In November, a single pot by the door can change what you notice when you come home. Ivory pansies catch the light on grey afternoons, and an old terracotta pot brings a little warmth to the doorstep. Pale butter-yellow flowers would be just as lovely.
For this little planting, I chose three winter-flowering garden pansies (Viola × wittrockiana), a frost-proof terracotta pot about 25–30 cm across, and some peat-free compost. Cats Protection lists pansies among its safe outdoor plants, so they’re a good choice for my doorstep shared with my cats. Cats Protection’s guide to safe outdoor plants. Here is what I have done:
Ivory winter pansies in a weathered terracotta pot on a stone doorstep beside an oak door.
Planting the pot
Set the pot on feet or spare bricks in a bright, sheltered spot. Checked that the drainage holes are clear so rainwater can escape.
Arranged the three pansies in a loose triangle. Filled around them with compost, keeping each plant at the same depth as it was in its nursery pot. Left about 2 cm below the rim for watering.
Watered gently to settle the compost. After that, I will check it weekly and water when the surface starts to dry. Pinch off faded flowers as I see them. There’s no need to feed the pot through winter. RHS guide to winter containers
This took about 20 minutes and £8 (reusing a pot and had compost to hand). The flowers may pause during colder spells, which makes the first fresh bloom on a mild day all the more welcome.