How to Grow and Care for the Peony Flower in Containers
Intro: Peonies are easy flowers with large, colorful and wonderfully scented blooms have large, deep root systems, so when growing them in plant containers, make sure to give them a lot of extra room. They can grow down at least 1 foot, so provide a large container for these flowers. Once established, peonies require little maintenance. There are many peony varieties to choose from, and flowers, which bloom in late spring or early summer, can be white, pink, red, yellow, orange, or purple.
Scientific Name: Paeonia species
Plant Type: Perennial flower
Light: Full sun. Afternoon shade is beneficial in warmer climates.
Water: When it comes to watering your peony flowers, keep the potting soil moist but never soggy. The tuberous roots are prone to root rot, so definitely do not overwater. Peonies are drought-resistant.
Zone: Hardy from Zones 3 to 8. These flowers do best in cooler climates.
Fertilizer: Before planting the peony bulbs, mix a generous amount of compost from a vermicomposting bin with the potting soil. Fertilize with a balanced granular fertilizer once a year in the spring.
Pests and Diseases: Peony flowers are very hardy, so you shouldn’t have a problem. Still, watch for garden pests, including scale, mites, mealybugs, thrips and ants. Diseases can include root rot, mold, mildew and more.
Propagation: Grow peonies from bulbs. Peony flowers can be grown from seeds, but it is rarely done. You only need to plant peony bulbs once, as the bulbs can overwinter underground and come back again in the spring. They do best when planted in the fall so they can establish a root system before the spring. Make sure the eyes of the peony tubers are facing upward and that they are covered by about 2 inches of potting soil. Then water thoroughly. Peony plants will bloom best starting in the second year once they have become established.
Misc. Info: Peony flowers do not do well if transplanted. Start them out in a large plant container instead of growing them first in a smaller container and transplanting them later. Peonies also do not do well if you cut their flowers, especially in its first three years. Leave the flowers on the plant. If your peonies are more than three years old, you can cut up to half of the flowers, but be careful to leave as many leaves on the stem as possible. These leaves are essential for storing energy reserves for when the peony goes dormant.
Peony flowers are named after Paeon, who was a student of the Greek god of medicine. Zeus turned Paeon into a peony flower to save him from his teacher, who became very jealous of Paeon.
