When are the planting time and flowering time of peonies, and in which months do they fall?
Peony is a herbaceous plant with extremely strong vitality, and its flowers are very beautiful, with brilliant colors and elegant flower shapes, possessing extremely high ornamental value; it is a flowering plant deeply loved and sought after by everyone. The reason peonies are loved by people is mainly because of their gorgeous flowers, so in what season do peonies generally bloom?
When to plant peonies (which month)
Depending on the planting method and region, the best planting time for peony flowers also differs:
1. Division method:
The suitable period for dividing peonies is generally earlier than that for tree peonies. The farming proverb of Heze, “peonies in the seventh month, tree peonies in the eighth month (referring to lunar calendar months)”, means that in Heze, peonies can be divided from the end of August until late September (from End of Heat to Autumn Equinox). In Yangzhou, division is done from late September to early November.
2. Sowing method:
Peonies must be sown promptly after the seeds are collected in the same year. For example, in the Heze area, sowing is done from late August to late September. If later than late September, they cannot take root that year, and the germination rate the following spring will be greatly reduced; moreover, even if seedlings emerge, because the seedling root system is not well developed, it is difficult for them to resist spring drought and they are prone to dying.
3. Cutting method
According to experience in places such as Changchun, taking cuttings in mid-July gives the best rooting results. Keeping the temperature inside the cutting shed at 20-25°C and the humidity at 80%-90%, roots can form 20-30 days after cutting, and dormant buds also form.
When do peonies bloom
Peonies are the grand finale flower of the spring garden. Whenever late spring and early summer arrive, that is, May-June, when the garden seems a little lonely, peonies are just about to bloom. If you happen to encounter a night of light rain, in the early morning you will see peony flowers blooming brightly and gracefully.
To put it in more detail, peonies bloom at 7 a.m., so you can keep watch beside the flowers and enjoy the magical blooming! However, the flowering period of peonies is relatively short, generally 8-10 days, and can reach half a month if placed in a cool spot.
Precautions for growing peonies
1. Do not transplant frequently
After peonies are planted in place, they cannot be transplanted frequently, otherwise the roots will be damaged, affecting growth and flowering. Under normal circumstances, repot once every 2-3 years, and during this period just loosen the soil and remove weeds in time.
2. Prune dead leaves in time
For potted peonies, cut off withered branches and leaves after Frost Descent to avoid breeding pests and diseases. In winter, there is also no need to move peonies indoors; they can be placed on a balcony or under the eaves in a sunny place, avoiding wind and snow, and the potting soil should simply not be too dry.
3. Care during the flowering period
Before peonies bloom, after side buds appear, promptly remove excess buds. This can concentrate nutrients and promote larger and more beautiful terminal buds. After the flowers fade, if you do not plan to collect seeds, directly cut off the flower stems to avoid consuming nutrients through seed formation.
Growth habits of peonies
Peony is a typical temperate plant. It likes warmth and tolerates cold, has a relatively wide ecological adaptation range, and is quite cold-hardy. In summer it prefers a cool climate, but it is also fairly heat-tolerant; even when the extreme maximum summer temperature reaches 42.1°C, it can still safely pass the summer. Only with sufficient light during the growing period can peonies grow luxuriantly and have brilliant flower colors; peony is a deep-rooted plant, so it requires deep soil, and because it has thick fleshy roots, it is suitable for loose, well-drained sandy loam. It grows poorly in clay and sandy soil. High soil moisture content and poor drainage easily cause root rot. Neutral or slightly acidic soil is suitable, and saline-alkali land is not suitable for planting.
Growth is better in fertile soil, but note that the nitrogen content must not be too high, to prevent excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves. During the growing period, appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote robust growth of branches and leaves and beautiful flowering. Peony prefers an open, relatively dry environment at higher terrain and does not need frequent irrigation. Because peony has fleshy roots, it is especially intolerant of waterlogging; 6-10 hours of standing water often leads to root rot. Low-lying and humid areas are not suitable as peony production areas in our country. Every flood is almost devastating to peonies; only peonies in open, higher places that were not submerged survived.
As mentioned above, in fact, in your spare time, planting flowers and plants together with your family and looking at the brilliant flowers, vigorous vitality, and lush green plants can make your mood more beautiful too!