Paeonia lactiflora Flowering Frequency in a Year
Today's introduction will cover the flowering frequency of Paeonia lactiflora in a year and some green plant maintenance tips regarding the planting method of peony root tubers with buds. Let's dive into the details.
Paeonia lactiflora, like peonies, are among China's traditional famous flowers and are also renowned in the world as famous horticultural plants. They are collectively known as "the two wonders in flowers" and are well-known and acclaimed both domestically and internationally. Especially Paeonia lactiflora, with its large and colorful flowers, graceful and luxurious appearance, lush branches and leaves, and fresh green color, is not only suitable for landscaping and courtyard greening but also suitable for potting and indoor appreciation.
The original habitat of Paeonia lactiflora is China, making it one of the ancient traditional famous flowers in our country, cultivated nationwide. Paeonia lactiflora symbolizes friendship and love and is revered as the "Queen of Flowers" and "Lover's Flower." Ancient people sent peonies to express思念 and affection and also to indicate farewell. In horticultural applications, peonies can form exclusive gardens, decorate flower platforms, ponds, and can be combined with other flowering shrubs to create beautiful scenery. They are also valuable ornamental trees for courtyard decoration, suitable for potting and cut flowers, and can be planted alone or in groups.
I. Introduction to Paeonia lactiflora
Paeonia lactiflora is a perennial herbaceous plant with thick, fleshy roots and white fine roots. Stems cluster from the rhizome, generally 60 cm tall, with two-time ternate compound leaves, small leaves with three deep lobes, and entire margins. The plant has a single flower at the tip or top 2-3 axils, with a peduncle length of 10-15 cm or longer. The sepals are 5. Flower colors include white, yellow, pink, purple, green, and mixed colors. There are single-petal, semi-double, and double-petal types. The stamens are numerous, colored golden yellow. There are 5 free carpels, with a follicetum fruit, and black seeds. The flowering period is from April to May every year, and the fruiting period is generally in September.
II. Paeonia lactiflora Varieties
Based on the best flower shape of each peony variety during full bloom, we can classify peony flowers into 9 categories.
1. Single Petal Type
This type of peony has 1-3 rounds of petals, wide and flat, with normal pistils and stamens. A typical variety is Fenronglian.
2. Golden Ring Type
This type has 2-3 rounds of outer petals, relatively wide and large, with most stamens petalized and a few remaining around the outer petals, presenting a golden ring shape. A typical variety is TaohuaXi Jin.
3. Golden Stamen Type
The petals have 2-3 rounds, large and neat, with normal pistils and stamens, and the stamens are golden yellow. Typical varieties include Hongjinrui, Baijinrui, Meihongjin, etc.
4. Pagoda Type
Outer petals are 2-3 rounds, wide and flat, with stamen petalization and normal pistils. Typical varieties include ShoufuYinxu, Zhusha Pan, Liantai, Meiju, Qihualu Shuangxiu.
5. Crown Type
This type has wide and flat outer petals, with all stamens petalized, wider near the center of the flower, and petals maintaining a towering shape, resembling a crown. Typical varieties include Hongjuhua, Pingdinghong, Xuefeng, Yinxian Xiu Hongpao, Mantanghong, etc.
6. Rose Type
This type has a large number of petals, with outer ones larger and inner ones smaller, arranged in layers, stamens消失 or fully petalized; pistils are normal, occasionally degenerate. Typical varieties include Shaonv Zhuang, Yangfei Chubu, etc.
7. Thousand Layer Pagoda Type
This type is mostly formed by overlapping two or more single thousand-layer flowers. Typical varieties include Zilibai, Hushui Dangxia, Lantian Piaoxiang, Pidimeng, Gaogang Hong, Zhaoyuan Fen.
8. Pagoda Type
This type is mostly formed by overlapping two or more single pagoda flowers. Typical varieties include Dafugui.
9.绣球 Type
The flower shape is characterized by the petalization of outer petals and stamens, with petals of the same size and shape, full flowers, resembling a绣球. Typical varieties include Hongcha Hua.
III. Propagation Techniques of Paeonia lactiflora
The propagation methods of Paeonia lactiflora include division, cutting, and播种繁殖, with division being the main method.
1. Division Propagation
Peony division propagation is usually carried out from late August to late September every year. During this period, the soil temperature is higher than the air temperature, which is not conducive to wound healing and new root growth. If the division is too early, it may germinate in the same year, affecting the growth and development of the following year; if the division is too late, new roots will not germinate, reducing the plant's ability to overwinter. Dividing in spring will severely damage the root system, which is extremely unfavorable for flowering. When dividing, each cluster must have 2-5 buds, cut along the natural texture, and apply wood ash or sulfur powder to the wound, or a mud slurry containing sulfur powder and superphosphate, then place it in a shaded area to slightly dry before transplanting. Peonies propagated by division can bloom normally in the following year.
2. Cutting Propagation
Cutting propagation has a higher coefficient than division but takes longer for new plants to reach flowering age, generally requiring 4-5 years. Root cutting and division are carried out in the same season. The roots are cut into sections 5-8 cm long, planted in a nursery, covered with 5-6 cm of soil, watered thoroughly, and new plants can germinate the following year. For stem cutting, it should be done 2 weeks before spring flowering when the new stems are mature. We should cut the middle part of the stem. Each segment should have 2 buds, stored in sand in a sand bed, shaded and kept moist, and after about 1-1.5 months, new roots and dormant buds can form, which will germinate in the following spring and can be transplanted to the nursery or flower bed.
3. Seed Propagation
This method is commonly used for cultivating new varieties. Seeds are usually mature in August each year and need to be collected and sown immediately or stored in moist sand until late September. Peony seeds are of the upper embryonic axis dormancy type and can break dormancy after more than 30 days at 4 degrees Celsius. We usually use trench sowing, covering the soil with 6-8 cm. Generally, only roots will grow in the first year without germination, and after overwintering, they will germinate in April of the following year, with an optimal temperature of 15-19 degrees.
Paeonia lactiflora Flowering Frequency in a Year
IV. Potting Peony Maintenance Tips
1. Potting Soil Selection
Since the root system of peonies is relatively developed and cannot be bent, it is preferable to use deeper and larger pots, generally choosing pots with a diameter of 25 cm and a depth of 30 cm, such as tile pots, ceramic pots, or plastic pots. The cultivation medium is similar to that of peonies, requiring loose, fertile, permeable, and breathable soil. Two formulas provided by an agricultural博士 are: ① Mix sieved slag, garden soil, and decomposed sawdust in a ratio of 1:1:1; ② Mix sieved slag and disinfected decayed leaves in a ratio of 1:1.
2. Potting
The timing of potting peonies mainly depends on the desired flowering time. According to my experience, different peony varieties require different accumulated temperatures for flowering. In the northern region, generally, greenhouse forcing is used, which requires about 55-60 days to meet the needs of growth, development, and flowering. Therefore, when determining the desired flowering time, we generally need to pot and force flowering 55-60 days in advance.
3. Removing Side Buds
In addition to the main bud at the top of the stem, most peony varieties have 3-5 side buds in the upper leaf axils. These should be removed in a timely manner to fully reduce unnecessary nutrient consumption.
4. Disease and Pest Control
In the process of peony growth, the plants are prone to powdery mildew, black spot, white rust, rust, and pests such as grubs, aphids, and red spiders. We must pay attention to strengthening prevention and control.
Black Spot: In the early stages of the disease, we can spray 65% zinc omethane wettable powder 500-800 times, which has a certain effect. Spray Bordeaux mixture every 7-10 days after flowering and before the disease occurs, until autumn, to reduce the symptoms. In addition, we need to incinerate withered branches and diseased branches and disinfect the soil with a 1:100 formalin solution.
White Rust: For peony white rust, we first need to change or disinfect the soil. In the early stages of the disease, promptly prune the diseased plants, incinerate them, and irrigate the soil around the diseased plants with lime water. Before the disease occurs, we can regularly spray 50% carbendazim wettable powder 500-800 times or 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder 500-1000 times.
Rust: For rust, we need to regularly spray 65% zinc omethane wettable powder 300-500 times or lime sulfur solution, every 10-15 days for 3-4 consecutive times, which can achieve a certain effect.
Grubs: In early spring, we can use 1%敌百虫液 or furan丹 to irrigate the soil for disinfection. In addition, we should deeply turn the soil to allow the overwintering eggs to freeze to death.
Aphids: We need to clear away winter weeds and spray 40% dimethoate emulsion 3000-4000 times when damage occurs.
Red Spider: We can spray wettable powder 1000 times or 40% trichlorfon emulsion 2000-3000 times; in summer, we can spray波美度 lime sulfur solution, spray again 6-7 days after spraying, and promptly spray water to clean the leaves.
V. Peony Forcing Techniques
1. Temperature Management
In peony forcing, one of the major technical challenges is temperature control. If the temperature can be controlled well to coordinate the growth of branches and leaves and flower buds, the flowering period can be controlled. Different varieties require different temperatures at different growth and development stages, and different peony varieties require different temperatures at the same growth and development stage. Based on this, how to control and adjust the temperature to meet the requirements of various varieties at different development stages is the key point of peony forcing. During the forcing process, there should be a certain temperature difference between day and night, but the temperature change should not be too drastic, otherwise, it will cause poor growth of peonies or even direct abortion, failing to bloom.
2. Light Management
Peonies are typical long-day plants. In the short-day season of winter, the plants differentiate flower buds, and in the long-day season of spring, they bloom. The development of flower buds and flowering both require long-day conditions. If the day length is too short, it often leads to slow development of flower buds, accelerated leaf growth, causing poor flowering or even no flowering. The duration of sunlight must reach 12 hours. Peonies prefer sunlight, and with sufficient sunlight, they grow vigorously with colorful flowers. For indoor potted plants, artificial lighting is necessary for peony flowering, ensuring that the daily sunlight time can reach 14 hours. On cloudy and snowy days, lighting should also be provided as needed for the entire day.