A house that has flowers all over can ultimately feel and look good. Flowers can add beauty to any home, making it unique and memorable. These are just some of the reasons why more and more people are investing time and effort to grow peonies in their own homes.
This type of flower usually blooms during spring until summer. During these seasons, you can expect that your home will burst with different colors!
Peonies are actually perennials that bloom every year to take your breath away. Although uncommon to some areas, peonies can thrive longer than human beings – some can even live for more than 100 years.
Aside from using a reliable source such as Gardener’s Path, take note of the following tips for your peonies to have beautiful blooms every year:
- Always Buy Peony Buds.
If you’re still starting from scratch and don’t have any peonies in your property yet, look for an individual or business that sells peony buds. It might come as a surprise, but peonies are best bought when they’re still in buds. Although attractive and convenient, buying peonies in stems will only last for a few days.
When you’re shopping for peony buds, don’t hesitate to touch the buds before buying. Pay attention to the texture of the buds. If you feel like it’s too soft, similar to a marshmallow, it means that they’ll open anytime soon. As much as possible, always buy peonies that have this kind of texture.
- Take The Time to Prepare Your Peonies.
After buying the best peony buds, it’s now time to prepare your flowers. Start by cutting the stems with ½ inch in a diagonal direction. You should also remove all the leaves from the stem that comes in contact with the water. If the buds of the flowers are still tightly closed, massage them carefully. This can encourage the buds to open. Just make sure that you’re gentle with the amount of pressure you put in. Going overboard will only break the bud from the stem.
If you still have other tasks on your plate and you can’t prepare your peonies the moment you arrive home, wrap the flowers in newspaper and store them inside your refrigerator. The temperature of the refrigerator should be kept at least 37 degrees. Another option you can do is to wrap your flowers in a floral cellophane bag, place the stems in a tall vase filled with room temperature water, and then refrigerate.
- Arrange Them Carefully.
One of the things that make peonies unique is the weight of its flower heads. Peonies have heavier flower heads compared to other types of plants. To support the weight of the peonies, crisscross the stems of the plant before placing them in your vase. This will strengthen the stem of your peonies, allowing them to live for weeks. When you’re arranging your peonies, don’t forget to be careful, too much force can cause all the petals to fall off.
Peonies already look good on their own, but if you have the resources, add other flowers to your arrangement. Just make sure that you’re not adding flowers that have sharp stems as these can damage the petals and buds of your peonies.
- Feed Your Flowers With DIY Flower Food.
Using peonies inside your home as decors is always a good idea. Regardless of the overall theme of your home, peonies can surely add a pop of color and make space look better. To ensure that your peonies indoors will last for the longest time possible, add sugar to the water in your flower vase. This mixture can mimic the sugar rush present during photosynthesis, making your flowers last longer. Just make sure to replace the water every two days to keep the water fresh and avoid mosquitoes from living in the vase.
- Offer Some Tender Loving Care.
Your peonies need sunlight. This is one of the most essential ingredients for them to healthily grow. However, you should never go overboard as too much sunlight can also cause your plants to wilt and die. You can prevent this from happening by placing your peonies on your front porch or any area in your home that is covered but still have access to natural light.
- Pay Attention to the Weather Conditions in Your Area.
Peonies can come in a wide variety of species. Aside from the colors, peonies can vary in size, as well. Depending on where you live right now, take the time to scout for the best species of peonies suitable in the weather conditions of your area. Although peonies naturally thrive during the winter and cold areas, you can still grow and tend to this plant even when you live in a tropical or warm climate. Selections such as Sarah Bernhardt and Festive Maxima can still look pretty in your home and your property. They can also grow well in warmer areas.
- Be Careful About the Location You Choose.
Where you’re going to plant your peonies can significantly affect the quality of their flowers and their lifespan. If you plant them in a location that doesn’t have good soil and doesn’t receive the right amount of sunlight, don’t expect that your peonies will last for a week.
Steer away from this direction by always being careful about the location you choose for your peonies. Look for a location that is sunny and has well-drained soil. Air circulation of the location should also be considered, as well.
- Give Them Time to Grow.
Aside from water and sunlight, peonies will need time to grow and blossom. You can’t expect to see its flowers days after you’ve put them into a vase or planted them into your property. If you want to bask in the beauty of your peonies as soon as possible, opt to plant them during the fall, as this is the best season for them to grow.
- Give Them Space to Grow.
Although it can be tempting to plant all of your peonies in one area, don’t do it. Stuffing all of your plants in one area will only limit their growth, prevent them from getting the right sunlight they need, and allow diseases to spread easily. Aside from keeping your lawn free from any type of weeds, plant your peonies at least four feet from each other. This space will be more than enough for all of your peonies to thrive and grow healthily.
- Water, Water, and Water!
All plants need water to grow. Just like human beings, water can bring life to any plant. But when it comes to your peonies, it’s not enough that you water your plants just for the sake of doing it. You should be careful about how you water them as this can make or break the longevity of your peonies.
You should never overwater your peonies and plant them in an area where water can be stagnant. The soil shouldn’t stay wet for long periods as this can only damage the roots and the stem of your plants.
- Properly Fertilize.
It’ll be easy to buy fertilizers for your peonies. A lot of stores in your area will usually sell this product. No matter what your budget is, you’ll easily find a fertilizer that fits the bill.
But peonies is different from other types of plants because it doesn’t require too much fertilization. Usually, you’ll only need to apply fertilizers once a year to keep them strong and growing.
If the nutrients in your soil aren’t enough for your peonies, choose a fertilizer that has high phosphorus and potassium content.
- Provide Support to Your Peonies.
Peonies will usually grow upward. Unlike other types of plants, peonies won’t crawl on the ground. To ensure that all of your peonies will healthily grow, provide support to your peonies at the earliest time possible. Put fences around your peonies during the start of the growing season. When your plants are already in bloom, it’ll be hard for you to set up an effective support system.
- Keep An Eye for Ants.
Fast forward to a couple of months, and you’re already harvesting peonies from your own garden. Sure, you might be confident on the quality of your own peonies but before you actually bring these beauties inside your home, keep an eye for ants first.
Ants can adversely affect the quality of your peonies. They can even cause damage to your food and other amenities at home. To ensure that this doesn’t happen, place your peonies in water and leave them outside for at least 20 minutes before bringing them in. You can also spray water in the buds, too. This simple process allows the ants to migrate off the flowers so you can be sure that your peonies are ant-free.
Small Efforts, Big Effects
Contrary to popular belief, caring for peonies is actually easy. Along with your desire to have a well-decorated home and property, use this article as your guide. You’ll be surprised how these simple tips can transform your peonies from ordinary to extraordinary!
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