How to grow peonies

Peonies are very long-lived perennial plants and quite simple to grow, but they have some specific needs especially in thestart.the gender peony It includes several species of herbaceous perennials, but there are also shrubby ones. In any case, the flowers of these plants, simple, semi-double, or double, with 3 to 5 flowers per stem, are scented and come in a variety of soft, bright colors (white, pink, and red, in all shades), and feature spots and streaks toward the center.

Index of topics

Origins

The tree peony, native to China where it is called "the king of flowers" (in the East it is a wish for good luck and a happy marriage), has real branches, with leaves and flowers. It grows in width and height, up to two meters. Both types of peony, herbaceous and tree, are easy to grow, in the open ground and in pots. Peonies pair well with tulips, Pink e hydrangeas.

Exposure and climate

Peonies need morning sun and light shade in the afternoon. East-facing exposure is not recommended because the first rays of the sun they could burn the newly sprouted budsThe plant should be protected from strong winds, especially for tall varieties.

Land

The most hospitable soil for peonies is moderately clayey, humus-rich, deep, permeable, and well-drained, sub-acidic and slightly alkaline. Plants should be fertilized at the end of the growing season.

Watering

Peonies require regular and consistent watering : the important thing is to keep an eye on the soil. It should never become too dry, but it should also not be damp or waterlogged. To avoid any problems, the ideal watering times are early in the morning and after sunset.

Plantation

Peonies are planted with about 80 centimeters of space between plants and covering the root ball with a 7-8 centimeter layer of soil. In June, propagation is carried out by layering.

The best time to plant peonies, whether bare-root or in pots, is from September to the last days of November.

Keep in mind that if you plant too deep, the peony will grow but not flower.

Flowering

Flowering occurs from April to June-July . Propagation occurs by dividing the tuberous roots in late summer. Tree peonies do not need pruning: simply remove dried flowers and leaves . The particular beauty of peony flowers (a genus comprising 25 species) is due to their multitude of colors: white, pink, yellow, red, purple, and violet. These colors are often enhanced by a dark spot at the base of the petals.

Cultivation in pots

Peonies are easy to grow, even in pots . They are highly resistant to all climates, from scorching heat to drought, from winter cold to frost. When choosing a pot and positioning them, it's important to consider that peonies, especially tree peonies, tend to grow both tall and wide, and their tuberous roots reach quite deep. Another thing to keep in mind when growing in pots is to avoid repotting the plant , but simply replace the soil on the surface.

Problems and natural remedies

Peonies can be susceptible to viruses that manifest as dark spots on the buds and foliage. In this case, it's necessary to burn the plants and sterilize the soil. Among the most common diseases affecting peonies is gray mold , which appears as dry patches on the leaves or as traces of gray rot on the stems or buds.

The most important remedy against gray mold is the following:

Immediately cut off flowers, buds or leaves with grey or rotting spots
Use disinfected scissors (alcohol or flame)
Don't leave residues on the ground: they should be disposed of (not composted)

Natural, preventative treatments are:

Horsetail decoction

One of the most effective ever in organic farming.

Rich in silica, it strengthens plant tissues
Sprayed every 7–10 days during humid periods

Baking soda (light use)

1 teaspoon in 1 liter of water + a few drops of neutral soap
Helps make the leaf surface less hospitable to the fungus
Don't overdo it (it can stress the plant)

Propolis or plant extracts (if available)

They have a mild antimicrobial action but are useful for prevention.