Friolina trailing pansies HELP!!

[shushkin!]

I bought some over these from GardeningDirect and was full of
hope for a spring floral bonanza. I am an eternal optimist even
though I try to conceal it with a sheer veil of cynicism.
I had no joy and they were all dead in the baskets by spring.
This is the second time I tried them and now I am ready to
give up.
They look such lovely little plants and sound fab. Has anyone
else created their own spring floral bonanza with these!!!

I cant understand it really as pansies love it in my gardens
and generously seed themselves everywhere.

[Two_Sheds]

When did you put them outside? Did they dislike the cold wet spring?

[SueA]

I tried them last year as well & most of them didn't grow very big & died in the hanging baskets despite the other plants thriving. It's really disappointing as they do look pretty in the brochures but I think they must need a lot of pampering to get to full potential. They came as plugs & I grew them on in the kitchen for a few weeks, hardened them off in the mini plastic greenhouse & then planted them up. Maybe if you grow them on indoors or in a greenhouse to a larger size plant before hardening them off & planting them out they might be more successful but I'm not going to bother with them again.

[shushkin!]

Thanks for the responses. I planted one in each of my hanging baskets (either side
of my north facing front door). I also had some in the ground and they all failed.
I have tried two years on the trot so I cant really blame the weather we have
this year. I got mine as plugs in the summer and then potted up them in small pots to bulk up and settle before planting in the garden.
I agree with you Sue that these lovely violas are just not really hardy. I have
even bought dahlias through the winters here so I dont think the weather is harsh
here in the centre of the south.