I think my flowers are dying in my little garden?

Question

I really don't know what I'm doing and I just tried to start my first garden. The pansies look like their dying. Yesterday flowers...today shriveled leaves. I'm not sure if I gave them enough water, but I don't want to overdo it. Please help!!!

Answer 1

Check the soil they are in by pressing your finger into it gently. If the soil springs back and clings a little to your finger...then the soil is a good moisture level.
If your leaves look a little yellow or faded and limp then its because there is too much water.
Dry soil is very obvious the dirt will feel hard and crumbly, and plants kept in small places, like pots or window boxes will need more nutrient in the soil. I like a good mix of potting soil, a cup or so of peat moss and some good old fashioned cow manure.
I find my pansies do well out of direct sunlight with moderate water. semi shade should work okay for them. And if you are depending on the rain to water them make sure that there is nothing hanging over them that will sheild them from the rain...like a tree or a house eaves overhang... good luck. ^^

Answer 2

Most gardeners buy biennials as packs of young plants from the garden center and plant them directly into the garden soil. Gardeners interested in rarer cultivars can plant seeds indoors in early November for plants ready in the spring. Under good conditions, pansies and viola are perennial plants, although they are generally treated as annual or biennial plants because they get very leggy and overgrown after a few years. The mature plant grows to 9 inches (23 cm) high, and the flowers are two to three inches (about 6 cm) in diameter.

Pansies are hardy in zones 4-8. They can survive light freezes or a little snow, but not for very long. In warmer climates, zones 9-11, pansies can bloom over the winter, and are often planted in the fall. In these climates, pansies have been known to reseed themselves and come back the next year. Pansies are not very heat-tolerant - once the temperature gets over a certain point they will become leggy and stop blooming.

Pansies should be watered thoroughly about once a week, depending on climate and recent rainfall. For maximum bloom, they should be given flowering plant food about every other week, according to the plant food directions. Regular deadheading can extend the blooming period.

Diseases
Stem rot or pansy sickness
The plant may collapse without warning in the middle of season. The foliage will flag and lose color. Flowers will fade and shrivel prematurely. Stem will snap at the soil line if tugged slightly.

The plant is probably a total loss unless tufted.

Soil-borne fungus. Possible hazard with unsterilized animal manure.

Use Cheshunt or modern Benomyl fungicide prior to planting. Destroy (burn) infected plants.

Cheshunt recipe
2 parts finely ground copper sulphate 11 parts fresh ammonium carbonate

Mix thoroughly and stand for 2 hours in sealed container. Dissolve 1 ounce (28 g) in a little hot water and add this to 2 gallons of cold water and use immediately.

Rust
Puccinia aegra fungal infection. Yellow-brown spots on leaves and stem. Spray with Benomyl or Sulphide of Potassium (1 ounce to 2 1/2 gallons)

Leaf spot
Ramularia deflectens fungal infection. Dark spots on leaf margins followed by a white web covering the leaves. Associated with cool damp springs. Spray with fungicide.

Mildew
Oidium fungal infection. Violet-gray powder on fringes and underside of leaves. Caused by stagnant air. Can be limited but not necessarily eliminated by spraying (especially leaf undersides).

Cucumber mosaic virus
Transmitted by aphids. Fine yellow veining on young leaves, stunted growth, anomalous flowers. Virus can lay dormant, affect the entire plant and be passed to next generations and to other species. Prevention is key: purchase healthy plants, use ph-balanced soil which is neither too damp not too dry. Soil should have balanced amounts of nitrogen, phosphate, potash. Eliminate other diseases which may weaken the plant.

Pests
Slugs and snails
Lay sharp, gritty sand or top-dress soil with chipped bark. Clean area of leaves and foreign matter.

Aphids
Spray with diluted soft soap (2 ounce per gallon) Aphids are microscopic and lay eggs.

Cultivars

Pansy flowersThe Universal Plus series of 21 cultivars covers all the common pansy colors except orange and black.

Answer 3

Pansies are about finished right now, mine are dying off too, some are dead.
their time is over, so you are not responsible for their demise.

carry on the gardening it's so relaxing, a great way to get away from traffic, people, and job, and you don't have to leave home to do it.

Answer 4

I don't know where you live but if you are in the U.K. you cannot over water in this heat. Don't water when the sun is out wait until dusk and if you have poor soil try plant food and if it is heavy soil try digging some compost in in the autumn so your plants will do better next year. I am no expert but these thing s work for me

Answer 5

Do not expect the same performance from pansies and violas in the summer. Southern heat and humidity are not suited for these cool temperature bloomers.

Answer 6

I can so relate to this. I always want to grow plants and then just seem to mess it up somehow. Lately I've been planting things that grow naturally in my area -- they seem to do fine in the wild, so maybe I won't kill them. I've got a pretty nice stand of wild sunflowers in my back garden, so I guess it's working. Here's a great site with tips for new gardeners: http://www.gardenadvice.co.uk/

Good luck with your flowers,
~Tia~

Answer 7

Only water them once a day. Give them some plant food. Also cheek to see how much light the plant needs.

Answer 8

soak um, then leave them for a day

Answer 9

... it's not worth the pain & suffering & waste of money ... get another hobby ... TV is great ...