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Pricking out pansies

GlockenblumeGlockenblume Posts: 10
in Problem solving
What am I doing wrong?

For many years I have grown my own bedding from seed. Sowing in trays and then when the first real leaves start to appear pricking them out into pots as per textbook!
However whereas in general, most seedlings take without problems, I always seem to have problems with pansies! It would seem that their roots don't like being disturbed! Only a few seem to take, most just wilt and die off!

Are pansies another example of plants like Zinnias that are best sown into individual pots or am I  just unlucky?

your comments would be welcome.

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I buy pansies and violas as plug plants. Then I pot them on before planting out. They often come 2 to a plug so I separate them and pot them separately. I haven't had any problems. Same thing for Zinnias, didn't know they were a problem. I sow Zinnias in trays. Do you let them get too dry or too wet, perhaps?
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Secret with sowing pansies and violas, sow in MPC so they can be left that bit longer as there’s more nutrients in it, then prick out when they  are quite a bit bigger, that’s why I don’t use seed compost. 
    I sow all mine from seed, they germinate quickly you get hundreds for your money and they’re trouble free. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Maybe that's why the plug plants transplant OK. As I live in France the seed choice is very limited and the plug plant company has a big choice. But I don't use seed compost either, very expensive here and comes in small bags. I find that seeds are fine in Multi Purpose.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
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