I think it's frost damage - we have had a few frosts lately - another one expected overnight tonight.

I'm in a bit of a frost pocket and my pansies seem to withstand the cold even when frozen. They could suffer from frost if only recently planted and not acclimatised to the cold. Could be lack of water or the dreaded vine weevil. I should lift the dead one and inspect the roots.

Thank you both, it's not lack of water as the compost is wet most of the time, but they were only planted out two weeks ago.Other pansies in the container look ok.It has been windy here though so maybe it is frost? Should I rule out some kind of fungus.Thanks Shaun

I'll check roots later Jimmy, what should I look for please?

This looks like my Asters I planted out because I grew them from seed indoors and didn't give them a chance to properly acclimate to the outdoors (not one of my stellar moments). Then the sun came out, and this is what happened. However, they all fully recovered in a few days and are looking great without any interference from me.

Now pansies are very cold tolerant plants and I've had a few poking up through the snow so I don't think it's frost damage. Did you use fertilizer? They don't need it. That could be it. I would just leave them alone except for water and they should sort themselves out. Give them a few days.

Thanks Bathgate, I did use some "growmore liquid plant feed" on them in correct concentration but if you think thats the cause I might leave off it. They just seemed to wither?

As for what you should do Shaun, just pull out the dead one and keep your fingers crossed. The others look fine.

There's no need to feel normally straight after planting as there is usually enough fertilizer in the compost to last about six weeks.

Thanks Steragram, maybe it's they have had too much feed then thanks.The consensus so far seems to be frost or overfeeding.Could it be anything else? Thanks

I think you found the problem - GROWMORE! It's made with urea (pee) and salt. No wonder your plants look burned. I thought it was the sun. My cat does this too when he pees on my flowers :) Your plants really don't need fertilizer, just good potting soil and a regular watering schedule.

Shaun, if it is vine weevil, then there won't be any roots as they will have eaten them. As far as overfeeding, then I would have thought all of them would be suffering rather than just the one.

Thanks Jimmy and bathgate, the roots look ok but it is as you say a puzzle why some plants in same container look ok.I'm a complete novice at this.Should I use a pesticide anyway?

No need. As you can't see any insect infestation, don't bother. Just put it down to the many mysteries of gardening.

Thanks for all your help.I'm going to pull the dead ones out, put new ones in and hope for the best.

That's the best thing to do Shaun.

...and I won't be feeding them just in case!

Well I put out some more pansies and same thing happened again! Didn't feed them or over water. I have now planted out some marigolds in same container (in there three days so far) and I was wondering if the compost is to blame somehow? It's something called coir from Wilko.

That is so strange, mine are blooming like crazy. Coco Coir is great for hydroponics, but not so great as a straight up growing medium. It's void of any nutritional value at all. Plants will eventually starve. It will work as a supplement if you have very compact soil. It will loosen it up to get some air into it. Try using a good standard potting soil. However, the season for pansies will be winding down soon, but the marigolds should do well. Just use ordinary potting soil. That's all they need.

Maybe it was just putting the pansies into coco coir alone that killed them off do you think Bathgate?

I have lost pansies in a similar way in the past and never discovered why. If the compost was to blame surely all of them would have died. I may be wrong but thought coir was normally mainly used for growing under glass hydroponically, with plant food added - when you were advised your pansies didn't need plant food you hadn't said what the growing medium was. If yours had had any plant food added it would have said on the packaging.

Oops Bathgate, just noticed you daid something similar - sorry!

I found out recently that here is a fungus that attacks pansies and losing some is quite a common problem and I don't think its is anything you have done wrong.

Thanks all, 'm currently trying to grow bonanza blaze marigolds instead.

I think so, all other factors being standard. Last year, I ripped my pansies out of the ground, stomped on them, then pitched them into my compost pile like Goose Gossage. Now they are laughing at me from the vegetable bed and growing with more flowers then when I coddled them. They don't get any special treatment.