What's Wrong With My Viola/Pansy?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have a viola/pansy in a self-watering container along with a wax begonia outside on a patio table beneath an oak tree.

Within the last week, maybe week-and-a-half, the leaves of my viola/pansy started to turn yellow and dry. I figured it was the change in weather (going from 90-100 consistently to a mid-high 80s) or just the heat in general, since I know they don't like heat (although I've kept it alive this long regardless). I also didn't really care much because the dying leaves were on the really long stem that hangs over the pot and I was going to be cutting it back anyway. But in the past few days, the new green bushy foliage that had started growing suddenly died as well. Yesterday, I started poking around in the soil, and noticed a lack of visible roots. What roots I do find are hair-thin and very fragile. They're easily missed. Because the soil is always moist due to the self-watering container, I'm wondering if it's root rot. What I don't get is that it's been in this pot since I transplanted both plants in March, so I'm not sure why it'd suddenly not like the container. Additionally, the begonia is completely fine and shows no signs of dying besides the normal spent blooms that I remove.

My immediate thought was to remove it, try to save it, but I'm not sure if it's worth it/if I can at this point, especially depending on what's wrong with it. I certainly don't want my begonia to become affected by whatever killed the pansy, either. Should I take them both out just in case or what? Can a fungal disease or whatever affect one plant and not another?

(note: I thought I might've come across eggs in the soil?? I'm not sure, but I accidentally popped one when I was poking at it and examining it...definitely bizarre. I'm not sure if this is related to the pansy dying. I have lizards around, a frog living in the self-watering hole [apparently it likes it there], and I've had to clean off the web on the begonias because a spider thought it'd make its home there...so I wouldn't be surprised much if there are eggs...)

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

"Your begonia doesn’t look so hot either."

Good point, Saypoint :-) But since both the pansy and the begonia are inexpensive bedding plants and the begonia will be going into decline with cold weather soon, I'd just toss them both and start over. Fall violas (violets and pansies) will be in stock any day now and a couple of fresh, healthy plants will see you well into winter

And you certainly got your money's worth out of that pansy!! That such a heat intolerant plant would survive since March in those temps is impressive!

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Comments (10)

Embothrium
8 years ago
The one you are showing is the wax begonia. Try giving it fresh potting soil - as in shaking most of the existing soil off - and a container that drains.
Jae I
Original Author
8 years ago
The sad-looking yellow/green plant in front of the wax begonia is the pansy/viola.
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susanzone5 (NY)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Your pansy is dead. They are spring plants and hate the heat. Pull it out and grow them again next spring. I'm assuming you live where there are 4 seasons. You should indicate that in your post. There are Frosty pansies out now that will winter over in the ground and come back next spring. Pansies in pots from March would be gone by now. They like it cool. They're not long lived. That's plant life.
Saypoint zone 6 CT
8 years ago
Your begonia doesn’t look so hot either. Have you given it any fertilizer at all? Maybe repot it into a small pot with fresh soil. This is what a healthy happy begonia looks like. Maybe forget the self watering container and water it yourself when it needs it.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
The 'eggs' are most likely the prills from slow release fertilizer found in the potting mix of your bedding plants. Pictures would prove it one way or another.
Saypoint zone 6 CT
8 years ago
OP doesn’t say where they are, but my mother used to keep them indoors over the winter in our zone 6 New England area.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
the most important thing in a pot.. is the media ... media is a water management system ... retaining what the plant needs.. and shedding excess ...

i think your media has failed ... i see salt accumulation .. meaning they are not flushing thru ...[perhaps confirmed by the fert capsules .. fert is a salt ...]

and .. its in combination with the self watering pot ... your plants are probably staying too sopping wet ... perhaps why the roots rotted off ...

one other possibility.. is the viola wet dormant early ... and you will find that out if you find a viable crown and roots when you repot it ...

ken

spent fert capsules are opaque.. and water squirts out of them when squeezed ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=used+slow+release+fertilizer+pellets+in+pot&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

the alternative.. but usually much smaller.. is slug eggs ... but you usually see slug damage .. so you know momma was there .... i would bet on fert pellets for you ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=slug+eggs&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years ago
There's really no point trying to save the viola or repotting it. Its just not worth the time and effort. They're disposable bedding plants even in cooler climates.
Paul MI
8 years ago
Sometimes, if planted in an area which receives shade from the afternoon heat, spring planted pansies will make a come back in the fall once temps cool down. However, as others have said, few folks bother as they are typically inexpensive bedding plants.