How to Propagate Peonies? A Detailed Guide to Four Common Propagation Methods

Peony propagation methods can generally be divided into sexual propagation and asexual propagation. Sexual propagation is also called seed propagation. Since peonies grown from seed take three years before they begin to bloom and set seed, the time is relatively long, so it is used less often. Asexual propagation, on the other hand, includes division, grafting and cuttings propagation; these three methods are the more common ones.

Peony

1. Sowing.Peony seeds should be harvested promptly after they mature in early August and sown immediately. If sowing is too late, the seeds will not readily germinate the following spring. Peonies sown from seed take 5-6 years to bloom, so this method is generally used only when breeding new cultivars.

2. Division.This is the method of dividing one peony into several small peonies for planting. Division is mostly carried out from "Autumn Equinox" to "Cold Dew". When dividing, a 4-5 year old peony can be dug up, the attached soil removed, and the plant sun-dried for 1-2 days so that the roots lose water and soften; then, following the natural growth habit, it is split from the root (at the "five-flower head") into several plants, each of which must carry some fine roots. Plants that are large and have many buds can be divided into more sections; otherwise, divide into fewer. After division, the small plants should have their old branches pruned according to the number of buds on the "five-flower head": old branches with 2-3 buds should be left 10 cm, and old branches with 5-7 buds should be left 5-7 cm. Those with only one tender bud need not be pruned. After pruning the branches, the roots must also be pruned: cut away the thick roots and medium roots (used for processing into tree peony bark for medicinal use), and keep all the small or fine roots; if there are few small and fine roots, the thick roots may be kept or not cut. If diseased plants are found, the roots can be soaked in a chemical solution before planting.

3. Grafting.Grafting is used to propagate rare cultivars or to have different flower colors on the same plant. Grafting can be done from "End of Heat" to "Cold Dew", with the best period around "White Dew", when the survival rate reaches 80%-90%. The rootstock can be peony root or peony seedling; the scion should be a vigorous one-year-old shoot from the lower part of the plant, 6-10 cm long, with a strong terminal bud and 2-3 lateral buds. The scion should be used as soon as it is collected; if not used temporarily, it must be kept well protected. The main scion cultivars selected include Zhusha Lei, Shengdan Lu, Zhao Fen, Zhuangyuan Hong, Yao Huang and others. Grafting methods include inlay grafting and cleft grafting. When the rootstock diameter is thick, inlay grafting can be used; when the rootstock and scion are similar in thickness, cleft grafting can be used. Whichever method is used, it is best to make the bark cambium of the scion and rootstock fit closely together.

4. Cuttings.Peony cuttings do not root easily, so the key is to grasp the suitable time. Mostly from "White Dew" to "Autumn Equinox", cut 1-3 year old disease-free, vigorous peony branches and insert them into moist soil. In 15 days, 1-3 new roots can grow, reaching 0.3-0.5 cm; in 60 days, the new roots can grow to 1-3 cm, and the number can reach 5-7. To ensure a relatively high survival rate, northern production areas mostly treat the branches with 500×10-6-1000×10-6 gibberellin or 500×10-6 naphthaleneacetic acid solution, with very good results.

How to Grow Peonies: Peony Cultivation Methods

There are many flower-loving friends around us, and the peony is one of everyone's favorite varieties. How do you grow peonies? Below, we will tell you the cultivation methods for peonies.

1. Temperature and Light

Abundant sunlight is relatively favorable for peony growth, but it is not tolerant of harsh summer sun exposure; when the temperature is above 25°C, the plant will enter a dormant state. The suitable temperature for flowering is 17-20°C, but before flowering it must undergo low-temperature treatment at 1-10°C for 2-3 months. It can withstand low temperatures down to -30°C, but in cold northern regions appropriate cold-protection measures are needed in winter to avoid frost damage. The hot, humid weather of the south is extremely unfavorable for peony growth, so cultivating peonies in the south requires giving them specific environmental conditions in order to appreciate the wonderfully beautiful peony flowers.

2. Watering

Whether watering is done properly is a key issue in the success or failure of potted peonies. After being moved outdoors in early spring, apply fertilizer once first, then water thoroughly; after the water seeps in, loosen the soil and maintain the moisture of the potting soil until buds appear. If the potting soil is too dry, a small amount of water can be given again until flowering. After that, it is best to keep the potting soil moist at all times. During continuous rainy days in summer, drain any accumulated water in the pot promptly to prevent root rot.

3. Fertilizing

Peonies are fertilizer-loving plants. To make peony flowers large and brightly colored and to avoid the phenomenon of "blooming every other year", attention must be paid to rational fertilization. Newly planted peonies do not need fertilizer within half a year; fertilizer can be applied only after half a year. Generally, fertilizer needs to be applied at least 3 times each year. The first is "pre-flowering fertilizer", applied after the soil thaws and when the leaves and flower buds are extending, together with watering "thawing water". The second is "post-flowering fertilizer" applied within half a month after the flowers fade; this fertilization has a relatively large effect on restoring the plant's growth momentum and promoting flower bud differentiation. Apply fertilizer a third time before winter begins; this fertilization plays an important role in strengthening growth the following spring. For the first and second fertilizing, quick-acting fertilizers are used; the third fertilizing is mainly slow-release base fertilizer.

4. Pruning

To ensure a beautiful plant shape, abundant flowering and robust growth, shaping and pruning are also needed. Pruning of potted peonies can be divided into two types: winter pruning and spring-summer pruning. In spring, for potted peonies, select and retain branches and buds, wipe away excess buds sprouting at the root crown, cut out inward-facing branches, crossing branches and overlapping branches, and thin out weak branches and surplus branches to ensure a beautiful plant shape and good ventilation and light penetration. In summer, faded flowers can be cut off; after leaf fall in late autumn, diseased and dead branches and leggy branches can be cut away.

5. Pests

The common disease of peonies is brown spot disease. When it first appears, yellow-green spots appear on the leaf surface, then gradually expand to form brown or black markings. Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed 1-2 times a month; if the condition is severe, spray 3 times. Heavily infected leaves should be cut off and burned to prevent summer spread. There is also a root rot disease that specifically harms peony roots; the symptoms are the roots turning black and rotting, hindering growth, and in severe cases it can cause the death of the entire plant. To prevent this disease, carefully inspect during division and planting; if diseased roots are found, they must be cut off and burned, and some sulfur powder should be scattered in the planting hole at planting time. The common pest is the cottony cushion scale, which can be sprayed with a 1500-fold dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate; in winter or early spring, applying lime sulfur mixture to the lower part of the trunk also gives fairly good control results.

Planting Peonies: How to Plant Peony Seeds? Peony Seed Planting Methods

Experienced peony growers all know that peonies are especially difficult to grow, and "peony seeds" are hard to germinate. To grow peonies into nationally famous flowers of unmatched beauty, it is very important to master peony cultivation techniques. How do you plant Wu Dan Hua? Please patiently read through the planting process the editor has given everyone.

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For peonies, there is a saying: "Harvest at eight-tenths tender, do not harvest at nine-tenths old." This is mainly because peony seeds develop from ovules in the ovary and generally mature in early to mid-August each year. The seed-setting rate decreases as the degree of petalization of the stamens and pistils increases, and may even fail to set seed. After the seeds reach a certain degree of maturity, their germination rate decreases as maturity increases. The sowing period is too late. The epicotyl of peony seeds has a dormant characteristic. They can be collected from late July to early to mid-August, and it is best to sow them immediately after collection; too early or too late will reduce the germination rate. I estimate that your seeds have been stored too long and the germination rate may already be too low.

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The disadvantage of growing peonies from seed is that they bloom late, and the soil in Hengshui is somewhat alkaline. Peonies can be propagated by sowing, division or grafting. But the sowing method takes too long: from sowing, it takes 4-5 years before flowers can be seen. In Hengshui, few peonies are long-lived, and for beginners they are even harder to care for. If the measures are not appropriate, even after germination the peonies will be difficult to grow, so the peony seed planting method is the most difficult, and therefore division is generally used more often.

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How do you grow peonies? During the planting process, peony seeds must not be sown too deep; 3 to 4 cm is suitable. After sowing, cover with soil level with the ground, commonly said as "when the seed enters the soil, the depth does not exceed five" (5 cm). Then gently firm the soil and water thoroughly. In winter, cover with millet straw, leaves or horse manure, or cover well with plastic film, to keep warm, preserve moisture and prevent cold. The following year, after the peonies sprout and emerge, let the seedlings show above the ground. Weak ones produce only one small leaf, while strong ones can produce 2 to 3 leaves. Timely cultivating and weeding should be carried out.

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The peony is a deep-rooted deciduous shrub flower. It likes sunlight, is cold-tolerant, loves a cool environment and dislikes high temperature and stuffiness, and is suitable for growing in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil. It has a certain drought resistance but is not tolerant of moisture, and should not be planted in low-lying areas with standing water; if there is too much water in the soil, its fleshy roots rot easily. The peony's characteristics are the "four likes and four fears", namely it likes coolness and fears freezing, likes warmth and fears heat, likes light and fears shade, likes dryness and fears dampness. Therefore, to plant peonies, choose a spacious, ventilated place with morning sunlight and fertile, loose soil, and do not plant them in waterlogged ground, damp shady ground or rubble-filled ground.