How to plant peonies
This article focuses on the planting and cultivation methods of peonies, including detailed information on growing green plants and flowers. Here is a specific introduction:
Peonies are perennial deciduous shrubs of the Ranunculaceae family and Paeonia genus, also known as "mouse ears," "deer leek," "white velvet," "wooden peony," "hundred rain gold," "Luoyang flower," "wealthy flower," and other names. Peony flowers are bright in color, fragrant, and magnificent, earning the reputation of the "king of flowers." With large and fragrant flowers, they are also known as "national color and fragrance." They are a famous flower in China, ranking second only to plum blossoms among the top ten traditional flowers, with a history of artificial cultivation of over 1500 years. Peonies prefer a warm and cool climate, can withstand temperatures as low as -29.6°C, and do not tolerate humidity and heat. They love sunlight but can also tolerate shade, and are afraid of strong winds and excessive sun exposure. They thrive in loose, fertile, deep soil with good breathability, and can grow well in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline conditions. Peony roots are deep and fleshy, and should not be planted in heavy, compacted, or poorly ventilated soil and dislike waterlogging. Peonies are widely planted in China and are loved by many. They are planted in gardens and potted in homes. How to cultivate and manage potted peonies?
I. Propagation methods of peonies: Peonies can be propagated through division, grafting, cutting, layering, sowing, and tissue culture. The most common methods are division and grafting. Division is done in autumn after the leaves fall and before frost, by digging up large clumps of peonies that have grown for 4-5 years for division and cultivation.
II. Preparation of growing soil: The growing soil should be loose, well-draining, and moisture-retaining, slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline. For potted peonies, the soil mixture consists of 40% compost, 35% garden soil, and 25% coarse sand.
III. Choose a ceramic pot, jar, or clay pot of suitable size and avoid using ceramic pots.
IV. Selection and treatment of cultivation varieties: Choose early and mid-flowering varieties that are adaptable, have good flower shapes, and are grafted onto peony rootstocks, such as Luoyang Red, Erjiao, Zhao Fen, etc. Before potting, dig up the移植 seedlings and expose the roots for 1-2 days, then cut off the withered branches and overlong injured roots, and disinfect with a 1% copper sulfate solution for 5 minutes before potting.
V. Planting: It is usually done in autumn (September-October). Place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then fill with growing soil, place the peony plant in the center of the pot, spread the roots, and fill the soil halfway up the pot. Lightly shake the plant to settle the soil, and plant it at a depth where the rootstock is level with the pot opening. Planting too shallowly affects survival, and planting too deeply affects growth after transplanting. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep the plant in a shaded area for a week, then move it to a sunny location once the roots have recovered.
VI. Water and fertilizer management: Peonies love fertilizer. Apply liquid fertilizer 1-2 times after the leaves unfold in early spring and 1-2 times after flowering. Apply a compound fertilizer once in the summer. Watering should keep the soil moist, with one watering in the evening during the summer and no watering in winter unless dry.
VII. Pruning and shaping: Pruning and removing buds are important techniques in peony cultivation. From the second year after planting, every year between the Spring Equinox and Qingming Festival, when many new buds emerge from the root neck and grow to 5-6 centimeters, select 3-5 strong and evenly distributed branches per plant, removing the rest by hand or with a knife, and removing all but the terminal bud from the remaining branches. If the terminal bud is underdeveloped, replace it with a plump side bud.
Pruning should pay attention to the height and posture of the plant, removing any overly long branches to match the height of the others and using side branches to fill in the canopy space. Remove weak flower buds and cut off the残 flowers after blooming. In autumn, remove any sprouts that were not removed in spring and shape the plant, leaving 3-5 main stems. Inner-facing branches, crossing parallel branches, dense thin branches, and diseased branches should be dealt with promptly. If exposed to intense sunlight during the flowering season, provide shade with a simple and sparse shelter. In areas with severe winter cold, cover the soil or mulch to protect the plants. Determine the number of main branches based on the size of the pot, usually about 4 is suitable.
VIII. Preventing root rot and bud drop in potted peonies: Measures include ensuring the soil is loose and breathable, watering and fertilizing appropriately, avoiding waterlogging, applying a sufficient amount of base fertilizer, and applying top dressing thinly and in small quantities. Remove buds, sprouts, and pinch the tips in time, thin out branches to ensure good ventilation and light. In areas with severe winter cold, move the plants indoors in time. Prevent late frosts and spring cold damage in early spring.
The above information on how to plant peonies and the specific methods of planting and caring for peony flowers are provided for your reference.