When is the best season to transplant peonies?

Peony, as a traditional famous flower in my country, is not only deeply loved by people, but also a symbol of culture. Throughout history, many famous courtyards and gardens have planted peonies, some even with century-old peony plants. Although peonies are beautiful, they are not easy to care for. So what is the best season to transplant peonies?

When is the best season to transplant peonies?

Transplanting peony seedlings needs to be done in autumn (approximately between October and November). There is a saying: "If you plant peonies in spring, they will never bloom." In the process of transplanting peonies, there are four key points that require special attention, otherwise the number of flowers may be affected.

Key points for transplanting peonies

1. Handling bare-root seedlings

Peony seedlings purchased are usually bare-root seedlings, with the roots wrapped in a layer of mud to keep them moist. After receiving the bare-root seedlings, they need to be processed before planting. If planted directly, the rooting rate will be reduced and may also affect subsequent growth. The steps for dealing with bare roots are as follows:

First, clean the mud on the roots. You can rinse or soak them in clean water to remove the mud from the roots.

After removing the mud, observe the root system. If you find any unhealthy roots that are black, rotten or infested with insects, cut them off with scissors.

The pruned roots should be placed in a cool and ventilated place to dry the wounds, and carbendazim and rooting powder should be prepared. Carbendazim is used for antibacterial and anti-root rot, while rooting powder promotes the growth of new roots. Dilute these two agents with water in a ratio of 1:1000, and then soak the roots of the peony in the solution for 10 to 20 minutes.

After these three steps, planting the bare-root peony seedlings into the soil will help improve the survival rate and promote subsequent growth.

2. Choose a suitable environment

Peonies need sufficient light and good ventilation to grow. For potted plants , choose a suitable flowerpot and place it in an environment with sufficient light and good ventilation, which will help the peony grow healthily, such as outdoors or on a well-lit balcony. During the high temperatures in summer, you can consider setting up a shade net to avoid excessive exposure to the sun.

For ground-planted peonies, in addition to ensuring good ventilation and lighting, care should also be taken to avoid waterlogging. The roots of peony are fleshy roots, and long-term waterlogging will cause root rot. You should choose a high place where water is not easily accumulated for ground planting, such as the south wall of the yard. This can ensure sufficient light, and the wall can block the strong light, reducing the risk of water accumulation and root rot.

3. Pay attention to the soil

Peonies prefer neutral or slightly alkaline soil, while general flower nutrient soil is slightly acidic. If you use nutrient soil directly to pot peonies, the roots may not grow normally in the slightly acidic soil, affecting their subsequent growth. Some alkaline fertilizers such as wood ash and rice husk carbon can be added to the nutrient soil to increase the fertilizer and adjust the soil acidity and alkalinity, making it neutral or slightly alkaline.

When planting peonies in the south, you can also add a large amount of wood ash or rice husk carbon into the land to improve the soil. When planting peonies in the ground, you can spread a layer of decomposed organic fertilizer , such as cow dung, sheep dung, chicken dung, etc., on the bottom of the pit, then cover the fertilizer with a layer of soil, and then plant. These fertilizers serve as base fertilizers, providing nutrients for the subsequent growth of peonies.

4. Water thoroughly to allow roots to settle

After planting the peony, you need to water it immediately. This water is called "rooting water". When watering, you must water thoroughly, not just the surface, to ensure that the peony's roots and surrounding soil can fully absorb water. After watering the plants to allow them to take root, there is no need to water them frequently due to the cold weather in early winter. Keep the soil dry. You can water it occasionally in the later stage of potted plants, but you almost don’t need to water it when planting in the ground. Wait until the spring of the following year, when you see new buds sprouting, then resume normal watering.

In general, the best time to transplant peonies is in the fall, usually between October and November. During this period, the temperature gradually decreases and the growth rate of peonies slows down, which is conducive to the recovery of the root system after transplanting and adaptation to the new environment. It also provides sufficient time for peonies to overwinter. Transplanting in autumn can reduce the premature bolting phenomenon that may occur during spring transplanting, thereby improving the quality and quantity of peony flowering. Therefore, it is most appropriate to transplant peonies in autumn.