Pansies: planting and care in the open field, description of varieties and cultivation

Cute and tender 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 valued for her unpretentiousness and long-term decorative effect. Consider the details of growing Pansies - planting and care, variety selection, as well as the main problems of inexperienced flower 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 names have taken root, the flower has long been grown in summer cottages, flower beds, in flowerpots and flowerpots.

Natural species of viola came from the northern hemisphere, known since ancient times. Pansies are loved for long flowering, unpretentiousness, brightness, exquisite simplicity. They are able to decorate the site with a colorful carpet, their cheerful look is pleasing to the eye and uplifting.

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 solitary, occasionally collected in medium-sized inflorescences (brush, panicle, ear). The fruit is a capsule with many seeds.

By crossing natural species, breeders have received 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 varieties of viola, with long flowering, gradually became paler and smaller, hybrids are as good in autumn as at the beginning of the season.

Natural types of viola are colored in yellow, white and purple colors, as a result of selection, the color of the flowers has expanded. Multicolored 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.

During the breeding process, varieties of viola 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 that almost completely hide the greenery.

Growing seedlings

For early flowering pansies, it is better to plant seedlings. Most species tolerate transplanting even with buds and flowers. Many flower growers, with a delay in disembarkation, admire the bright violets at home.

How to plant correctly

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

They fall asleep with dry soil, rubbing it in their palms. Pour from a sprayer with warm water. The container is covered with a film or glass and left in a dark place at a temperature of 15-20 °. Viola shoots appear after 6-10 days.

Soil selection

Ready mix for violets is the best choice for planting. With self-preparation of soil for viola, humus, peat, sand and fertile soil are combined in equal parts. Before using your own soil, it is disinfected by calcination or freezing.

Seed preparation

Seeds of Pansies are small and difficult to work with. Most plant seed without sprouting, as viola sprouts are easy to break. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for an hour in a solution of a stimulant - Zircon or Epin. Then they are dried, spread 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 pass quickly. To get early-flowering varieties, the seeds are sown in the summer, directly into the ground, so that the bushes have time to take root and strengthen.In this case, Pansies will bloom from last year's planting in April.

Irrigation

After germination, the containers are transferred to a lighted place. Watering is carried out as the soil dries - pansies do not tolerate excess moisture and puddles. Water carefully, under the root, with a small watering can or sprayer.

Feeding

Feeding violas is needed no more than once every 2 weeks. Use special fertilizers for violets or conventional mineral complexes with potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen. It is important not to exceed the norms recommended in the instructions.

Picking

The picking 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 cut. This stimulates lateral root growth and quick establishment.

Overgrown seedlings can be dived again, deepening to the leaves and not bending the roots.

Pinching

After the growth of 4-6 permanent leaves, pinch the top of the viola to form side 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 growing on loggias and balconies, they can be planted in April, viola seedlings are transferred to open ground in May-June.

Many sow pansies directly into the ground. This is useful 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 until snow, and the next year they bloom in April.

Choosing a seat

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

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

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

Soil Requirements

The soil for violas 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.

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 closer proximity, crowding contributes to poor ventilation, fungal diseases develop, and pests spread more easily. When planting a viola in containers, the plant needs 1-2 liters of soil.

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

Care

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

Irrigation

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

Loosening and weeding

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

If the summer is hot, the beds of Pansies are mulched with organic matter to preserve moisture.

Cutting

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

Feeding

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 preparations for root and foliar dressings, Agricola.

Important: organic matter is 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 fertilizer are not required.Perennial varieties of viola have 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 to prevent rotting.

Transfer

Transplantation is used to rejuvenate the culture, transfer to a more convenient place with better conditions. Viola should not be grown in one place for a long time.

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

Main issues

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

Seeds do not germinate

The reason for the lack of viola seedlings can be:

• unviable seeds;
• excessive deepening into the soil;
• heavy ground.

Be patient - sometimes sprouts appear after a month. If there is a desire to sow new seeds, these errors must be taken into account.

Sprouts are thin, lay down

Main causes of thinning viola sprouts:

1. Thickened fit. Plants are crowded, there is not enough space. Thin out very carefully.
2. Lack of light. In low light, you need to use electric lighting for seedlings of Pansies.

Plants may lack nitrogen, weaken and fall. Feed with nitrophoska (NRK complex).

The shoots 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. You need to establish proper watering, move the containers to a cool place without direct sunlight.

Another cause of wilting can be root rot from contaminated soil. You need to inspect the viola sprouts, sprinkle with fungicides if necessary.

Reproduction

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

Cutting

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

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

The appearance of new leaves indicates rooting. Ready viola seedlings are transferred to a permanent place. This is how old plantings of Pansies rejuvenate.

Self-seeding

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

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

Diseases and pests

Most of the diseases of the viola are fungal in nature and develop with excess watering, the wrong site or rainy summer.

Powdery mildew

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

Grey Rot

Fungal infection affects stems, foliage and flowers. First, gray-brown spots appear on the lower old leaves, in the absence of treatment they pass to the entire viola bush. To eliminate, use fungicides, regulate watering.

Black leg

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

Spotting

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

Clover scoop caterpillars and violet mother-of-pearl

If holes appeared on the leaves of the viola, these are traces of pests eating the plant. The bushes are inspected, 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 on the site of faded buds in August-September. You need to wait until the box dries and opens. The collected seeds are dried at home and sent for storage in the refrigerator.

Reference: if the seeds are not collected, the viola reproduces by self-sowing. Plantings thicken, bushes interfere with each other.

Views

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

Wittrock

Natural species found in temperate zones. The main difference is a real eye 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.Grow more often like biennials.

Single color

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 - Blue Boy, White Viola.

Two-color

Bicolor viols combine tones similar in color, the petals are differently colored, the upper ones are usually lighter than the lower ones. Varieties - Jupiter, Saint Knud.

Spotted

Spotted species often differ in outlandish coloration with individual speckles and stripes along the edges. The colors of the petals are the most unusual, often contrasting. Many hybrids popular with growers.

Horned

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

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

Fragrant

Perennial plant with a pleasant aroma. The foliage is rounded, very large. Purple flowers. In nature, it blooms in May for about 20 days, it often blooms again in the fall, after a rest.

Moth

Moth Viola blooms with 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. Flowering is long - April-June.

Small-flowered

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

Large-flowered

Varieties with large flowers are a priority for many gardeners. Breeders have worked on the creation of large-flowered varieties and hybrids:

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

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

Kornuta

Viola cornuta (cornuta), it 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 overwinter badly, they cannot withstand severe frosts. Hybrids are colored red, orange, yellow; varieties are usually in purple.

Popular varieties

The most popular varieties include Pansies with a long flowering period, bright flowers of fancy colors.

White

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

Blue fight

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

Rua de Negri

Distinguished by long flowering, which, under favorable conditions, lasts from May to October. The yellow eye 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

Lovers of red flowers will appreciate this variety of Pansies. Deep red petals with almost no dark center. The size is impressive - almost 7 centimeters.

Jupiter

Small bushes strewn with flowers (up to 12-17 pieces). The bright purple center of the petals is surrounded by a white border that widens at the top of the flower. Pleasing to the eye all summer long, hard wintering.

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 with red.

Shalom Purim

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

Tiger eyes F1

Amazing brindle flowers. On a yellow-orange background, dark stripes densely covering all the petals. The yellow core is surrounded by the same dark circle. Flowers with a diameter of 3-4 centimeters strew a small bush.

Cassis F1

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

Arkwright Ruby

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

Balmont Blue

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. Beautiful climbing bush with a large number of shoots.

Purple 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 recurved petals, like a small bird in flight. Color - pink, thickening towards the base. Smells good.

Charlotte

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

King

Popular variety with fragrant light purple flowers. In flowerbeds grown in a group with other plain violas.

Freckles

One of the most undemanding varieties of Pansies. Blooms in May. Violet specks go along the white field of petals. Bushes grow up to 20 centimeters.

Royal Robe

The color of the petals of this variety of viola varies 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

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

Hansa

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

Caesar

Caesar's fragrant flowers have purple petals, low shrub, long flowering.

Red charm

Petals of a pronounced red-purple color, with small streaks of a darker tone, the middle is yellow. The stem is creeping, takes root easily, young bushes develop quickly. Smells nice, can grow in the shade of trees. Blooms in late spring and autumn.

La France

La France flowers are classically shaped, deep purple hue, yellow center. 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, seeds are often sold as a mixture.

Pearl Falls

Great option for ampel cultivation in pots. The abundance of flowers and bright greenery tighten the walls of the pots. The color of the petals is white and purple. The edges and middle are dark, white spots in the center of the petals. Blooms until late autumn.

Bengal fire

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 fans of warm colors. Viola Amber Kiss is painted in an unusual bronze-orange color. It has a long flowering period, it is used for cultivation all year round. Flowers - 3.5-4.2 centimeters.

Frose chocolate

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

Bambini

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

Cats

Pansies Cats blue have a blue complex color. The upper petals are a lighter shade, along the lower ones there are blue strokes that look like 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 Pansies of one color (white, red, purple) and with fantasy patterns (Pink Berry).

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

Landscape use

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

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

Viola is a wonderful decoration of the site. Cultivation does not require special knowledge, busy people who appear at the dacha once a week, and hard 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.

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