This is the web site I found when I was double checking how to grow pansies:
http://archive.suite101.com/ar...
And here's the excerpt where they discuss whether or not to provide darkness:
"Light.
Pansy seeds do not need darkness to germinate as often mistakenly assumed, but as opposed to other surface sown seeds, they do not require light either.
This misunderstanding is probably caused by the use of separate, unlit, propagation chambers in the greenhouse industry.
While pansy seeds do not require light, pansy seedlings must have bright light immediately after germination.
You can place the flats under fluorescent lights 24 hours per day, but since this may raise the soil temperature another option is to wrap the flats in plastic and place aside for the first 4-5 days. Either way, it is recommended to provide plenty of light for the seedlings once they start to grow."
FWIW.
