Pansies are a Texas tradition. In almost all parts of the state they are a winter staple providing color from October until April or May. They are available in many different hues from strong primary colors to delicate pastels. Follow our instructions below using all organic, natural, Nature’s Guide products for success every time. They are great in flower beds or pots for winter color accents.

1. Select good plants. Look for plants that are not too tall or “leggy”. The root systems should fill the pot and they should not be top heavy at all. Showing color at this point is not important. Be more interested in good solid plants.

2. Prepare the bed area well before planting. The soil should be soft and well drained. Use Nature’s Guide Expanded Shale or Compost and Shale to condition the soil if it is too tight. Mix in 1 lb. of Nature’s Guide Natural Blooms to each 10 square feet of soil.

3. Like most plants pansies show better when they are grouped rather than strung out in rows. Plant them on eight inch (8 in. ) centers. Keep in mind that pansies do not grow very tall. If you need more height mound the bed with extra soil like Nature’s Guide Organic Potting Soil.

4. Make sure to firm them down in the soil by gently pressing around the bottom of the plant to make sure they are well seated.

5. After planting pick off all the buds and blooms that are showing. This will encourage better rooting and help lessen transplant stress.

6. Broadcast 1 lb. of Nature’s Guide Natural Blood Meal per 10 square feet of bed area and water in thoroughly. Water well and gently wash the Blood Meal off the plants into the soil. (Remember that Blood Meal can be attractive to some dogs. So watering is essential if you have dogs.)

7. Care during the growing season is VERY important. Broadcast Blood Meal at the recommended rate monthly. As blooms begin to fade pick them off the plants as close to the main stems as possible and add to the compost pile or discard. This encourages better blooming.

8. If temperatures are predicted to go below the mid-20’s covering the plants with newspaper or frost blankets will encourage them to recover faster when it warms back up. Be sure and remove the paper soon as temperatures begin to rise. Temperatures below 20 will cause the plants to wilt down but unless the temperatures remain at this level for an extended period they will recover.

The Nature's Guide Way for Pansies