How to Grow Peonies? Detailed Guide to Watering, Pruning and Fertilizing Precautions
The peony is universally recognized as the king of flowers, with the reputation of "national beauty and heavenly fragrance." Peony flowers are brilliantly colored, elegant and majestic, and extremely captivating. So how should peonies be grown? Today, the editor will share the cultivation techniques for peonies and the precautions for flowering-period management as follows.
Watering
In spring, temperatures rise quickly, but cold waves still strike, so watering spring water early is very necessary; it can effectively lower soil temperature, delay plant sprouting, and prevent peonies from suffering the harm of late frost and cold spells in late spring. If watering is done too late, it will not only fail to protect against cold and freezing, but will also affect flowering quality. Therefore, spring watering should be done early rather than late, and is most suitable in early spring. At this time, watering should also follow the principle of watering when dry and keeping moist, and watering thoroughly when watering, so that water does not accumulate on the soil surface; it should not be merely surface wetting. However, during the full flowering period, watering should be controlled; too much water will shorten the flowering period and make the flowers wither prematurely.
Pruning
In spring, peonies often sprout a large number of basal buds at the base, so timely pruning is very important. Pruning peonies mainly involves 3 aspects: first, the "foot" of the peony should be trimmed. Except for branches kept for renewal or for correcting the crown shape, all other newly grown soil buds should be cut off completely, to avoid their growth consuming a large amount of nutrients and affecting flowering quality and summer flower bud differentiation. Second, excess flower buds should be thinned out. Thinning should follow the principle of removing the weak and keeping the strong, with only one robust flower bud retained per branch. Third, the spent flowers of plants not intended for seed collection should be cut off, to prevent seed setting from consuming a large amount of nutrients.
Fertilizing
Peonies generally need two fertilizations in spring, namely the pre-flowering fertilizer in early spring and the post-flowering fertilizer in mid-spring. The first is the pre-flowering fertilizer, that is, the flower-promoting fertilizer, which should be applied in early March. This fertilization greatly promotes flowering in the current year and large, brightly colored flowers; the second is the post-flowering fertilizer, which should be applied within half a month after the peony finishes flowering. This fertilization can promote plant growth and flower bud differentiation, and has a direct impact on the number and quality of flowers the following year. In daily care, people often neglect the post-flowering fertilizer, but in fact this fertilization is very important. Therefore, generally within half a month after the flowers fade, apply 1 compound fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and at the same time appropriately apply some rotted and fermented barnyard manure. If the plant grows poorly after flowering, a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can also be used for foliar topdressing, to encourage lush branches and leaves.
Shading
After flowering, appropriate shading should be provided. Although peonies like light, they dislike exposure to blazing sun, and grow best under light shade when in bloom. Early May is the full flowering period of peonies. If appropriate shading is not provided and the temperature is too high, it will not only shorten their flowering period, but also easily cause the blooming flowers to lose their luster and reduce ornamental value. Therefore, during the flowering period of peonies, appropriate shading measures should be taken so that they receive light before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. This can make peony flowers large and brightly colored, prolong the flowering period, and also effectively prevent leaves from being sunburned and developing scorched edges and similar conditions.
Pest and Disease Control
Although spring is not a peak period for peony pests and diseases, if control work is relaxed, the plants are prone to pest and disease attacks during the growing period, and may even die entirely. Therefore, in early spring before leaf expansion, spray the plants once with 3 to 5 degrees Baumé lime sulfur mixture. After the flowers fade, spray once every 15 days with a 1000-fold solution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable granules, which can also be used alternately with an 800-fold solution of 50% carbendazim wettable granules, to effectively control fungal diseases such as black spot, stem rot and leaf blight. In spring, peonies are susceptible to aphid damage; if it occurs, broad-spectrum insecticides such as omethoate can be used to kill them.
Precautions for Flowering-Period Management
Sufficient light is very beneficial to the growth of peonies, but they must not be exposed to blazing sun for long periods. The suitable growth temperature is 25~25°C; above 25°C the plant enters dormancy. During the pre-flowering period, the plants should be ventilated in time to avoid excessively high temperatures affecting plant growth.
The characteristics of the peony are "four likings and four fears," namely liking coolness and fearing freezing, liking warmth and fearing heat, liking light and fearing shade, and liking dryness and fearing dampness. Therefore, when planting peonies, choose a spacious, ventilated site with morning sunlight and fertile, loose soil; they must not be planted in waterlogged ground, damp shady ground or rubble-filled ground.
Peony planting differs from that of other flowers; after planting, peonies do not need irrigation, still less watering with manure water. Hilling soil in early winter is enough to protect against cold, and after spring warms up, the hill soil should be opened up to facilitate growth.
For overwintering, peonies should be covered with grass to prevent freezing, and once the weather warms in March, the grass covering should be removed.
Chinese peonies have wide ecological adaptability, so they are easy to cultivate and simple to manage. Friends who like peonies should quickly get planting.
How to Grow Peonies, Peony Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Since ancient times, peonies have been widely loved by people and are a flowering plant symbolizing wealth and honor, long known as the "king of flowers." Since ancient times, peonies have been widely planted among the people. As an ornamental flowering plant, peonies are something every household is willing to place at home to decorate interior spaces. Many people do not know how to grow peonies. Below, the cultivation methods and precautions for peonies are introduced for everyone.
Peony Growth Habits
Peonies like warm, cool, dry and sunny environments. They like sunlight, but cannot tolerate blazing summer sun, and are also tolerant of partial shade, cold, drought and mild alkalinity; they dislike waterlogging, fear heat and fear direct blazing sun. They are suitable for growing in loose, deep, fertile, high-lying, well-drained neutral sandy loam. They grow poorly in acidic or heavy clay soil. Temperatures above 25°C will cause the plant to enter a dormant state. The suitable flowering temperature is 17-20°C, but before flowering they must undergo low-temperature treatment at 1-10°C for 2-3 months.
Peony Cultivation Methods
1. Soil: Peonies are suitable for loose, fertile soil with a deep soil layer. Soil drainage must be good. For pot cultivation, general culture soil can be used; the soil pH is best neutral, and slightly acidic or slightly alkaline is also acceptable.
2. Temperature: Peonies are cold-resistant and not tolerant of high temperatures. In East China and central regions, they can overwinter outdoors; when the temperature reaches 4°C, flower buds begin to gradually swell. Suitable temperature: 16~20°C; below 16°C they do not bloom. In high summer temperatures, the plant enters a semi-dormant state.
3. Light: Camellias like shade, peonies like sun. Peonies like sunshine, but do not like being scorched. When planted in the ground, choose a higher, east-facing sunny spot; when potted, place them on a sunny east-facing balcony. If placed on a south balcony or roof platform, shade must be provided on the west side.
4. Planting: Peonies are deep-rooted flowering trees and shrubs, so before planting, deep plowing should be carried out and base fertilizer applied (such as bone meal, oil cake, chicken manure, etc.).
5. Watering: Peonies should not be watered too much; in winter they generally are not watered. After May, as the weather gradually heats up, if there is drought and the soil is dry, an appropriate amount of water may be given, but it is better to keep them dry than wet; water only after the soil is dry.
6. Fertilizing: It is best to fertilize 3 times each year. The first is when new shoots emerge and leaves and flower buds are extending, mainly with quick-acting fertilizer; the second is after the flowers fade, still mainly with quick-acting fertilizer; the third is in autumn and winter, mainly with base fertilizer.
7. Shaping and pruning: After the flowers fade, cut off the spent flowers. To make the crown low and the flowers dense, pruning can be done before July to avoid branches being too dense and affecting flowering; it is appropriate to keep 5-6 main branches per plant.
How to Grow Potted Peonies at Home
1. Management is extensive and care is simple. Except that strong midday sunlight in midsummer should be appropriately shaded, sufficient light should be given at other times, especially in winter.
2. From March to September, during the vigorous growth period, water demand is relatively high, so water and mist frequently to increase humidity; after autumn, gradually reduce watering to improve the plant's cold resistance.
3. They like semi-shaded environments. If the placement site has too strong or insufficient light, the leaves easily turn light green or yellow-green, lack vitality, lose their proper ornamental value, and may even dry up and die; if exposed to direct sunlight and dry air, scorching is most likely, so they should be placed in a cool, ventilated place, and attention should be paid to maintaining environmental humidity.
4. Pests and diseases are not likely to occur, but if the pot soil is waterlogged and ventilation is poor, besides causing root rot, root rot disease may also occur, so attention should be paid to spraying chemicals for control.
5. Place in a ventilated position with sufficient scattered light. Since winter is not the growth period of the peony hanging orchid, to prevent root rot, water only when dry, and water thoroughly when watering, as the situation dictates.
Precautions for Peony Cultivation
1. If there is too much water in the cultivation soil, the fleshy roots easily rot.
2. Peonies are not tolerant of high temperatures; when the weather is hot in summer, cooling measures should be taken in time.
3. Provide shade for them to prevent leaf drop. If they are allowed to suffer heat and drop leaves, later flowering will be seriously affected.
How to grow peonies, and the cultivation methods and precautions for peonies, have been introduced here for everyone. I hope the above content is helpful to everyone. Growing potted peonies at home also requires us to pay attention to some related points. When the beautiful peony flowers bloom, our indoor environment will gain a lot of color.
How to Grow Peonies, Peony Flower Language
Different plants have different cultivation methods. Although the cultivation methods of some plants are largely similar, there are quite a lot of variations in the ways they differ. As a precious woody flowering plant unique to China, the cultivation of peonies undoubtedly has some differences, so next let us take a look at how to grow peonies.
Peony Flower Language
1. The flower shape is broad and generous, and it is called the king of a hundred flowers, with meanings of completeness, deep affection, wealth and honor, and elegant majesty.
2. Life, expectation, faint love, and devoted effort.
3. Noble and pure, dignified and elegant, with myriad graceful postures, national beauty and heavenly fragrance, and a trustworthy person.
Precautions for Peony Cultivation
When planting peonies, adapt measures to local conditions. For the planting site, it is best to choose a high, sunny place. Peony plants grown in shady places are thin and weak, and moreover cannot bloom. Growth is best in places with side shade. For the soil, choose loose, fertile, deep and well-drained sandy loam or loam; the soil pH is best neutral, and slightly acidic or slightly alkaline is also acceptable.
Before planting, the roots should be properly pruned, cutting off diseased roots and broken roots, then soaking the roots in 0.1% copper sulfate solution or 5% lime water for half an hour for disinfection, then taking them out, rinsing with clean water, and then planting.
The planting depth should be such that the junction of root and stem is level with the soil surface. The best planting time is from mid-September to mid-to-late October. In northern regions it can be planted somewhat earlier, and in southern regions somewhat later. With suitable planting time, wounds heal easily after planting and rooting is easy, which is beneficial to growth and flowering.
1. Planting
Choose a sunny place that does not accumulate water, preferably a sunny slope, with fertile soil and well-drained sandy loam. Before planting, deeply plow the land. The planting hole should be appropriately large. When placing the peony roots into the hole, they should be spread vertically and must not be curled. Planting must not be too deep; it is best to just barely bury the roots.
2. Light and Temperature
Sufficient sunlight is relatively beneficial to their growth, but they cannot tolerate blazing summer sun. Temperatures above 25°C will cause the plant to enter a dormant state. The suitable flowering temperature is 17~20°C, but before flowering they must undergo low-temperature treatment at 1~10°C for 2~3 months.
Peonies 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 in the south is extremely unfavorable to peony growth.
3. Watering and Fertilizing
Before planting, water thoroughly 2 times. Before winter begins, irrigate once to ensure safe overwintering. After spring begins, water according to whether the soil is dry or wet, but do not water too much. Generally fertilize 3 times a year. The 1st is the pre-flowering fertilizer, applying quick-acting fertilizer to promote large and good flowers. The 2nd is the post-flowering fertilizer, topdressing once with organic liquid fertilizer. The 3rd is the autumn-winter fertilizer, mainly base fertilizer, to promote growth the following spring.
4. Shaping and Pruning
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 desire, and at the same time apply wound healing and antiseptic membrane to the pruning cuts to protect the wounds and prevent pathogen invasion and infection. If you want the plant low and the flower clusters dense, cut back more heavily to inhibit branch expansion and root sprout occurrence; generally it is appropriate to keep 5~6 branches per plant.
5. Flowering Period Control
Potted peonies can be forced to bloom at Spring Festival through winter forcing treatment. The method is to select peony varieties with robust, plump scale buds 60 days before Spring Festival, lift them with soil, injuring the roots as little as possible, air-dry them in a cool place for 12~13 days, then pot them, and carry out shaping and pruning, keeping 10 branches with plump terminal buds per plant, retaining the terminal buds and removing the rest. When potting, the pot size should match the plant to achieve a satisfactory plant shape. After watering thoroughly, manage normally.
50~60 days before Spring Festival, move them into a greenhouse at about 10°C and spray water 2~3 times a day, keeping the pot soil moist. When the scale buds swell, gradually raise the temperature to 25~30°C, with the night temperature not lower than 15°C; in this way flowers can be seen at Spring Festival.
Summary: The above are the precautions that need attention during the peony cultivation process. I hope friends who grow peonies can pay attention to them. Make the cultivation methods clear, and be sure to plant carefully. Different plants all correspond to different cultivation methods.