How to Plant and Care for Peony Flowers
This article provides an introduction to the experience of planting and caring for peony flowers and the cultivation methods of potted peonies in the aspect of green plant care. Detailed information is provided below.
Peony flowers are graceful and elegant in appearance, with beautiful leaves, and are known as the "national color and fragrance," ranking second among the top ten famous flowers in China. They are被誉为 the king of flowers for wealth and auspiciousness. Peony flowers are large and fragrant, and when planted in gardens or on balconies, they are particularly vibrant and attractive; when potted and placed in living rooms or studies, they are dignified and graceful, filling the room with brilliance and showcasing the luxuriousness of the host's home.
However, many families do not know how to care for their potted peony flowers properly. Below, we share with fellow gardening enthusiasts the cultivation methods and requirements for potted peonies at home.
1. Temperature and lighting should be suitable. Peony flowers prefer a warm, slightly dry, and sunlit growing environment and do not tolerate high temperatures and humidity. The optimal growing temperature is around 15-25 degrees Celsius. Especially in summer, it is important to avoid direct sunlight and especially to avoid sunburn, so proper shading and sun protection should be implemented to prevent damage from intense sunlight.
2. Soil selection needs careful consideration. Different plants have different soil requirements, especially in terms of breathability and fertility, so extra attention should be given to the choice of soil for planting peonies. The soil for planting peonies should be fertile, breathable, and well-draining neutral sandy loam, and it should avoid alkaline, acidic, or heavy clayey soils. For potted peonies at home, 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 may require pots 40-50 centimeters in diameter, with a depth of about 50 centimeters to ensure the peony roots grow strong and healthy.
3. Watering and fertilizing should be appropriate. Everyone knows that watering is the first factor in successfully growing flowers, and excessive watering is the number one "killer" of flower cultivation. When watering peonies, the principle should be to water only when necessary, and it should be adjusted according to the seasons and weather conditions. More watering is needed during dry spring and autumn seasons, but avoid waterlogging in the pot. In summer, with high temperatures and humidity, watering should be done in the morning and evening; during the plum rain season, less watering is required. Peonies should be fertilized at least three times a year, with an additional application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer before flowering and a compound fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium after flowering.
4. Pruning after flowering should be timely. During the period when peony leaves fall, cut off the thick branches from above the flower buds. To cultivate large flowers, remove the wilted flowers, and selectively remove flower buds to limit the number of flowers. In autumn and winter, cut off the faded flowers, dry flower stems, and weak branches and leaves to accumulate energy for the next year's bloom.
5. Disease and pest control should be kept up. Peony flowers are prone to red spot disease, brown spot disease, and gray 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 month to prevent the spread of pathogens and infection of the entire plant.
The propagation methods of peonies include: 1) Division propagation. In the period around the autumnal equinox, select large clusters of 4-5-year-old plants, remove the attached soil from the roots, place them in a loud place to dry the roots for 2-3 days, cut the connecting parts of the roots with a knife, plant the roots upright without twisting, layer the soil, and water thoroughly. 2) Seed sowing. Sow seeds immediately after harvesting in autumn. The planting depth should be about 2-5 centimeters, with the soil covered flat. One month later, the radicle can grow, but no shoot will emerge from the soil. By the following February or March, the seeds will germinate and grow into seedlings, and they can bloom after 3-5 years of cultivation.
The above is the detailed content on how to plant and care for peony flowers and the cultivation methods of potted peonies for everyone's reference and operation.