Is peony easy to raise
Every late spring and early summer, the peony blossoms in the courtyard can always attract countless attention. This plant, known as the "God of May Flowers", makes many gardening enthusiasts love and fear-is it difficult to serve? In fact, as long as you master the growth characteristics, you can appreciate the beautiful charm of peony in both the northern courtyard and the southern balcony. Regional differences and planting feasibility The region north of the Yellow River, a natural dominant area in the north, continues to have low temperatures in winter, which just meets the necessary 40-day vernalization period (dormant below 0℃) for peony. With sandy soil and sufficient light, the plants often grow vigorously. Peony flower fields that winters in the open air are common in Beijing, Hebei and other places, confirming their suitability in the north. The Yangtze River Basin and the southern areas can be artificially simulated vernalization: in December, the root roots are wrapped in moist moss, stored in a refrigerator (2-5℃) for 45 days, and then planted. The practice of Guangzhou flower friends has proved that normal flowering can be achieved with the sunshade net to adjust the light. The soil matrix configuration of the five core maintenance factors adopts the golden ratio of legus soil: river sand: garden soil =3:4:3 to ensure drainage and ventilation. In ground planting, it is recommended to raise the ridge planting by 15cm to avoid stagnant water and rotten roots. Potting plants need to change soil every year and add bone meal to improve the substrate. Light intensity regulation Adult plants need direct light for 6-8 hours a day, but need to avoid 11-15 points of strong light in summer. Observations at the Suzhou Botanical Garden show that setting a 30% sunshade net can extend the flowering period of a single flower by 3-5 days. The rhythm of water management adopts the "see dry, see wet" method, and the soil surface is watered thoroughly when 2 cm is dry. It is recommended to build a rainproof canopy during the Jiangnan plum season, which will reduce the incidence of root rot by 70% in a nursery in Hangzhou in 2023. The nutrient supply plan applies balanced fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium during the germination period in March, adds phosphorus and potassium fertilizers after flowering in May, and buries and applies decomposed organic fertilizers in September. Remember to avoid raw fertilizers contacting the roots. Experiments at Nanjing Agricultural University have shown that reasonable fertilization can increase the diameter of flowers by 2- 3 cm. In special seasons, 10cm of soil will be planted in the north before wintering to prevent cold, and the ground in the south will be covered with pine needles to cool down in summer. In 2024, the new variety 'Jiangnan Snow' has achieved a breakthrough in weather tolerance from-10℃ to 38℃. Solutions to common problems: The yellowing of leaves is mostly caused by stagnant water, so you can dig up the surface soil to dry the roots; the buds often wither due to lack of light, so the light should be replenished in time; if you have not bloomed for three years, you need to check whether the vernalization is sufficient. Remember the ancient saying "Plant peony in the autumnal equinox, and the branches will be full of flowers in the coming year" and grasp the best planting period from September to October.
After mastering these key points, you will find that peony is not as delicate as rumored. Starting from selecting varieties suitable for the local climate and gradually accumulating maintenance experience, this "herbal peony" will surely be able to bloom in your own courtyard.