How to propagate peony

Propagation by division

It can be propagated by division in spring and autumn. First separate the mother plant from the pot. The peony has semi-fleshy roots, so be careful when digging it up.

Remove old, rotten and dead roots, and cut them into several clumps with a sharp knife according to the natural division. Each clump should have more than 3 new buds. In order to prevent rot, it is advisable to apply wood ash and place them in a ventilated and cool place. Plant them when the rhizomes wilt.

Water thoroughly 1 to 2 days after planting, and keep the soil moist thereafter. If planted in early spring, it will bloom in May, but the inflorescence is short. Branching usually occurs every 3 years.

Seed propagation

The seeds can be sown directly in the open field in autumn. After sowing, they need to be properly covered with grass to protect them over the winter, and then transplanted in the spring of the following year. The seeds can also be stratified with wet sand until sowing in spring. It takes three years for seedlings to bloom.

Cutting propagation

When the sprouts at the base of the peony grow to 7 to 10 cm, cut them off together with the rhizomes. The cutting medium can be river sand or a seedbed. Then it needs to be shaded and moisturized. It can be potted in one month.

In addition, during May, take tender shoots about 12 cm long from the leaf axils of the plant and insert them into the sand bed. Pay attention to shade and humidity, and they will take root in about 1 month. However, the survival rate of cuttings is low.