Winter flowering violas

I bought 4 potted violas from my local garden centre in late autumn and they have flowered all winter and given me much pleasure. I kept them in their original pots and put them on the patio. They are now looking rather sad. They are still flowering but have dark spots on lots of the leaves and are looking a bit straggly. Is there anything I can do to save them and enjoy them again next winter?

Hmm. You might consider leaving some of the flowers to form seed pods, and propagate some more from those. Generally, the tendency is to ditch them once they've done their stuff - and if you have a compost bin, remember they'll come back into the garden, albeit in a different form.

They are basically an annual-sounds as though they have done their bit quite well-keep dead-heading them to prolong flowering but not worth tryng to keep them for a second season-compost and start again

Thanks for your replies. I thought at £5 per plant I was buying perennials!

£5 each!!!---these are not are not violas-unless they are gold plated-or the pots are

b&Q normally expensive is selling 20 for £5. There easy to grow from seed infact my garden has self sown seedlings sprouting at the minute. Supermarkets selling seeds for 70p etc

Paid £1.40- for 20- two weeks ago

where was that, that is cheap, im growing my own but for £1.40 for 20 whats the point

B and Q-they were priced at £2.80- at the till came up as £1.40-now in baskets

ill will be popping down to have a look!

I also treat these as annuals.    Mine, planted last October, have been flowering ever since, through rain, snow and frost.     They are still going strong,in pots, underplanted with spring bulbs which are all coming through now.    The two flowering together will look great.     I much prefer the little violas to the winter pansies.   I expect mine to last at least until May when I change the pots to summer flowering plants, then they go in the compost bin.

thanks for your replies. gardengirl16 sounds like you have the same violas as me. oh well looks like i have had my moneys worth as mine too have flowered through wind rain and snow.