Growing Hydroponic Violas: Edible Flowers in Small Towers
The short answer
Hydroponic violas are small, cool season flowers that suit towers and countertop systems. Extension guides describe violas and pansies as plants that like cool conditions and grow lanky in warm rooms or weak light. Start them from seed, keep the room mild and bright and pick open flowers often to keep new buds coming.
Do violas grow well without soil?
Violas aren’t a classic hydroponic crop, but nothing rules out growing them without soil. University of Minnesota Extension describes hydroponics as a method of growing plants without soil. To grow this way you need plants, a container, water, a way to anchor the plants, nutrients and a light source.
The same source names lettuce, herbs and brassicas as plants that grow well year round in hydroponic systems. Violas share their liking for cool conditions, so many growers put them in the same kind of setup.
A small tower or channel system works like the nutrient film and drip systems Minnesota Extension describes. A pump pulls water from a reservoir up to the plants, and the excess flows back. A simple deep water culture bucket with a net pot works for one or two plants. For a look at other ways to anchor roots, see hydroponic in different mediums.
What conditions do violas need indoors?
Cool, bright and steady conditions suit violas. Iowa State University Extension says pansies prefer cool conditions of 55 to 65°F and can become lanky with warm temperatures or inadequate light. It also notes that most violas suffer in hot summers and can melt away in the heat.
NC State Extension describes pansy as one of the most popular bedding plants for cooler weather. It prefers full sun to part shade outdoors. Indoors, Minnesota Extension says supplemental lighting is almost always necessary for hydroponics.
| Need | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Cool, about 55 to 65°F | Warm rooms make plants lanky (Iowa State University) |
| Light | Bright | Full sun to part shade outdoors (NC State) and supplemental light indoors (University of Minnesota) |
| Feeding | Regular light feeding | Water soluble fertilizer every 1 to 3 weeks in soil (Iowa State University) |
| Flowers | Pick or deadhead often | Removing spent flowers prolongs bloom (NC State) |
| Seed start | Sow early | 8 to 10 weeks before planting out (Iowa State University) |
Sources: Iowa State University Extension, NC State Extension, University of Minnesota Extension.
A steady room on the cool side suits violas far better than a warm kitchen corner near an oven. If you run a system in a spare room, keep an eye on the reservoir too, since a warm solution often means warm roots. Our post on caring for your hydroponic system covers routine checks of the reservoir and parts.
How do you harvest viola flowers?
Pick flowers once they are fully open. NC State Extension notes that deadheading spent flowers will prolong the bloom period, so regular picking does double duty. Each flower you take for the kitchen is one less old bloom.
Iowa State University Extension points out that violas have smaller flowers than pansies but make up for it in flower quantity. That makes them a good choice for garnishes, salads and drinks, where many small flowers are more useful than a few large ones.
Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County notes that you should remove the sepals of all flowers except violas, Johnny jump ups and pansies, so viola flowers can be used whole.
How to: step by step
- Sow viola seed in plugs.
- Keep plugs cool and moist until they sprout.
- Move seedlings into tower or channel sites.
- Keep the room mild and the light bright.
- Pick open flowers every few days.
- Pinch leggy stems to keep plants compact.
Timing matters if you want flowers by a set date. Iowa State University Extension suggests sowing 8 to 10 weeks before planting outdoors, which gives a rough idea of how long seedlings take to reach a useful size. To line up starts with the rest of your crops, see the growing schedule for your hydroponics.
Troubleshooting
Leggy stems: warm room or weak light. Iowa State University Extension links lanky growth to warm temperatures or inadequate light. Cool the room and add light.
Few flowers: old blooms left on the plant. Pick flowers often, since NC State Extension notes that deadheading prolongs bloom.
Plants fading in summer: heat. Iowa State University Extension notes that violas can melt away in the heat. Move the system to a cooler room or start a new round when temperatures drop.
Violas alongside other crops
Violas fit well beside lettuce and herbs, since all of them like cool, bright rooms. They add color and a few flowers for the plate in little space. For more ideas on growing flowers and food plants indoors, the Kind Seed Co blog has a section on coco and hydro mixes and soilless growing.
Sources
- Growing pansies and violas, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Viola x wittrockiana (pansy), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Edible flower guide, Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County
- Small scale hydroponics, University of Minnesota Extension
FAQ
Are all violas edible?
Nebraska Extension lists violas, Johnny jump ups and pansies among edible flowers, and viola flowers can be used whole.
Do violas need cool water?
Violas like cool conditions overall. Iowa State University Extension gives 55 to 65°F as the range pansies prefer. A reservoir that sits in a warm room will warm the roots too, so a cool room helps both the leaves and the solution stay in a comfortable range for the plants.
How long until violas bloom?
Plan for a couple of months from seed. Iowa State University Extension suggests sowing 8 to 10 weeks before planting outdoors, which gives a rough idea of how long young plants take to grow. Bright light and cool temperatures help plants stay compact and ready to flower.
Can violas and lettuce share a system?
Often yes. University of Minnesota Extension lists lettuce and herbs as plants that grow well year round in hydroponic systems, and violas also like cool, bright conditions. Watch spacing so the lettuce doesn't shade the smaller violas as both grow.
Do violas keep flowering after you pick them?
Yes, picking helps. NC State Extension notes that deadheading spent flowers will prolong the bloom period, and pansy can bloom for 4 to 6 months. Take open flowers every few days and remove any that fade on the plant so new buds keep forming.
