How to grow peony and what to pay attention to

The peony is a flower of great ornamental value and cultural significance, with its large, colorful flowers , diverse varieties and profound cultural connotations, and is deeply loved by people. Let’s learn the cultivation methods and precautions of peonies.

1. Soil selection

Peonies are not suitable for weakly acidic and weakly alkaline soils and are suitable for neutral soils. You can use a mixture of sand, garden soil and humus to ensure that the soil is loose, fertile and well-drained. The potting soil needs to be replaced every 2-3 years to avoid soil compaction and nutrient depletion.

2. Light and temperature

Peony is a light-loving plant and needs 6-8 hours of light a day. It can be placed in a sunny place in spring and autumn. Peonies are cold-resistant but not heat-resistant. They need shade in summer to avoid direct sunlight. In winter, the temperature needs to be kept at 1-10℃ to promote flower bud differentiation.

3. Watering and fertilizing

When watering, follow the principle of "don't water unless the soil is dry, and water thoroughly when you do", and avoid water accumulation. Water once every 7-10 days in spring, once every 3-5 days in summer, and once every 15-20 days in winter.

4. Fertilization needs to be adjusted according to the season:

Fertilization before flowering (early March): mainly use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote flower bud differentiation.

Fertilize after flowering (half a month after flowering): mainly use nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to help the plant recover.

Fertilize before wintering (mid to late November): mainly use organic fertilizer to increase soil fertility.

5. Reproduction method

Propagation by division: The best time is from late September to late October. Choose a 4-5 year old healthy mother plant and divide the root system into several small plants, keeping 3-4 branches and complete root system on each plant.

Grafting propagation: The best time is from early September to early October. Peony roots are often used as rootstocks , and the scion needs to be selected from strong branches grown in the current year.

6. Maintenance during flowering period

During the flowering period, excess flower buds need to be cut off so that only one flower bud is retained on each branch, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate or superphosphate should be sprayed to make the flower color more colorful. After the flowering period is over, cut off the remaining flowers in time to avoid nutrient loss.

In addition, if you find black spots on the leaves, you need to spray insecticide and trim diseased branches and yellow leaves. Summer is the peak season for diseases and insect pests, so plants need to be checked regularly and prevented and controlled in a timely manner. Do not apply fertilizer to newly propagated or newly transplanted peony plants within six months, avoid direct sunlight, and keep the soil moderately moist. It can effectively promote the healthy growth and flowering of peony flowers, making them more ornamental.