How to manage newly planted peonies
A comprehensive explanation of how to manage newly planted peonies and the key points of peony cultivation techniques in the green plant flower aspect. The following is a detailed introduction.
Peony flowers are graceful and elegant in appearance, with beautiful leaves and are known as the "king of flowers" with the reputation of "national color and fragrance," ranking second among the top ten famous flowers in China. Peony flowers are large and fragrant, and when planted in courtyards or balconies, they are particularly vibrant and attractive; when potted in living rooms or studies, they are dignified and elegant, filling the room with brightness and showcasing the luxuriousness of the host's home.
However, many families do not know how to care for their peony flowers properly. Here, I would like to share with flower enthusiasts the cultivation methods and requirements for potted peonies at home.
1. Temperature and lighting should be appropriate. Peony flowers prefer a warm, slightly dry, and sunlit growing environment and are not tolerant of high temperatures and high humidity. The suitable growing temperature is around 15-25 degrees Celsius. Especially in summer, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight and especially avoid sunbathing, so proper shading and sun protection should be done in summer to prevent sunburn.
2. Soil selection needs to be careful. Different plants have different soil requirements, especially in terms of breathability and fertility, so extra attention should be paid to the selection of soil for peony cultivation. The soil for planting peonies should be fertile, breathable, and loose with a neutral sandy loam texture, avoiding alkaline, acidic, and heavy clayey soils. For home potted peonies, a mixture of fertile humus soil, garden soil, and coarse river sand can be used. Flower pots can be 15-20 centimeters in diameter, while multi-year large plants require pots 40-50 centimeters in diameter, with a depth of about 50 centimeters to allow the peony roots to grow strong and healthy.
3. Watering and fertilizing should be proper. As we all know, watering is the first factor in growing flowers well, and excessive watering is the number one "killer" of flower cultivation. Therefore, when watering peony flowers, it is important to adhere to the principle of watering only when dry and to adjust the watering based on seasonal and weather changes. More watering is needed during dry spring and autumn seasons, but avoid waterlogging in the pot. In summer, with high temperature and humidity, watering should be done in the morning and evening; during the plum rain season, less watering is needed. Peonies should be fertilized at least three times a year, with an additional application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer before flowering and a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer after flowering.
4. Pruning after flowering should be timely. During the peony's deciduous period, cut off the thick branches from above the flower buds. To cultivate large flowers, remove the faded flowers, and selectively remove flower buds to suppress the number of flowers. In autumn and winter, cut off the withered flowers, dry flower stems, and weak branches and leaves to accumulate energy for the next year's blooming.
5. Disease and pest control need to be kept up. Peony flowers are prone to red spot disease, brown spot disease, and grey mold disease. In spring and summer, a mixture of insecticidal and fungicidal agents should be sprayed on peonies during watering. If diseases and pests are severe, a mixed spray of fungicidal and insecticidal agents should be applied every half a month to prevent the spread of pathogens and infection of the entire plant.
Peony propagation methods: One is division propagation. Every autumn, select 4-5-year-old large clusters of plants, remove the attached soil from the roots, place them in a loud place to air-dry for 2-3 days, cut the connecting parts of the roots with a knife, plant the roots vertically without twisting, fill the soil in layers, and water thoroughly once. The second is by seeding. Sow the seeds immediately after harvesting in autumn. The planting depth should be about 2-5 centimeters, cover the soil flatly, and after a month, the radicle can grow, but no buds will emerge from the soil. By the following February or March, the seeds will germinate and grow, and after 3-5 years of cultivation, they can bloom.
The above introduction provides a detailed explanation of how to manage newly planted peonies and the key points of peony cultivation techniques, hoping it can be of help to you!