How to revive a dying pansy plant

Kathy
by Kathy
A neighbor of mine has a pansy plant that was his mother's that is in sad shape. I offered to help but not doing well. It's very "leggy". I trimmed dead areas. Help!

  7 answers
  • Elizabeth Dion Elizabeth Dion on Aug 17, 2017

    Cut it back. Depending upon the part of the country you are in it may be too hot for the pansies now. Being perennials they should revive.

  • Julia K. Cartell Julia K. Cartell on Aug 17, 2017

    Examine the pansy, removing any dead, dendritic foliage. Trim back no more than 1/3 volume. Making sure soil conditions are neither soggy nor dry. To help promote foliage growth and overall plant health utilize fertilizer with a higher nitrogen level. For blooms utilize fertilizer with higher potassium. Also Neem oil to rid pests, or a multipurpose product such as Garden Safe Fungicide3- fungicide, insecticide, miticide to rid other plausible causes of ailment.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Aug 17, 2017

    I have brought back many plants by finding a spot where they will be out of the way, more shaded to decrease the stress and water only when they were pretty dry. Out of the wind and weather they are able to recover without stress and surprisingly they came back as a healthy plant. I then started getting the plant used to the sun and weather in short increments, and by that time it was back to a much more healthy state and ready to be put back where it belonged.

  • Kathy Kathy on Aug 17, 2017

    Thanks for the help.

  • Jean Jean on Aug 17, 2017

    Nancy is right on - trim it back by half, then put it in the coolest spot you have, and be gentle - it should perk up when things are not so hot.

  • Don Don on Aug 17, 2017

    I would guess it is lacking food. Get some grow sticks and insert into soil. If has been potted for long time, it may need to be repotted with fresh potting soil.