How to Grow Peonies? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Care Tips

The peony is renowned for its "national beauty and heavenly fragrance" and is the provincial flower of many provinces in our country. It has recently even been proposed as the national flower. All of this proves its beauty, but growing it is not easy either. Below, let's take a look with the editor at how to grow peonies. Interested friends can read along and learn.

I. Growing Environment

Peonies love sunlight and can only grow better in a sunny environment. When growing them, be sure to place them in the sun. In summer, pay attention to shading from strong light. The suitable growing temperature for peonies is between 16-20 degrees, so in summer shading work is needed, and in winter keep them warm to prevent the peonies from suffering frost damage. For watering, grasp the principle of "do not water if not dry, water thoroughly if dry." In summer, with high temperatures and rapid water evaporation, water once every two days. In spring and autumn, when the climate is suitable, watering once every 4-5 days is enough. In winter, control watering, generally watering once a week. Peonies should be fertilized three times a year: apply quick-acting fertilizer during the flowering period to promote more vigorous flower growth; apply organic fertilizer liquid after flowering to supplement the nutrients lost from blooming; and in autumn and winter apply some base fertilizer to promote more lush growth the following year.

II. Propagation Methods

Peonies can be propagated by three methods. One is sowing. When the seeds mature in August, pick them and sow them. They can also first be germinated in moist sandy soil, and once young roots grow, then sow them. Generally, cover the seed surface with 2 cm of soil and press it firm. The second is cutting propagation. This method is suitable in spring. Generally, choose robust perennial branches with a diameter of about 1 cm and a length of about 15 cm. After cutting them off, soak them in rooting agent for 2 hours, then take them out and insert them into moist sandy loam. The third is division. Division is also a relatively common method. When the flower pot is overcrowded, division can be carried out. Dig up the whole plant and separate it from the junction of the root system stripes. Each divided plant should get roughly the same amount of offshoots, then replant them.

III. Common Pests and Diseases

The main disease is brown spot disease. After a peony contracts brown spot disease, many brown spots will appear on its leaves, seriously affecting the normal growth of the peony. At this time, promptly spray carbendazim to control it. In addition, root-knot nematode disease is also a frequently occurring disease. When severe, it can cause all the peony leaves to fall off, resulting in stunted plants that do not bloom. Once the disease occurs, promptly change the pot and soil, then use chemicals to kill the pests.

The above is an introduction to how to grow peonies. I hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.