 28°C or above, strive for good ventilation to lower the temperature and prevent wilting and death.
2. Light: Pansies like ample sunlight, and light is an important limiting factor for flowering. Day length has a greater effect on flowering than light intensity; poor sunlight results in poor flowering. During cultivation, ensure the plant receives no less than 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. However, because its root system is sensitive to light, young roots cannot smoothly penetrate the soil under lighted conditions, so no light is needed before the radicle grows small. When the seedlings grow 2-3 true leaves, gradually increase sunlight so they grow more robustly.
3. Watering: Pansies prefer a slightly moist soil environment and are not drought-tolerant. Keep the soil moist during the growing period, and keep it on the drier side in winter. Each watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when moist. When the plant is flowering, maintaining sufficient moisture is necessary for increasing flower size and flower quantity. In seasons with higher temperatures and strong light, pay attention to timely watering.
4. Fertilizing: Pansies are best fertilized with light applications applied frequently. After two true leaves grow, nitrogen fertilizer can be applied, with early spraying of 0.1% urea. Near the flowering period, phosphorus fertilizer can be increased. Before flowering, apply 3 times a dilute compound liquid fertilizer. During the bud stage, add 2 applications of 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution. After flowering, fertilizing can be reduced. During the growing period, apply 1 topdressing of decomposed liquid fertilizer every 10-15 days, and during the reproductive period, apply 1 topdressing every 20-30 days. Leaf deformity and wrinkling in pansies are often caused by calcium deficiency and can be improved by increasing the application of calcium nitrate. In addition, note that at lower temperatures, ammoniacal nitrogen fertilizer will cause pansy root rot.
Pest and Disease Control of Pansies
1. Gray mold: Strengthen ventilation, control planting density, avoid overhead watering, and ventilate after watering. Promptly clean up withered and aging tissues to avoid wounds. Use smoke agents and alternate chemicals. Ventilate promptly after spraying to dissipate moisture. In the early stage of disease, spray 50% procymidone 1000x solution, or carbendazim 500-1000x solution, chlorothalonil 700-800x solution, 50% thiophanate-methyl 500-600x solution, and fumigation smoke agents can also be used.
2. Anthracnose: In late autumn and early winter, collect and burn diseased plant residues in the nursery. During the growing period, promptly remove and dispose of diseased leaves and flowers when found. In the early stage of disease, spray 80% zineb wettable powder 500-800x solution, or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 600-800x solution, 60% anthracnose-formaldehyde 800-1000x solution, 50% carbendazim 500-600x solution.
3. Color-breaking disease: Color-breaking disease is mainly transmitted by aphids. To control aphids, spray 50% pirimicarb wettable powder 3000x solution and 2.5% rotenone emulsifiable concentrate 800-1000x solution, alternating 3-4 times, spraying once every 7-10 days. For plants with early disease, use 1.5% plant disease agent emulsifiable concentrate 700x solution or 5% virus-killing water agent 200x solution, once every 7-10 days, using continuously 3-4 times, with dense application first and sparse application later.
4. Leaf spot: Remove diseased residues and burn them in a concentrated manner. Spray 53.8% Kocide 2000 dry suspension concentrate 1000x solution, or 47% Kasugamycin-copper wettable powder 700x solution, 30% copper oxychloride suspension concentrate 600x solution, 27% copper hydroxide suspension concentrate 600x solution, 50% thiophanate-methyl · sulfur suspension concentrate 800x solution for control.
5. Ring spot: Remove fallen leaves and burn them. Entering the rainy season, spray 27% copper hydroxide suspension concentrate 600x solution, or 47% Kasugamycin-copper wettable powder 1000x solution, antikangning 800-1000x solution, 50% thiophanate-methyl 800x solution for control. In severe cases, spray 50% iprodione wettable powder 1000x solution, or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 600x solution, 70% mancozeb, 80% pencozeb wettable powder 500x solution for control, spraying once every 10 days, using continuously 2-3 times.
6. Brown spot: When new leaves unfold, use 0.5% Bordeaux mixture plus adhesive, once every 10-15 days, or spray 50% dimethirimol wettable powder 1000x solution, 40% chlorothalonil suspension concentrate 500x solution, 50% thiophanate-methyl · sulfur suspension concentrate 800x solution, 50% fungicide king (chlorobromoisocyanuric acid) water-soluble powder 2000x solution for control.
7. Rot disease: The pathogen is Fusarium oxysporum. When diseased plants are found, dig them out and burn them, replace the soil in the diseased holes with new soil, or disinfect the soil with 0.1% formaldehyde. In the early stage of disease, spray 50% captan wettable powder 500x solution, or 70% thiophanate-methyl 1500x solution, 75% chlorothalonil 600x solution, 0.5% Bordeaux mixture for control.
8. Rust disease: Spray 75% oxycarboxin 3000x solution, or 25% triadimefon 1500-2500x solution, 65% zineb 600x solution for prevention. In the early stage of disease, spray 50% carbendazim or 50% thiophanate-methyl 500-600x solution, 75% chlorothalonil 600-800x solution for control. After disease onset, use 97% sodium rust-removing agent 250-300x solution plus 0.1% laundry powder, spraying once every 12-15 days, using continuously 2-3 times.
9. Aphids: Spray 40% omethoate, or soak 5g of cigarette butts in 75ml of water for 24 hours and then spray to kill, or use 3% natural pyrethrin, 25% rotenone, deltamethrin 200x solution, or laundry powder solution plus a few drops of edible oil for spraying, and acetamiprid 5000x solution or abamectin-acetamiprid 1500x solution can also be used.
10. Scarab beetles: For larvae (white grubs), apply Mirel granules into the soil or broadcast them, or use 40% omethoate 1000x solution, 50% metolcarb powder 500x solution, 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate diluted 1000-1500x solution to drench the root zone of affected plants. For example, for a 23 cm (7-inch) pot, use 100-200 ml of the solution each time.
11. Slugs: Broadcast 8% metaldehyde granules or 6% methiocarb molluscicide granules on the soil surface near potted plants. 3% lime water or 100x ammonia solution can also be sprayed on the plants for control. In addition, pansy pests and diseases also include impatiens powdery mildew, damping-off, magnesium deficiency, manganese deficiency, iron deficiency, twenty-eight-spotted ladybird, short-horned grasshopper, thrips, and other damage.