Detailed explanation of key peony cultivation techniques, teaching you to grow peonies well

Peonies are gorgeous and moving; through the ages, writers and scholars have lavished a great deal of ink describing the spectacular scene of peonies in bloom, and the peony is praised as the king of flowers. So what are the key points of peony cultivation techniques?

1. Planting: The soil should be loose in texture and fertile, neutral to slightly alkaline. Cut off broken and diseased roots from the peony seedlings to be planted, soak them in insecticide and fungicide, then place them into a pre-prepared pot or hole. The root system should be spread out. Fill with soil to more than half of the pot or hole, lift the seedling gently and shake it, firm the soil and seal it, with the depth such that the root crown is slightly below the pot surface or ground level.

2. Watering: Water thoroughly once after planting. Peonies dislike waterlogging, so water as appropriate during the growing season. In arid regions of the north, generally water before flowering, after flowering, and before the ground freezes. For pot cultivation, to make management easier, after flowering the spent flowers can be cut off and the whole pot buried in the ground.

3. Fertilizing: One year after planting, fertilizer can be applied in autumn, mainly well-rotted organic fertilizer. This can be done in combination with loosening the soil, by broadcasting, or by hole application. In spring and summer, chemical fertilizers are mostly used, applied together with watering as pre-flowering and post-flowering fertilizer. For pot cultivation, liquid fertilizer can be applied together with watering.

4. Pruning: In the year of planting, cut back to ground level in most cases. After sprouting in spring, keep about 5 branches and remove the rest, concentrating nutrients so that the flowers in the second year are large and brightly colored. In autumn and winter, in combination with clearing the garden, cut off dried flower stalks, thin weak branches, and non-flowering branches. For pot cultivation, prune into the shape you like as needed.

Intertillage: During the growing season, cultivate the soil in time, pull out weeds, and pay attention to the occurrence of diseases and pests. In autumn and winter, carry out plowing of the soil mounds around peonies more than two years old.

5. Repotting: When potted peonies have grown for three or four years, they need to be repotted in autumn into a larger pot with fresh fertile soil, or divided and planted separately.

Spraying: Before sprouting in early spring, spray with lime sulfur mixture; in summer, use a mixed solution of insecticide and fungicide, once every 2 weeks depending on the condition. In combination with fertilizing, chemical fertilizers and growth regulators, etc., may also be added.

6. Forcing bloom: To add to festivals or celebration activities, depending on the variety, peonies can be warmed about 50 days in advance, with the temperature controlled at normal room temperature 10-25 degrees, averaging around 15 degrees. In the early stage, pay attention to keeping the plants moist; after buds appear, pay attention to ventilation and light; after the buds are formed, control the temperature according to the flowering period requirements. Normally, apply foliar fertilizer and ensure an adequate water supply. In this way, flowers can be seen at any time in winter and spring.

7. Ornamental viewing: A single peony plant has a natural flowering period of about 10-15 days, shortening as the temperature rises, and at 3-8 degrees it can last more than a month. For field planting, temporary sheds can be set up to shelter from wind and light to extend the viewing time; for pot cultivation, it should be moved to a place without direct sunlight, at a temperature of 5-10 degrees, in a ventilated and well-lit environment, and watered in good time according to its appearance and the moisture level of the potting soil. Do not splash water on the flowers; in this way the flowering period is longest. When cutting for flower arranging, it is best to cut the wound underwater or cauterize it. The water for the arrangement should have a preservative added or a little white sugar to extend the blooming time of the cut flowers.

When peonies are in full bloom, you can experience the grand scene of “only the peony is truly national beauty; when it blooms, the capital is stirred.” But when planting, you must be patient and meticulous to cultivate beautiful flowers.