Viola 'Teardrops Mix'

Professional Grower Plugs:
Pot your plugs on as soon as possible after arrival, ideally within 3 days. If you can't pot them on straight away, keep them moist in a bright, sheltered position.

Before potting, check that the compost is moist. If the plugs feel dry, stand the tray in shallow water for a short time to allow them to take up moisture from below.

Fill 9cm pots with good-quality multipurpose or potting compost. Make a planting hole with a pencil or narrow dibber, carefully ease each plug from its tray and plant at the same depth it was growing in the tray. Gently firm the compost around the plug to ensure good contact with the roots, but avoid pressing it down too firmly as this can reduce drainage and the air spaces roots need. Water thoroughly using a watering can fitted with a fine rose.

Grow the plants on in a bright, sheltered position such as a greenhouse or cold frame, keeping the compost moist but not waterlogged. Allow around 3–4 weeks for the plants to establish, although they may take longer in cooler conditions. Once they're putting on healthy new growth and have developed a good root system, they're ready to be hardened off.

Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days, initially placing them outside in a sheltered position during the day and bringing them back under cover at night. Once hardened off, plant into their final position in pots, hanging baskets, window boxes, beds or borders.

Pots and containers:
Choose a container with good drainage holes and fill with good-quality multipurpose compost. Gently firm the compost rather than packing it down tightly, and leave around 2–3cm below the rim to make watering easier.

For a full display, space Viola 'Teardrops Mix' around 15cm apart. In a 30cm (12in) pot, around 5 plants will give them room to develop their naturally mounding, semi-trailing habit without becoming overcrowded.

Hanging baskets:
For a 30cm (12in) hanging basket, use around 5–6 plants, positioning them evenly around the basket so their trailing growth can soften and spill over the edges as they establish.

Water thoroughly after planting and check pots and baskets regularly, particularly during mild, dry or windy weather. Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged.

Top tip:
Position some plants towards the edge of pots and baskets to make the most of their semi-trailing habit. They'll gradually mound up and spill over the sides, creating a softer, fuller display.

Viola 'Teardrops Mix' combines easily with other autumn and spring bedding, with its smaller flowers and gently trailing habit adding colour around more upright plants.

Try pairing it with primroses or bellis for contrasting flower shapes, or use taller wallflowers towards the centre or back of larger containers to add height above the violas.

Spring-flowering bulbs such as dwarf daffodils, crocuses and tulips also make excellent partners. Plant the bulbs beneath or between the violas in autumn and they'll grow up through the display in spring, adding another layer of colour.

Top tip:
In mixed containers, place taller plants towards the centre or back and use Teardrops around the front and edges. Its semi-trailing growth will soften the outline of the container without hiding the plants behind it.

Keep violas well watered during dry spells, especially those growing in pots, hanging baskets and window boxes, but avoid leaving the compost waterlogged.

As flowers fade, pinch or snip off the whole flower stem just above the leaves rather than removing only the petals. This removes the developing seed pod and encourages the plant to keep producing new flowers.

Flowering may slow during particularly cold winter weather. This is normal – continue caring for the plants and they'll start producing fresh growth and flowers again as conditions improve.

Plants growing in containers can be given a liquid feed while actively growing. There's no need to feed during very cold weather when growth has slowed; start again as growth picks up towards spring to support fresh flowers.

Top tip:
Check beneath the foliage when watering. As Teardrops fills out, its mounding growth can help shelter the compost, so make sure water is reaching the roots rather than just wetting the leaves.

Professional Grower Plugs:
Supplied in trays of 20 or 60, Professional Grower Plugs offer excellent value and are ideal for gardeners who enjoy growing plants on themselves. These young plants arrive ready to be potted into 9cm pots and grown on in a bright, sheltered position before being hardened off and planted into their final position.

Garden Ready Plants:
Supplied in trays of 12, Garden Ready Plants are our largest plug plants and a great choice if you want quicker results. Carefully grown on before dispatch, they're ready to plant straight into beds, borders, pots, window boxes or hanging baskets.