What Are the Propagation Methods for Peonies? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Practical Techniques
Peony is a herbaceous plant that is very popular in our country, and it can be seen in many parks. Peony actually has not only ornamental value but also certain edible and medicinal value. It is a flower with relatively high economic value, and our country now also has specialized peony planting bases. However, many people do not know how to propagate peonies, so the editor below brings you the propagation methods for peonies. Let's take a look together!
1. Division Propagation
Division propagation is the most common propagation method for peonies, and it is mainly used for peonies grown for medicinal purposes. In autumn, dig up the mother plant with soil and select peony heads with buds for propagation. First observe the peony heads, pick out those without buds and with pests or diseases, then cut the normal peony heads into pieces. Each peony head piece must retain more than 2 strong buds. The peony head should not be too thick or too thin; if too thick, the main root is weak, the growth ability is not strong, and branching decreases. If too thin, the peony head absorbs nutrients poorly, and growth is hindered after planting. Cut as you plant. However, the division propagation method cannot be used continuously, because peonies are not suitable for continuous cropping; otherwise, the disease incidence rate will increase, leading to poor growth and a higher mortality rate.
2. Seed Propagation
Seed propagation is also a common propagation method for peonies. Peony seeds are mainly inside the fruit. When the seeds mature, the fruit will split open, and the seeds will fall out of the fruit. The maturity time of peony fruit varies according to the planting region, so this is something everyone needs to pay attention to. After harvest, the seeds should not be stored for too long; it is best to sow them immediately after harvest, because the moisture content of the seeds will gradually decrease as the sowing time is prolonged. This causes the seed germination rate to decline, making it difficult to take root and emerge. Before sowing, select out poorly developed seeds, remove shriveled seeds by soaking in water, then soak the seeds to promote germination, do a good job in land preparation and fertilization, control the sowing density well, and sow at the appropriate time according to weather changes.
3. Cutting Propagation
Although cutting propagation is not common, it is relatively simple. First, choose well-ventilated, sunny soil with good drainage and irrigation as the cutting bed, and loosen the soil. Then spread a layer of river sand on the soil as the cutting substrate. Before spreading the river sand, disinfect it first to prevent pests and diseases from affecting growth. Then, from June to August, select branches with strong growth and no pests or diseases as cuttings. The cuttings should be about 12 cm long. Control the depth well and insert the cuttings at the appropriate time. After inserting, water thoroughly, cover with a greenhouse, and control the greenhouse temperature at 22 degrees and the humidity at about 85%. Roots can generally form in about one month.
4. Root Cutting Propagation
The last propagation method is root cutting propagation. The prerequisite for root cutting propagation is based on division propagation. When dividing in autumn, carry out root cutting treatment on the plant. After root cutting, disinfect the cut ends of the plant roots to prevent wound infection and pest or disease problems. Then cut the severed roots into root segments about 8 li long, control the density well, and insert them into the planting trench. The depth of the trench should be controlled at about 12 cm. After inserting, cover with fine soil and water thoroughly.
The above is a brief introduction to several propagation methods for peonies. The two most commonly used propagation methods for peonies are still division and sowing. Cutting and root cutting require a certain level of skill, because when cutting, it is necessary to ensure that the plant will not suffer other damage, and disinfection work must be carried out after cutting, so everyone must pay attention when using these two methods. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.