It’s common to see pansies growing outdoors in gardens and backyards. However, these aren’t the only places you can grow and nurture these plants. Pansies and many other plants make great houseplants despite traditionally being seen as outdoor plants.
It’s a well-known fact that houseplants help reduce stress. They can make your space feel more natural, comfortable, and soothing. Houseplants can also sharpen your attention, help you recover from illnesses faster, boost your productivity, and improve indoor air quality. Houseplants can become your ticket to improved health and wellness.
But with the number of houseplants today, how do you decide which to grow? If you’re planning to grow houseplants but don’t know what species, pansy plants are excellent options.
What Are Pansy Plants?
Pansy comes from the French word “pensée,” which means thought. Pansies are large-flowered hybrid plants cultivated initially as garden flowers. They come from many different species of wildflowers common in Europe and Western Asia.
These plants are one of the oldest flowers ever cultivated, and some cultures use them as traditional medicine and food dyes. These plants are fragrant, but blue and yellow pansies give off the most scent, especially during the early morning and dusk.
Pansy flowers usually grow about two to three inches in diameter and nine inches in height. They have two side petals, two overlapping upper petals, and one bottom petal with a beard from the flower’s center. Pansy plants come in 24 varieties that generally produce blue, white, yellow, or purplish flowers.
Some of the most common types of pansy plants are:
Alba Minor Pansy
This type of pansy has all-white flowers and can thrive even when placed in extremely cold or hot environments. The Alba Minor Pansy is an excellent option if you live in areas with extreme weather conditions.
Black Accord Pansy
As the name suggests, the flowers of the Black Accord Pansy are deep-black with bright yellow streaks in the center. This unique pansy will surely add color to your interior and make your indoor space look more elegant.
For a contrasting indoor garden, plant Black Accord Pansy alongside white and yellow pansies. These colors will complement each other, making your home’s interior look more polished.
Blue Moon Pansy
The Blue Moon Pansy is commonly known as the “Cool Wave Violet Wing.” It has white flowers with purple markings and a bright yellow gold center. These flowers’ colors will intensify your garden, especially when you plant them during the fall months.
Blue Moon Pansies can grow up to 30 inches wide and eight inches high, making them very noticeable. You can fill a vase with Blue Moon Pansies or mix them with other bright-colored pansies for a stunning display.
Bowles Black Pansy
Another dark-colored variety of the pansy plants, the Bowles Black Pansy, has a deep purple color with golden yellow centers. Because of their striking colors, this type of pansy will look great when placed in containers.
Chalon Supreme Pansy
The Chalon Supreme Pansy can set the mood and ambiance indoors because of its romantic appeal. This pansy has riffled petals in deep purple colors, with white trim and bright colored yellow centers.
The Chalon Supreme Pansy grows just like other types of pansies but is usually hard to find. More often than not, only the larger nurseries in select locations sell this type of pansy.
Cool Wave Blueberry Swirl Pansy
If you live in areas with a colder climate, the Cool Wave Blueberry Swirl Pansy is a great houseplant. These plants can thrive even in cold weather and can even survive temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fertilize the Cool Wave Blueberry Swirl Pansy once every two weeks for massive blooms. This type of pansy has white petals with lavender or solid yellow trim.
Delta Marina Pansy
Another cold-tolerant pansy, the Delta Marina, has flowers that come in pure white color. These plants look great in hanging baskets, especially alongside pansies that produce bright red flowers.
How To Grow Pansies
After choosing the type of pansy you want to grow, you need to know how to grow them indoors. Growing pansies indoors is more challenging than growing them outdoors. It’s a long-term responsibility that requires a lot of time and effort.
In fact, not knowing how to grow pansies properly can cause this plant to wilt and die. If this is your first time growing them indoors, take note of the following:
1. Light for Pansies
Pansies have specific light requirements. All types of pansies should have about six hours of sun every day.
For Zone 7 or warmer, protect your plants from full sun during the hottest time of the day. Excessive sunlight can cause the flowers to darken and their leaves to become brittle. Too much heat can also slow down the formation and development of flowers. Always keep them indoors during noon to protect them from too much sun.
2. Water
Water is a crucial element in your pansies’ survival, transporting nutrients from the soil to the plants. However, watering them too often can have adverse effects on your plants’ growth.
To keep the flowers of your pansies happy, be careful with watering. Water pansies during the growing season and allowing the soil to dry before watering again. Do not let the soil get too soggy or too dry. These plants need less watering during the winter months.
3. Soil for Pansies
Soil provides plants with a foothold for their roots. The type of soil you use for your pansy can have a significant effect on its health. Soil holds essential nutrients for pansy plants to grow and flower. Be sure to choose a potting soil that’s rich in organic matter.
4. Fertilizer for Pansies
Pansies need good quality fertilizer to grow healthy, and the quality and the timing count a lot. Use a slow-release fertilizer for your pansies. Mix the fertilizer into the soil to get the best results.
If you live in warmer zones, refrain from giving pansies fertilizers that contain excessive amounts of nitrogen during September. This extra nitrogen can cause the plant to overstretch. When this happens, your pansies will eventually become weak and die.
You can easily buy commercial soil mixes that contain slow-release fertilizers, perfect when you have pansies in pots. It’s also essential to apply a liquid plant food to your pansies’ pot four weeks after planting them. Apply fertilizer after propagating to encourage growth.
5. Temperature and Humidity
Pansies are cool-weather flowers that are considered annuals in most places. If you live in areas with a warmer or moderate climate, you can grow pansies year-round. However, if you live in an area with more extreme seasons, it’s best to grow pansies during the cooler months. Pansies don’t like too much heat and will start to wilt when exposed to extreme heat and humidity.
Too much heat and humidity can also stress newly transplanted pansies. Make sure to put them in shady areas or mist the plants to cool their leaves. When misting your pansies, focus on adding moisture to the leaves, and don’t wet the potting media. Misting your pansies the right way can normalize their pH levels and ensure that the plant remains cool.
6. Pests
Aside from producing colorful flowers, many people grow pansies because these are generally pest-free. Although this variety might attract aphids during early spring, you can quickly address the problem using insecticidal soap.
Spray the pansies with this product early in the morning or evenings when the temperature is cool. Don’t forget to spray the undersides of the leaves as these areas are prone to soft-bodied insects.
Slugs are also attracted to these plants and will feed on their tender leaves. When left unaddressed for long periods, slugs can cause unsightly damage to your pansy plants. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by using a slug bait to trap this pest. These products contain food and poison that kills slugs.
7. Propagation for Pansies
Propagation is the practice of growing new plants from cuttings, seeds, and other plant parts. Plant propagation allows you to obtain new varieties of plants without spending a lot of money or implementing complex processes. Propagation also prevents the transmission of diseases among plants.
There are three ways to propagate pansies:
Propagating Pansies From Seeds
When propagating these plants from seeds, only use a well-draining seed-starting mix. You can mix this with a handful of perlite to improve drainage.
Scatter pansy seeds on the soil’s surface and cover them with about 1/8 inch of sand or potting mixture. Don’t forget to check your soil’s condition to prevent it from getting too dry or overly wet. The ideal environment for germination includes growing lights and a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Propagating Pansies From Cuttings
Just like other types of plants, you can also propagate pansies from cuttings. Select a healthy parent plant and cut about a 3-inch section below its node. Remove the lower leaves and put the plant in well-draining, moist and fertile soil.
You can also cover the pot with plastic and apply the same procedures mentioned above to maintain moisture and temperature. When propagating these plants from cuttings, make sure that you’re doing it during fall or late summer.
Propagating Pansies by Division
For a more straightforward propagation method, divide pansies by hand and plant them immediately in pots. Work on maintaining the ideal moisture for your pansy plants and regularly check on them. Too much cold and humidity can prevent them from establishing themselves in their new soil.
Although more straightforward than the first two methods, propagating pansies by division doesn’t apply to all types of pansies. Check your plants first and assess if they’re suitable to propagate by division.
8. Toxicity
The pansy’s unique colors are one of the reasons why many are eager to grow this plant. However, the attractiveness of this plant can also pose a danger to your pets.
Pansy plants are mildly toxic plants and can cause mild symptoms, such as upset stomach, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. When taken in large amounts, pansies can also cause convulsions, loss of consciousness, and weakened heartbeat in pets. See a vet immediately if you notice that your pet starts to exhibit any of these symptoms.
Keep pansies out of reach to avoid compromising the health and safety of your pets. Growing pansies in hanging planters will ensure that none of your pets will play and ingest parts of the plants.
On the other hand, pansies are perfectly safe for humans to eat. This plant has natural wintergreen or slightly peppery flavor. You can use it as a garnish on many different dishes, like salads, desserts, fruit salads, and soups. You can even cut a stem from your pansy plant and use it for making refreshing cocktails and ice cubes.
Use Resources
Growing pansies indoors can provide many health benefits. Aside from keeping you healthy, these plants can also improve the ambiance indoors, making your home relaxing and appealing.
But just like other houseplants, keep in mind that growing pansies indoors will still require time and effort. All types of these plants will require the correct soil and amounts of sunlight, water, and fertilizer.
You won’t have any problems growing and nurturing pansy plants indoors when you use this article as your guide. The information presented here will make it very easy to care for pansies and ensure they thrive!
5 Frequently Asked Questions on Growing Pansies Indoors
We commonly see pansies in outdoor spaces. However, this plant is versatile and can thrive even when placed indoors. Because of their unique color combination and size, pansies are ideal indoor plants that can liven up any interior space.
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about them to make the most out of pansy. The more you know about pansies, the easier it will be for you to grow and nurture them at home.
If you have pets at home, you need to be vigilant because pansies are toxic to them. When ingested in small amounts, pansies can cause minor symptoms, such as diarrhea and appetite loss. If taken in large amounts, your pets can experience convulsions and loss of consciousness. Any of these symptoms require a vet’s attention. Act quickly and have your pets checked if you notice sudden changes in their behavior.
Place your plants in hard-to-reach areas or hang them around your home to ensure that your pets remain safe even with pansies around. Taking these steps will give you peace of mind knowing that your pets aren’t in danger.
Fortunately, pansies aren’t toxic to humans. You can use the stems, leaves, or flowers of the pansy to add more flavor to your meals and drinks. Pansies have a peppery or wintergreen flavor that adds an extra “kick” to make your dishes more interesting.
There are three ways to propagate pansies: from seeds, cuttings, or by division. Propagating by division is one of the easiest methods. However, this method isn’t ideal for all types of pansies.
Pansies don’t thrive well in environments with extreme heat and humidity. Newly transplanted pansies can experience stress when exposed to high heat and humidity, causing them to wilt and die.
If you live in warmer areas, regularly mist your pansies to prevent them from drying out. Spray some water on its leaves, stems, and flowers so that the plant can retain moisture.
Like other types of plants, pansies need light, water, soil, and fertilizers to grow. When it comes to light, make sure your pansy receives about six hours of sunlight every day. Never place them outdoors during the hottest times of the day to prevent delaying or impeding growth.
When watering pansies, maintain the soil’s moisture level by allowing the soil to dry between waterings. Water your pansies regularly during their growing season to encourage flowering.
Soil that contains organic matter is the best choice for your pansy. Buy this kind of soil from nurseries in your area. You can also opt to make some by mixing finished compost with leaf https://indoorgardening.com/ufaqs/faq-846/molds, bark fines, and other organic matter.
There are over 24 varieties of the pansy plant, each producing flowers that come in many different colors. You can grow pansies with white or black flowers and even ones that come in a combination of colors.
Depending on your preferences, you can start growing pansies from a single variety or mix between two or more varieties. Regardless of the type of pansy plants, your home’s interior will indeed look and feel refreshed with these plants around!
