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Peonies are carefree favorites in perennial gardens, where they grow in large groups. But if you don’t have space in your yard, you can grow peonies in pots if you’re willing to give them a little extra attention.
Peonies usually do well in zones 3 to 8 when planted in the ground. Growing these flowering shrubs in pots can be a challenge in cooler regions, as the pots do not provide enough protection from winter diving. However, they have about the same growing range in a container if you are willing to take steps to overwinter properly.
The main root of the peony is deep and the branch roots like to be open. They don’t like to be moved after they’ve established themselves, so place them in a nice big pot from the start. Choose material at least 20 inches wide and deep and avoid terracotta as it dries quickly.
Make sure the pot has adequate drainage holes. Peony tubers will rot if placed in moist soil, so your pot should allow excess water to drain freely. (new image()) .push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: “3108d1b0-63fc-4616-9fcb-0add6b6278fa” }).render(“5212e74440ae48d78157447a3a77ab51″); });
When you have a suitable container, you can proceed to boarding. Fill the pot with potting mix to ensure good drainage. If your soil doesn’t contain fertilizer, add a healthy compost mix to it.
Take care to plant peonies at the proper depth; planting too deep will reduce flowering. If you are planting a bare tuber, place it eye up and bury it no deeper than 2 inches or so. For peony plants, make sure the crown of the plant is flush with the top of the soil, just below the rim of the container. The best time to plant peonies is autumn.
Many peonies need support for their heavy flower heads. Tomato stands are ideal for growing in pots. Add them as you plant so your peonies will fill in and hide them over time.
Peonies love full sun, at least 6 hours a day. A little shade in the afternoon is acceptable and will prolong the life of the flowers. Be sure to protect your plants from strong winds and heavy rains, they can easily collapse.
Peonies love evenly moist soil, but absolutely hate damp places. While ground-grown peonies can use their deep tap roots to find moisture even in drought conditions, potted peonies require regular watering. Check the soil every few days, and when the top few inches are dry, water them until excess water runs off the bottom of the pot.
Cut back the leaves to the base in late autumn when they start to turn yellow and fall off. Removing all leaves from pots can help prevent pion blight.
Cover with a thick layer of mulch and then move the pot to a sheltered spot (garage or shed) until warmer weather sets in. In the spring, watch for red buds to emerge as the weather warms up. Now you are ready to bring your peonies back to the street!
In general, peonies are not prone to too many problems. Peony late blight is a fungus that appears in early spring and causes the branches and buds to wilt and turn brown. In this case, your only option is to remove the affected leaves and see if the plant recovers.
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Post time: Apr-17-2023