Gardening Care Tips

Do you want to plant peonies in your garden but don’t know when to expect the outcome? Are you also facing confusion regarding when they bloom? In this article, we will talk about how long peonies take to bloom and what factors can influence their bloom period. Peonies usually take three years on average to become fully grown plants. But you will find many reasons for which the bloom times may differ. This may include local climate, species of peony, lack of caring, etc. So, follow along with us if you want to know how to ensure a proper bloom and extend it for more productivity.

When Do Peonies bloom?

You will see peony flowers blooming between the late summer and spring which is the ideal time. In fact, the bloom will very much depend on your chosen species, local climate, proper caring, pruning, etc. Also, if you want to extend the season of bloom up to a month, you should plant the mid and late-season varieties.

Do Peonies Bloom the First Year?

After you plant a peony, it usually takes 3 to 4 years to bloom properly and become a fully grown plant (unless it is an annual plant). Even if bloom happens during the first year, they might actually be smaller and may not have the usual color or structure of a mature plant. Some peony varieties, may not even bloom during the first or second year of plantation. In this case, the third year should have enough bloom with adequate flowers on the plant. So, be patient and wait for the peonies to bloom properly. You can be sure that your patience will not get unrewarded.

Factors that Affect the Bloom Period:

You will find several factors that will influence the length of each bloom season along with the timing of blooms of peonies. Some of these factors are:

1. Location and Climate:

• The bloom time of peonies depends a lot on the weather of your locality. They grow better in cooler climates. So, if your region has a warmer climate, take precautions.
• Zone 3 – 8 is the best for peonies, but some cultivars can even do well in Zone 2 and 9.
• The bloom starts after the freezing winter. The bloom may also start or end at different times depending on your location.

2. Chosen Peony Species:

You will notice significant differences in bloom time for various types of peonies which are Herbaceous Peonies, Woodland, Tree Peonies, and Itoh hybrid (intersectional peonies). Try to choose the perfect peonies for your locality.

3. Cultivars of Herbaceous Peonies:

Depending on which variety you choose among the Herbaceous peonies to plant, your bloom time and length will vary. There will be a change in bloom periods for the early, the mid-season, and the late variety.

Why Didn’t Your Peonies Bloom as Expected?

Even after planting with dedication, there can be a lot of reasons for which your peonies may not bloom as expected. You should carefully study those problems before coming up with solutions. Some of the reasons why your peonies may not bloom are:

Roots are Too Young:

Your pony plants are too young, that is they are at an early stage after plantation. As a result, they lack the sufficient root system required to store food for giving higher production. So, give your plants enough time to grow a proper root before expecting an outcome.

Inadequate Size of Roots:

If your planted peony has comparatively smaller roots, they may require extra years to fully grow a root system that can preserve enough food for maximum outcome. It is seen that the domestically grown plants have bigger roots compared to the imported ones. If you want to select a good peony root, you should look out for a minimum of 3 – 5 “eyes” that ensure growth and also 2 or 3 similar roots having lengths up to 6 inches and a width of 1 inch.

Lack of Sunlight:

If your peony plants do not get a minimum of 8 hours of regular sunlight, they may fail to bloom successfully. So, ensure that there are no bigger trees around your peony bushes that may hinder illumination.

Bad Weather Conditions:

Higher humidity and longer rain periods can prevent peony blooms. If you do not take care properly, fungal diseases may appear on the flower buds. As a result, the flower buds may appear brownish with spots and fail to grow. So, make sure that you cut down and remove the peony foliages during the fall season as much as possible to prevent the diseases.

Planting too Deep Inside Soil:

Try not to plant the peonies too deep inside the soil at the time of planting. It may result in a lack of bloom during spring. It would help if you planted the dormant peony buds named “eyes” 1.5 – 2 inches below the soil surface. But don’t worry about it too much, because the roots have a natural instinct to self-correct themselves as they grow mature.

What Should You Do if Peony doesn’t Bloom?

Even after your dedication and hard labor, sometimes your peonies may result in no bloom. While some peony growers say that the absence of buds causes the issue of no outcome, some others say that the reason is budded not opening properly. So, take care of your plants properly so that they do not end up with zero outcomes. To address this issue, consider the followings: Check for Sunlight: Without proper sunlight, your plants won’t be able to give you the expected to bloom at the end of the spring. So make sure to check for sunlight and avoid any bigger plants that can be a barrier to your peonies. Water Regularly: Water your plants regularly during droughts. It is a must for the younger plants to ensure growth. Ensure Proper Drainage System: Maintain well-drained soil so that there is no water clogging near the stem. It may be a recipe for disease. If the base remains soggy or damp, the roots under the stem may rot and you may not get enough leaves or buds from them. Avoid Shifting Frequently: Try not to shift your peonies after planting. It might take several years to recover after being shifted and that may decrease blooms. But even if you have to shift your plants, take proper care of them and wait until the buds transform into flowers. Use Fertilizers with Caution: If your soil doesn’t have enough nutrients to support the plants you need to provide fertilizers near the stem. But make sure that you use the proper fertilizers in a certain amount to control pests. You can use compost, emulsions, bone meal, etc. You must not apply fertilizers directly to the “eyes” or stem otherwise they may not bloom. Check the Depth When You Plant: Do not ever plant peonies excessively deep inside the soil. Check the position of the “eye” or peony flower buds during planting and make sure that they are at least 1.5 to 2 inches below the soil surface. Ensure Cooler Air Circulation: Be sure to check if there is any barrier around your plants that may hinder air and moisture circulation. Also if you live in a war zone, check if your plants are getting enough cool air. Otherwise, you may not get the expected flowering during the season.

Final Word:

Peony plants are very resilient and bloom in the expected time if proper care is taken. So if your plants don’t bloom in your expected time, please don’t be worried. Stay patient and positive. Our guide gives you the proper info about “how long do peonies take to bloom.” Try to nurture them properly and you may even extend their season up to a month. It will just be a matter of time before your hard work is paid off with beautiful peony flower blossoms in your garden.

Do you love to see peony flowers blooming in spring but don’t know how to plant them in your garden? Don’t worry, even if you aren’t a professional gardener, you can start planting peonies in your garden. In this article, we will let you know everything about planting peonies in spring; starting from selecting peonies and soil up to final pruning and care. We all know that among many varieties of flowers, peony is a very popular one known for its fragrance, color, and beauty. It will not only make your garden attractive and your effort worthwhile, but also you can earn money by selling flowers every season. With a proper selection of peony, plantation, and regular care; you can turn your garden into beauty as well as an extra source of income during spring. So, follow the steps below if you plan to start planting peonies in spring.

Some Quick Infos about Peonies:

There are 3 types of peonies, Herbaceous, Itoh, and tree. You may prefer herbaceous as your first variety to start growing. The mature trees grow 5 to 7 feet tall and up to 5 feet wide. While Herbaceous and Itoh may grow 1 to 3 feet in both height and width. Peonies usually bloom in April, May, or June. You may expect the tree peonies first, followed by the Herbaceous and Itoh. You will find peonies that are white, yellow, red, maroon, and pink in color. Most peony flowers smell sweet while some have a citrus smell. Nevertheless, you can’t but appreciate them!

Choose your Peony Variety for Planting:

During spring, Herbaceous peonies are your best bet to plant for the best outcome. They are sold in 2 forms:

• Potted peonies (Larger and more expensive)
• Bare root peonies (Cheap and medium-sized)

You may find bare root plants comparatively cheaper and easier to plant than the potted ones. In some cases, the potted plants are known to have higher blooming. You can mix peonies with roses and irises. They can bloom with baptists, veronicas, and columbines too. You can also plant pink peonies with blue Nepetas and white peonies with yellow irises. These are friendly and do not compete much for nutrition.

Select a Good Planting Site:

1. Ensure a place with enough sunlight. You will find this very crucial for maximum outcome. Except for trees, the Herbaceous and Itoh varieties require a minimum of 5 hours of sunlight daily. In case of bright sunlight, they need shade to enhance blossom for up to 12 or 14 days.
2. Ensure enough space around the peony plants. As the tree peonies can grow up to 5 feet in both height and width, inadequate space may block sunlight and airflow between them.
3. Try to grow peonies on high grounds or slopes so that they don’t stand on excess water. Keep your soil deep enough, and fertile. Also, make sure that the pH is neutral.
4. Do not plant peonies near a bigger tree. As peonies are smaller than the bigger trees, they may get less nutrition from the soil if planted near a large one. So, to avoid competition for food, moisture, and light; grow peonies with their friendly plants.
5. Provide the plants with good shelter from strong winds. Otherwise, it can break due to the strong pressure of wind as the upper part gets heavier after blooming.

Prepare the Soil for Planting Peonies:

Try to utilize your native soil as is naturally an ideal one for planting peonies. The gardening experts say that a proper addition of organic matter gives a boost in blooming. Just make sure that the soil you choose isn’t too soggy, or the roots may get damaged gradually. You may provide fertilizers if your soil is not fertile enough. Well-drained soil preparation can reduce the usage of fertilizers in the early stages. You can use some extra fertilizers and minerals as follows:

• Potassium fertilizer is a very good choice for the Herbaceous species. You may release it 5-10-10 slowly.
• You should add wood ash or garden lime to the Herbaceous plant as they grow better in alkaline soil.
• In case of heavy or sandy soil, you can mix some compost along with a bone meal to enhance its fertility.
• Additionally, you can also add different trace minerals for increased flower size and enhanced color.

Plant Peonies in the Prepared Soil:

• At first, select spots on the ground maintaining a space of 3 to 4 feet between each peony plant for enough air circulation between them. Otherwise, damp, and claustrophobic areas might develop diseases in them.
• Place the eyes ½ inch to 2 inches below the soil surface, for herbaceous variety. In the case of trees, a variety digs the hole 2 feet by 1 foot. Place the graph about 5 inches below the ground level. For the Itoh variety, plant just below the soil surface, 1.5 inches for cooler zones and ½ inch for warmer zones.
• Set the roots of the plant 2 inches below the soil surface. Also, take care that the eyes are facing top upward on top of a lump of soil inside the hole. Try not to plant too deep inside the soil. Otherwise, the flowers may not bloom as expected.
• Then fill the hole with soil again and tamp it gently. Also, take care that the root is in the expected position.
• Water the plant at the time of planting and in case of bare roots you can immerse them before planting for a couple of hours.

Nurture and Prune the Peony Plants:

• The first step for spring care is to clear away any debris or mulch around the peony shoots. They need to overcome the shortage of sunlight that happened during winter.
• Hand weed the root area first. If you want to use herbicide, use a pre-emergent one. But only do this after hand weeding when the shoots are a minimum of 15 cm in height.
• You may need to use fertilizers to maximize productivity. Sometimes, heavy rainfall or snowfall can take away valuable nutrients from the soil. In these cases, you can slow release 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 of low nitrogen fertilizer. Release the fertilizer 6 to 18 inches inside the soil for best results. Try not to spray fertilizer too close to the crown of the plants, otherwise, it can cause a burn.
• Maintain proper water drainage and air circulation to lessen any fungal infections. Peonies are most vulnerable to Botrytis blight which may lead to the rotting of young plants. It can even result in undeveloped buds and leaf spots.
• For herbaceous peonies, cut them all the way to the ground at the end of the growing season and leave 4 to 6 inches of stem in the case of Itoh plants. In the case of tree peonies, remove the suckers from the center of the shrub to enhance better air circulation. try not to cut back unless they grow out again.
• It is best to keep away your pet animals from the young plants. They are generally very delicate and easy to break.

Benefits of Planting Peonies in Spring:

You will find your garden attractive and cheerful after a dull winter. If you check your nearby local nurseries and garden centers, you will find that most varieties of peonies have become available for instant purchase just after winter. Also, they can be found in stock for a longer period. You can also browse the online websites for a wide variety of peonies. They will provide you with various options regarding the selection and home delivery of peony plants. If you plan to produce and sell peony flowers on a larger scale rather than just small gardening, you can definitely add quite a lot of cash to your pocket. So, apart from being a beauty in your garden, utilize the flowers to earn money.

Final Word

While some people don’t want to plant peonies in spring, others take advantage of it as spring is the best shopping season for peony plants. Be sure to check your garden club sales and local garden centers for better variety and quality of peony plants. Proper selecting, planting, watering, and pruning on a daily basis will keep your plants healthy for the best outcome in the future. So, if you are planning for gardening with peony plants, don’t wait around. Start planting peonies in spring and turn your garden into a little piece of heaven!