Blotchy pansies and violas

[Monika]

I know it's not a veggie problem, but here it goes: a lot of our pansies and violas are covered in black blotches and don't look very happy. They are all bought in and from different sources so I am not sure where this disease (?) has come from.

I hope these lovely winter flowering plants are not going the way of busy lizzies which are now impossible to grow for any length of time before they succumb to a virus.

Or is is just this autumn/winter's strange weather?

[glallotments]

It's been gloomy and damp a lot for us during November which often causes mildew or mould. I know when I dead headed my pansies the flowers were very soggy.

Try this link http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=571

[PLUMPUDDING]

I bought some pansies last week and one tray has developed brown blotches of botritis on the petals. I've taken off anything dodgy looking and they are looking a lot healthier and forming new flower buds. I've tried to keep them on the dry side to stop the mould spreading and all the rest look fine.

[Monika]

Many thanks for the replies. I have looked at the RHS site, GL, and yes, it's "pansy leaf spot". The plants are all in pots and boxes, so I will separate them from the healthy ones and see what happens.