Peonies are plants that grow easily, with large and majestic flowers that make any garden even more beautiful. These hardy plants can live for decades, but need specific care to produce their famous blooms. In order for your peonies to bloom, make sure they are planted in an appropriate location and be careful not to overdo the fertilizer. If you want, you can cut peony buds by letting them bloom in a vase, even long after the flowering season has passed.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Blossom the Peony Buds on the Plant
Step 1. Plant the peonies in a place where they can enjoy 4-6 hours of direct sun
Peonies require a lot of light to bloom. Make sure your peonies are planted in a sunny part of the garden, where they can enjoy direct sunlight for around 4-6 hours each day.
If you live in a warm place (for example in southern Italy), make sure your peonies also get some shade during the late afternoon
Step 2. Make sure the peonies are planted no more than 3-5 cm deep
Peonies are plants that are demanding about the depth to which they are planted. Plant them even a little deeper and you may end up with a plant with gorgeous leaves, but no flowers. So be very careful not to plant the peonies more than 5 cm below the ground level.
- In this case, you may find it useful to have a paddle where the depth indications are marked.
- If your peony is planted too deep and is not producing buds, you may need to plant it again. Be careful not to damage the root bulbs when digging up the plant. You may have to wait up to two years before getting the first buds from the peony you transplanted.
Step 3. Avoid giving the peonies too much fertilizer
While many plants benefit from nutrient-rich soils, using too much fertilizer with peonies could cause them to spend their energy growing only the leaves, at the expense of the flowers. This happens especially if a nitrogen-rich fertilizer is given. If your soil is poor, wait until the beginning of summer before adding fertilizer, after the peonies have already started flowering.
- Bone meal, potting soil, and manure are good fertilizers to choose as an option for peonies.
- Fertilize peonies less than once a year, and only if they seem undernourished (for example yellowish or dull).
Step 4. Be careful when removing foliage from the plant
Peonies can easily survive the winter if you cut their leaves before the climate becomes harsh. In any case, proceeding too early (such as in July or August) can cause poor flowering the following year. Do not prune the leaves of your peonies before the beginning of autumn.
Step 5. Remove faded flowers to allow the plant to produce new buds
When the peony flowers start to wilt, cut them off with a sharp pair of pruning shears. Cut off somewhere near a visible leaf so that the cut stem does not protrude from the plant.
- Removing dead flowers will not only make the plant more beautiful, but also more likely to use its energy in flowering rather than seed ripening.
- If you want to cut live flowers from the plant, take care not to cut too many buds and leaves from the stem. Leave at least two leaves so that stem will live on.
Step 6. Treat and prevent any pests or diseases
Insect pests, fungal infections, and other diseases can affect your plant's growth and attack flowers. While you can use insecticides and anti-fungal treatments, the best way to protect your peonies is to prevent pests from appearing first.
- To prevent fungal infestations, disinfect your garden tools between uses and make sure the peonies are planted in soil that allows for good drainage.
- Keep the garden clean and weed-free to ward off harmful insects. Another trick you can take is to try to include beneficial insects in your garden to keep pests under control, such as ladybugs and praying mantises.
Step 7. Wait a few years for your peonies to bloom after you plant them
One of the rules for making peonies bloom is this: give them time! After starting the seeds, a peony plant needs at least 4-5 years to reach full development. Depending on how young the plant is, you may have to wait a few seasons before you see the first results.
If you have recently moved or divided a peony plant, it may take some time for the plant to find its balance again and start flowering again. Often this process can take more than 2-3 years
Step 8. Increase the flowering period by planting different types of peony
Many peonies only bloom for a short period of time; in many cases, about a week. In any case, depending on the variety of the peony, the flowering period (in spring or summer) will be different. This means that you can always have colorful flowers in your garden if you choose different varieties of plants that bloom one after the other.
- When choosing peony plants, check the label to see when they should normally bloom. Try different types: those classified as "early", "mid-season", or "late flowering".
- Some peonies that bloom early are tenuifolia, dwarf and the Chiaro di Luna variety.
- As for mid-season peonies, we find Itoh peonies and some types of Chinese peonies (such as Clowns and those called Bride's Dream).
- Many of the Chinese peonies, including the Dinner Plate and Japanese Beauty varieties, have a late flowering.
Keep in mind:
However, a single peony plant can keep flowering longer if the climate is favorable.
Method 2 of 2: Encourage Cut Peonies to Bloom
Step 1. Cut off the peony buds when they are closed and soft to the touch
If stored carefully they can last for a surprisingly long time, allowing you to create beautiful bouquets that will last long after the flowering season is over. To get the best out of the cut buds, cut them when they are round, lightly colored and soft, like marshmallows.
- You can also cut off buds that are already open, but be aware that they won't last long.
- If you cut peonies while they are still in the bud state, they can survive in a vase for more than 10 days.
Step 2. Remove the leaves from the stem
Once you have cut the peonies, remove the leaves from the stem. This will help you prevent the loss of water from the flowers.
- In addition, removing the leaves will help prevent the stems from rotting when you cut the buds for water. If any leaves are still present when you place them in a vase, make sure they are above the surface of the water.
- You can also remove the leaves with your hands or cut them off with a sharp pair of scissors or shears.
Step 3. Wrap the cut peonies in plastic wrap to retain moisture
Once the stems are bare, gently wrap the cut flowers in plastic wrap. Make sure you surround the entire plant, from where it was cut to the top of the bud. This process helps to ensure that the cut peonies do not lose hydration.
- Make sure you seal both sides of the wrapper firmly.
- As an alternative to plastic wrap, you can put the cut flowers in a plastic door with a dry paper towel. Or, if you have enough space in the refrigerator, you can store them in water in a clean jar.
- Check the flowers daily and remove any that wither.
Step 4. Place the buds horizontally in the fridge for more than 3 months
Once the peonies are wrapped, leave them lying on a shelf in the fridge. Storing them horizontally helps to maintain the hydration of the stem and in the bud and can also be useful to help you make the most of your space.
Do not store peonies in a fridge where there are apples or other fruits. The ethylene gas naturally produced by the fruit will wilt the buds and not make them bloom
Step 5. Keep the stems diagonally under running water when you are ready to use them
Before placing the peonies in a vase, cut the stems to help the plants absorb water better, making them fresh again. Cut the stems under running water to prevent the formation of air bubbles, since this can make it difficult for the stems to absorb water once they are in the vase.
Cut off the stems at 45 ° and not straight. This will maximize the surface at the base of the stem, so that the flower can better absorb water
Step 6. Place the peonies in a vase full of water in a warm room, until they bloom
After cutting the stems, place the peonies in a vase filled with room temperature or slightly warm water. Depending on how tight they are, the buds will likely open in 12 to 24 hours.
If you want the buds to open quickly, store the pot in a warm room. For example, if you place peonies in a place that is around 26 ° C, they will bloom in less than 2-3 hours
Suggestion:
You can allow the peonies you have cut to last a little longer by adding a vase life extender to the water.
