One of my potted outside Pansy plant has wilted and lying down in the soil. Do just cut down to just above the soil and leave it all winter? Would it bloom again in Spring? It's a large white pansy. Should I bring the pot out of the weather even though they like the cool?
Thanks in advance :)
Cissy
Dead Pansy
Whatever's wrong with it, it's definitely nothing to do with cold temperatures, it's not that cold here and pansies love cool weather and are hardy to lots colder temperatures than what we've been having. It could be overwatering, underwatering, or someone (person, pet, raccoon, etc) stepped on it or bumped up against it or something and broke the stem. If it's over or under watering, you need to correct that or else the plant will die. If it's a broken stem, chances are it'll grow back, I'd just remove the broken part and see what happens.
Thank you ecrane :) I know they love cool weather, so I think I may have overwatered it. I think I will remove down to just above the soil just to see what happens. :)
Thanks again :)
Cissy
If there is any foliage at all on the plant, try to leave some if it is a bit healthy, even just the smallest shoot will help the plant to recover as just a bit of root UNDER the soil will be asking rather a lot from your pansy, as you say, they are real hardy plants if treated right, so before you cut the lot of, snip a bit at a time to See if there is a little healthy bit lurking under the waisted growth, if it shoots again, maybe give a very weak diluted liquid feed to encourage new growth,
Good luck. Weenel.
Thanks, WeeNel, good advice :)
Cissy
Many bedding plants like pansies and violas are prone to suddenly wilting as you describe, and often it is caused by a waterborne fungus which invades the plants roots and tissues preventing water from taking in water. It could either be Phytopthora or Verticillium wilt. Poor soil drainage is often the cause.
If it doesn't recover, throw away the plant AND the soil. The fungus/spores will most likely remain in that same old soil, so using it again will just infect any new plants you put in it. You should also clean the pot itself with a bleach solution to be safe.
Good advice Jasper and thanks. This just might be what happened. I thought maybe I was over-watering, but now I don't think so. The plant was just so wilted, I pulled it out of the pot. I still have the soil, but now I am going to dump it.
Thank you!
Cissy
Post a Reply to this Thread
More Beginner Gardening Threads
-
Curling leaves, stunted growth of Impatiens
started by DeniseCT
last post by DeniseCTJan 26, 20261Jan 26, 2026 -
White fuzzy stems
started by joelcoqui
last post by joelcoquiJan 29, 20263Jan 29, 2026 -
What is this alien growth in my bed
started by joelcoqui
last post by joelcoquiOct 15, 20254Oct 15, 2025 -
Jobe\'s Fertilizer Spikes
started by Wally12
last post by Wally12Apr 02, 20262Apr 02, 2026 -
citrus reticulata tangerine somewhat hardy
started by drakekoefoed
last post by drakekoefoedApr 01, 20261Apr 01, 2026