Pansy Plant: Benefits, Uses, How to Grow at Home & Care Tips

They are small and cute, but come with a truckload of talent!

Let spring arrive, and you will see many of them in your surroundings. In addition to being beautiful, they can treat everything from fevers to sore throats.

The recipient of such admiration is none other than Pansy.

Pansies are the vibrant flower you frequently see emanating charm from a window box garden, balcony, or outdoor garden that is full of surprises.

Those looking to redecorate their garden or indoor space can think of welcoming pansies. This blog aims to help you navigate the challenging process of raising and caring for pansies.

Here is what we will discuss: -

• Fancy facts about Pansy
• How to grow pansy flowers at home
• How to take care of pansy flowering plants
• Benefits of Pansy

So, let’s start our journey of knowing pansies.

Fancy facts about Pansy

1. Pansies belong to the Viola genus of the Violaceae family
2. They are native to Europe, but exactly which country is unclear. But as the name has a French connection, some say they are indigenous to France.
3. Do you know that pansy comes from the French word pensee, which means thought or remembrance?
4. In the 19th century, pansies were quite popular and were used in “love potions.”
5. Pansies have a minty flavor and are used in salads, teas, and soups
6. Pansy is one of the significant ingredients in potpourri
7. Isn’t it interesting to know that pansies are used to add color and flavor to various cocktails, mocktails, and punches?

 How to grow flower pansy at home

Colorful and gorgeous – those are the correct words to describe pansies. The cute little flowers are one of the easiest flowering plants to grow in your indoor or outdoor garden. Follow the instructions mentioned below and grow the pansy flowers at home easily: -

Best time for pansies

Pansies are not big admirers of extreme heat or cold. So, the best time to sow pansies would be late winter or fall.

Finding a favorable spot

To find a favorable spot, you need to keep certain things in mind:

• Choose a place that receives full or partial sun rays for 6–12 hours daily. Avoid complete shade, as that will not make the plant bloom sufficiently.
• This location preference again varies depending on the climate. For example, keeping pansies in a partially shaded area would be brilliant if your region is hot or humid during summer. So, if you have planted outside, ensure a bigger plant or tree around pansies to save them from scorching rays.

Soil temperature

Pansies won’t grow if the soil temperature is below 7 degrees Celsius. So, if you sow the pansy seeds in the fall, ensure you bring them inside during winter.

Soil preparation for outdoor gardening

• If your garden space allows outdoor gardening, you can plant pansies in a linear format. For that, you need to prepare a nutrient-rich flower bed.
• Prepare a new flower bed or renew an old one – what’s important is to add organic materials like peat, compost, or animal manure to improve the nutrient content. Adding these things will make the soil water-retentive and prevent diseases.
• So, dig up the soil and discard old flowers and vegetation. Remember that organic material should make up 25% or 1/4th of your soil.  

Container preparation

• Choose a 9–12-inch-deep container with multiple drainage holes at the bottom for indoor gardening
• Also, keep a plate under the pot to collect the drained water
• As soil is prepared for outdoor gardening, you need to prepare the soil the same way for indoor gardening. Add 1/4th of compost to a regular potting mix or sandy loam.
• Water the soil before planting seeds

Planting pansies

• Put pansy seeds 1/4th inch deep into the soil mixed with compost
• Cover seeds with 1/8th of soil on top and pat the soil flat. Now moisten this soil mix so that the seeds get a favorable environment.
• To help the soil retain moisture, cover the pot with a plastic film, aluminum foil, or moist burlap
• Keep the pot in this way for five to eight days, allowing seed germination
• After this mentioned time, if your pansies have sprouted, provide shade. Keep the pot away from sunlight until the sprouts develop their first few leaves. The most favorable location would be a cool basement or closet.
• The day you spot one or two sets of leaves, bring them under sunlight
• Remember to check the soil often. When you see that the topsoil has dried, apply some water. One inch of water every week is ideal.
• During the blooming season, you can fertilize the plant every month. Look for fertilizers without nitrates or with low levels of nitrogen.
• Regularly prune pansies for adequate growth
• In a month or so, the plant may start blooming

How to take care of pansy flowering plants

Pansies are one of the easiest-growing plants. It is often spotted on balconies, front yards, and windowsills. Follow the tips mentioned below to take care of pansy flowering plants: -

Sunlight

Full, bright sunlight or partial shade is ideal for pansy growth and development. They look fresher if kept in partial shade. But 6 hours of daylight is optimal.

Location

Balconies or windowsills are favorable locations for pansies. These spaces receive filtered light that supports the plant.

Soil

Pansies grow best in loose, nutrient-rich soil. The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 6.2. Sandy loam or regular potting soil is a good choice for growing pansies. Ensure the soil has good drainage.

Temperature

Pansies do not like soaring temperatures and cannot flourish in high heat or cold. A maximum of 16–18 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 4 degrees Celsius is what makes pansies thrive.

Fertilizer

Opt for a zero-nitrogen or low-level nitrogen fertilizer to grow pansies properly. Before laying down seeds, mix your potting soil with compost for better nutrients.

Water

About an inch of water every week, is sufficient for pansies. They love moist soil, but soggy soil will lead to root rotting and invite other diseases. So, use a pot that has drainage holes.

Benefits of Pansy

Besides oozing beauty and charm, pansies are also helpful. The leaves and petals are consumed in soups, teas, or as a garnish for salads. In traditional medicine, pansies have been used to cure various skin-related issues like eczema and respiratory disorders like asthma. Some of the widely believed benefits of pansies are described below: -

No constipation

It is believed that the wild pansy plant can put an end to your constipation complaints.

End to skin problems

Infusions made from pansies may treat skin problems like eczema. This infusion or tea is also helpful in preventing chronic inflammation of the skin, like redness, swelling, and itching.

Cure cold & related diseases

Pansies have anti-allergenic and mucilaginous properties. It means they can cure colds, fevers, whooping coughs, flu, bronchitis, and sore throats.

Blood Pressure & Heart diseases

It is said that drinking pansy infusions may lower blood pressure and prevent heart-related diseases.

Diuretic

The wild pansy has diuretic qualities. As it promotes urination, it eliminates extra water. It reduces swelling brought on by fluid retention. Cystitis, a bladder inflammation that causes symptoms like a constant need to urinate, burning when urinating, tiny, frequent urination, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, lower abdominal pressure, and a low fever, can be effectively treated by pansies. That’s because pansies have diuretic qualities.

Soaps & shampoos

Pansies are believed to be excellent for skin, hair, and the scalp. Some people make homemade soaps and shampoos from these flowers.

Diarrhea & blood purification

Another benefit of pansy infusion is that it can relieve you from diarrhea, gout, ulcers, retinal hemorrhages, diaper rash, etc. Also, it may help in purifying the blood.

Calms you down

Drinking pansy tea or an infusion can combat headaches and calm your nerves.

These petite flowers always brighten up any space. It will add more gravitas to your interiors and take up so little space. For your terrace garden, to decorate your patio, to beautify your balcony, or to add more color to your backyard garden, include pansies. They are easy to maintain and thus are best even for a beginner.

 FAQs related to Flower Pansies

Is the pansy flower edible?

Yes, pansy flowers are edible. Many people use them in salads, soups, and teas.

In which months do pansies bloom?

The blooming time of pansies is from May to September.

Do pansies like sun or shade?

Pansies enjoy bright full sunshine, but ideally, a partial shade is excellent for their growth and blooms.

Is the pansy a summer or winter flower?

Pansies do not like hot summers or cold winters. They bloom during the mild temperature months of the spring and fall.

Can pansies grow indoors?

Yes, pansies can grow indoors. Just ensure it gets partial shade, 6 hours of sunlight during the growing period, regular watering, well-draining, nutrient-rich soil, and monthly fertilizer during the blooming season.