How to grow tree peonies? Cultivation methods and precautions

In contemporary times there are cat slaves and dog slaves, and in our country, since ancient times there have been tree peony fanatics. For people who love tree peonies, if appreciating tree peonies can bring a pleasant feeling, then growing a pot of tree peonies is not just a simple matter of a sense of achievement. How can you grow a pot of tree peonies well?

How to grow tree peonies

1. The most suitable season for planting tree peonies: for potted cultivation of tree peonies, it is recommended to plant in September-October. For home cultivation, special attention should be paid to the choice of variety. Compared with other varieties, tree peonies such as Luoyang Hong and Hu Hong are more suitable for potted cultivation, as they have somewhat stronger adaptability to the environment.

2. For the plant, it is advisable to choose a 3-4 year old small tree peony grafted onto herbaceous peony rootstock, or a divided seedling with 3-5 branches. Tree peonies can also be propagated by sowing, but with the sowing method of cultivation, it takes 4-5 years to bloom.

3. The flowering period of tree peonies: April-May is the flowering period of tree peonies. With proper management, the normal flowering period is generally about 10 to 15 days, and of course there are also ones with a relatively long flowering period, about 20 days! The flowering period of tree peonies is affected by climate and temperature. When tree peonies bloom, a canopy can be set up for covering or they can be temporarily placed indoors to avoid direct sunlight, which can extend the flowering period. For main branches whose terminal buds are leaf buds, these should be removed to avoid excessive vegetative growth and affect flowering. To make tree peonies bloom vividly, during the flowering period a 0.5%-1% potassium dihydrogen solution can be sprayed on the leaves 2-3 times.

4. How to manage tree peonies after the flowering period: after the flowers fade, promptly remove the flowers and prune the branches. Cut according to the natural growth trend of the tree shape combined with the tree shape you want, and at the same time apply a wound healing and antiseptic membrane to the pruning cuts to protect the wounds and prevent pathogen invasion and infection. If you want the plant to be low and the flower clusters dense, then cut back more heavily to inhibit branch expansion and the occurrence of root suckers. Generally, it is suitable to retain 5-6 branches per plant.

5. The main reasons for the low survival rate of potted tree peonies are: 1. Improper temperature control. 2. Improper fertilization. 3. Light conditions.

Precautions for tree peony care

1. Watering

① Although tree peonies prefer dryness and dislike dampness, watering is still very important. For newly planted seedlings, ensure thorough watering. This promotes full contact between the root system and the soil.

② In terms of timing, when the weather is hot, it is best to water before sunrise or when the night is quiet and the ground is cool. In cold weather, water when the weather is warm; when the ground has not thawed, do not water.

③ After sprouting in spring, water once with a greening-return water.

④ In midsummer the weather is hot and there is more rain; too much water damages the roots.

⑤ In autumn, control watering; too much water will cause autumn growth, making it difficult to form flowers in half a year.

2. Fertilization

Spread the fertilizer evenly on the surface, then immediately carry out intertillage and loosen the soil so that the fertilizer and the soil surface are mixed evenly. Method: within a 20cm range at the base of the plant surface, open a ditch or hole about 10cm deep, with the ditch 20cm long, apply the fertilizer, then cover with soil.

3. Intertillage and weeding

Intertillage has a positive effect on improving soil aeration and regulating moisture conditions. It is usually carried out after watering or rain, when the soil is slightly dry. "In spring hoe one plow, in summer just break the skin" means that spring intertillage should be deep, to preserve soil moisture and prevent drought, and the depth should reach more than 10cm. Summer hoeing is mainly for weeding and draining moisture, so it should be shallow cultivation. Note that newly planted tree peonies should not be deeply cultivated; loosen the soil in time to maintain aeration and prevent root rot caused by excessive temperature. Weeding should be done by "removing small ones, removing them completely."

Reference tree shapes for pruning tree peonies

1. Single-stem type

When a single-stem tree peony is growing well, it can reach 1m in height, with top branches like an umbrella, elegant like a canopy. Pruning should remove 1/3 and retain 2/3.  2. Upright type

Generally retain 3-4 branches, remove dead branches, diseased branches, and excessive vegetative branches, thin out dense branches, and carry out bud removal treatment below 1/5 of the main trunk branch to ensure the robustness of the main trunk branch and promote the formation of flower buds.

3. Spreading type

Branches slant upright, and the height can reach about 1.2-1.3m. Generally with more than 10 branches they are thin and easy to bend. They should be thinned, removing thin ones and retaining thick ones, and it is suitable to maintain about 6-7 branches.

4. Round ball type

The roots can be seen, but the top resembles a round ball. Generally retain about 6 branches, remove old branches, dead branches, and excessive vegetative branches, and encourage the branches to produce more new shoots.

5. Creeping type

Branches fall to the ground or are close to the ground, and generally it is suitable to retain 8 branches. The top side branches should be kept evenly spread out; if the flower buds are plump, the branches are robust.

How to fertilize tree peonies?

1. When cultivating tree peonies, the base fertilizer must be sufficient. The base fertilizer can use compost, cake fertilizer, or manure fertilizer;

2. Usually it is better to apply fertilizer three times a year, that is, half a month before flowering, water with fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer once;

3. Half a month after flowering, apply a compound fertilizer once; before entering winter, apply compost once to ensure flowering the next year;  

4. Newly potted tree peonies must not be fertilized. Otherwise the fleshy roots will rot, causing the whole plant to die;

5. After half a year, gradually apply some thin fertilizer, such as decomposed chicken manure water or soybean cake water, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 20/100 as suitable;

6. Before flowering, apply pre-flowering fertilizer, and you can apply liquid fertilizer once or twice as a top dressing;

7. Half a month after flowering, apply post-flowering fertilizer, also applying liquid fertilizer once or twice;

8. During the dog days, apply a dry fertilizer with sesame paste residue once, to facilitate flower bud differentiation the following year.

When planting tree peonies, you must follow the growth patterns of tree peonies. Second, choosing an appropriate tree peony variety is also very important. You should, according to the local climate and environmental characteristics, try to create a suitable living environment for tree peonies, and continuously maintain and preserve it. Only in this way can you succeed.