Without sufficient nutrition, peonies, like all other plants, will quickly lose their decorative qualities, and their flowering will stop within a few years. After all, the content of nutrients in the soil is limited; over time, the soil becomes depleted, and the flowers begin to lack essential microelements. Feeding peonies in spring and summer is not just necessary - applying fertilizers and stimulants is the key to the long-term beauty of your bushes.

Of course, the most important thing for a peony is water. She dissolves nutrients in the soil surrounding the crop and through suction roots delivers them to all parts of the plant. When growing 3-year-old peonies in 6-liter pots in one warm day (air temperature - 25 ° C) in sunny weather, the soil in them dries out and daily watering is required. And the second observation: under peonies in the garden the soil is always dry, except during the rainy period. If we assume that an adult peony consumes only 1 liter per day, then its need to replenish moisture in the soil in 2 weeks is 14 liters. So, peonies most of all and always need water, and with dry soil, watering is simply necessary! And this is more important than any fertilizer, but you still shouldn’t ignore fertilizing when caring for peonies.

On this page you will learn how to fertilize peonies in spring and summer, and what to do if your bushes refuse to bloom.

How to feed peonies in early spring for lush flowering?

At the beginning of spring, when it is cold and the ground part is undeveloped, the development of the plant occurs due to the reserves of nutrients in the roots. After the leaves unfold, a downward flow (of sugars) occurs from the leaves to the storage roots. This period of presence of two flows of equal intensity during the growth process is very short: from mid-May to early June (2-3 weeks), full height shoot and beginning of flowering for milkweeds. Later, in summer and early autumn, the downward flow of sugars formed during photosynthesis predominates. How to fertilize peonies and when is it necessary to fertilize? It is considered necessary to carry out these activities throughout growing season. But spring feeding of peonies is especially important during active growth plants. The main nutrients needed for peony growth are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They are required in significant quantities. Full development is impossible without magnesium, sulfur, boron, iron, copper, zinc, which are needed in smaller doses. They are usually called trace elements. What happens to peonies if there is a lack of fertilizer? With a lack of nitrogen, the leaves, starting from the tips, turn light green and then yellow. Perhaps too much watering and/or rain has washed nitrogen out of the soil. If peonies are not fed enough phosphorus in spring and summer, the leaves first turn dark green, then purple or purple-violet. Darkening begins with the veins and then spreads throughout sheet plate. A brown color appears along the edges of the leaves. Darkened leaves fall off. One reason for this may be the poor availability of phosphorus at acidic (pH<5,5) или, наоборот, щелочных почвах (pH >7). If there is a shortage of fertilizers for peonies containing potassium in spring and summer, the plants' resistance to drought decreases and they wither faster. The edges and tips of the leaves turn yellow-brown and curl. Buds and/or flowers are delayed in development and do not reach normal size. This can often be observed when plants grow too actively.

With a lack of magnesium, the areas of the leaves between the veins become yellow or orange. The color change begins at the edges, then spreads toward the center of the leaf. Magnesium is often deficient if the soil in the garden is light and acidic.

If peonies are not fed sufficiently in spring and summer with fertilizers containing sulfur, the leaves acquire a whitish, yellow or yellowish-brown tint. The color change starts at the base of the leaves, then spreads to the top. Symptoms appear first on young leaves. This occurs if the soil is poor in organic matter. If you do not fertilize with boron in spring and summer, the leaves on the tops of the shoots turn yellow. Light, light or dark spots, resembling splashes. Flowering weakens or stops. Lots of barren flowers. With a lack of iron, the leaves become whitish or yellow. The veins remain green. The absorption of iron is inhibited in alkaline or neutral soil, as well as if lime has recently been added to the soil.

If there is a lack of feeding of peonies in spring and summer with fertilizers containing copper, the leaves of the plants turn pale, bend or curl. The cause may be an excess of potassium permanganate, which interferes with the flow of copper into the plant.

With a lack of zinc, leaves appear yellow spots. The veins remain green at first, then also turn yellow. Plants are stunted. Below we describe how to feed peonies in the spring for lush flowering bushes

Spring and summer feeding of peonies with fertilizers for flowering

The growth and development of peonies, like other plants, is controlled by special compounds - plant hormones. Auxins stimulate cell growth, and gibberellins determine plant height. These are growth stimulants. But there are other hormones that inhibit the growth and development of the plant. They are called growth inhibitors. If there is a lack of native plant hormones, growth and development may be impaired; in this case, it is advisable to use artificially synthesized analogues of these substances. How to feed peonies in spring and summer so that they actively bloom?

Heteroauxin stimulates root formation and growth, increases the survival rate of divisions. Good result gives soaking in solution and watering at the root 10 days after planting. The solution is prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package. The effectiveness is enhanced when used together with zircon.

Epin increases resistance to fungal diseases, increases cold resistance, increases decorativeness. It is recommended to treat plants twice: in May when the stems are growing and in the budding phase. In case of frost damage, immediate spraying of plants with epin has a good effect. The solution is prepared in accordance with the instructions on the package.

Zircon - growth regulator, root formation, flowering and disease resistance inducer. Provides increased germination, accelerated seed germination, growth and development of plants, stimulates root formation, protection from adverse external factors- frost, drought, excess moisture. Efficiency increases when feeding peonies in early spring together with the addition of heteroauxin. To soak seeds, 0.02 ml is dissolved in 200 ml of water. For spraying plants - 0.05 ml in 200 ml of water.

Cytovit accelerates seed germination, increases resistance to external unfavorable conditions. Prevents the development of leaf diseases and rot. To soak the seeds, dissolve 1.5 ml in 5 liters of water. Soaking time - 10 hours. The same solution is used for spraying plants. The greatest effect is observed when used together with epin and zircon.

Ferovit - a universal stimulator of growth and photosynthesis. Designed for root and foliar feeding throughout the entire growing season. A good effect is achieved by spraying plants 3-4 times per season in the morning and evening hours. To prepare spring fertilizer for peonies, 1.5 ml of the drug is dissolved in 1 liter of water.

Siliplant is a microfertilizer with active silicon and a full range of microelements. It increases the strength of plant tissues, stimulates their own protective forces to counteract unfavorable external conditions and diseases and thereby enhances growth. Therefore, the effect of siliplant on a plant can sometimes be compared with the effect of growth stimulants. To prepare a working solution, 2-3 ml are mixed with 1 liter of water. Fertilizing is carried out in the spring at the beginning of the growing season, then 2-3 more times with an interval of 20 days. When root feeding, the consumption of the working solution is 4-5 liters per 1 m2. For non-root use - consumption is 1-1.5 liters per 10 m2. The video “Feeding peonies in spring and summer” shows how to fertilize plants:

Knowing how to feed peonies in early spring and summer, you will provide the bushes on your site with a long life span and active flowering. Next, you will find out why not, and what to do in this case.

Reasons why peonies do not bloom and what to do in this case

Peonies planted last year or the year before do not bloom. This is fine. Most varieties and hybrids begin to bloom in the third year after planting. Some peonies do not bloom even in the third year. According to some observations, hybrids are ahead of the milky peony variety in development and, as a rule, bloom fully, although not profusely, in the third year. But some varieties, most often red and some late-flowering ones, can begin to bloom only in the fourth year. The peonies are 4 years old or more and they are not blooming. If they appearance normal, then there may be several reasons. Below we describe why peonies do not bloom and what to do in this case.

1. Maybe, planting material was of poor quality or the division was non-standard, too small. In this case, all that remains is to wait.
2. Deep landing. The peony rhizome should be located no more than 5-6 cm below the soil level, otherwise they will not bloom. This is especially true for varieties of milky peony. To check, carefully remove the soil above the center or use a wooden probe to determine the depth of the rhizome. If the rhizome is very deep, you should dig up the plant at the end of August, divide it into standard divisions and plant according to the rules.
3. The plant was planted close to trees, bushes, large herbaceous perennials with a large root system penetrating into the zone. A transplant to a more suitable location is required.
4. The division was planted too large or was transplanted mature plant. In this case, the new root system, which ensures the full development of the peony, develops poorly. Then in the second half of August the peony should be dug up and, following all the rules, divided and planted in a new place.

It happens that peonies have been growing in the garden for many years, but in recent years they have begun to bloom much worse. Most likely the problem is soil depletion. Peonies need to be provided with abundant nutrition; feeding is done through wells.

It is possible that deterioration or cessation of flowering is also possible if the peonies are accidentally covered with soil or, conversely, the rhizome is exposed. Check planting depth and restore normal level dives - 3-5 cm.

Peonies are 8-10 years old. Some of them continue to bloom well, but the hybrids began to get sick and bloom worse. Varieties of milky peony with good care can grow in one place and bloom normally for 30-50 years or more. The lifespan of hybrid peonies is limited, and after 8-10 years they are severely affected by gray mold and should be divided and planted again. To combat gray mold, the main disease of peonies, in the spring, during the period of active plant growth, carry out 2-3 sprayings with a solution of copper-containing preparations: Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate, copper chloride. Concentration - 0.5%. Before feeding peonies and treating them for diseases, use information about recommended preparations and their concentrations for treating peonies in the spring, and beyond. late dates- from late spring with watering and spraying. There may be other reasons why peonies do not bloom. Some of them are discussed below.

• Unsuitable location - too shaded, too dry or waterlogged, near large trees, shrubs or perennials. The plant needs to be replanted.
• Kidney damage due to late spring frosts. Be patient, the peonies should bloom next year if the rhizome itself is not damaged.
• Dry season, lack of moisture during the period of bud formation in the previous year, lack of nutrition.
• The bush bloomed too rapidly last year; excess buds were not removed. They should be removed before flowering next year.

Garden peonies spend a lot of effort to maintain abundant flowering. The task of the grower is to provide them with nutrients in the required quantities. Feeding peonies in the spring and during the growing season should be comprehensive and timely.

How to fertilize peonies in spring

Root feeding of peonies with minerals begins in the third year of plant development. Until this time, perennials do not bloom. Foliar spraying with a urea solution is enough for them. To stimulate the growth of the root system, sodium humate is recommended. An adult bush requires regular fertilization during the growing season - from spring to autumn.

Experienced farmers willingly share tips on how to feed plants for lush flowering in the garden. Prepare for the procedure in advance, because manure (chicken or cow) must ferment for 2-3 weeks. Mineral supplements, poured into the hole during planting, have already dried up, it’s time to renew their supply. Spring feeding of peonies is the most important; it provides a nutritional base for the formation of dense greenery and the formation of buds. During active growth, a plant needs three main components: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In addition to them, flowers need microelements (magnesium, iron, copper and others).

Soil fertilization scheme

All the necessary nutrients are not poured into the soil at once. There is a scheme according to which fertilizing takes place in 3 stages:

Rules for applying fertilizers

1. To feed the flowers, cloudy weather is recommended; a little rain will not be a hindrance. If the weather is clear, you should wait until evening.
2. When scattering granules, you should avoid getting them on the leaves, otherwise there will be a burn.
3. Fertilizer application is accompanied by abundant watering - 20-30 liters per bush.

Advice. When applying fertilizers, do not exceed the recommended dose. This will not benefit the plants. Excess nitrogen inhibits flowering and provokes the development of diseases.

Feeding peonies with bread and yeast

Traditional application mineral fertilizers some gardeners replaced them with original recipes. Supplies the necessary active substances to plants spring feeding peonies with yeast. The product, widely used in cooking, contains potassium, magnesium, folic acid, phosphorus. In addition, yeast improves soil structure, stimulates the development of beneficial bacteria, and strengthens plant immunity.

To prepare the solution, take dry or fresh yeast, 10 g and 100 g, respectively. The product is dissolved in 10 l warm water, add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar. The composition is infused in a warm place for 10-12 hours. A bucket of solution is intended for one bush. Feeding peonies with bread is close in effectiveness. It is prepared from 500 g of rye bread, rich in microelements. The product is cut into pieces and dried in the oven. Dissolve 50 g of sugar in a bucket of warm water and soak the crackers. Leave the fertilizer for 12 hours. Before watering, take out the bread and squeeze it out.

Advice. Fertilize from a watering can; this will allow the liquid to be evenly distributed around the bush.

Ash - potassium replacement

Wood ash contains microelements necessary for plant development. By feeding peonies with ash in the spring, you will strengthen their immunity. Ash is applied directly into the soil, making small grooves. The second option is to add it to one of nutrient solutions(based on bread, yeast, chicken manure). Ash is a complete replacement for potassium; it is added in combination with phosphorus and nitrogen during the second feeding.

Foliar feeding

In the spring it will not be superfluous foliar feeding. Urea (50 g) or other mineral fertilizer is diluted according to the instructions. The bushes are generously sprayed with the resulting composition. To nutritional components lingered better on the stems, add a little laundry soap. The procedure is performed once a month. Fertilizing with the drug “Bud” will allow you to extend the flowering period and eliminate potassium deficiency - 1 ml is dissolved in 1 liter of water.

High-quality fertilizers will ensure lush flowering of peonies

For lush flowering of peonies, it is necessary to add organic matter and minerals to the soil. Spring chores with fertilizing will pay off with the abundant appearance of buds, large size and bright colors of flowers.

If you properly prepared the soil when planting peonies and poured fertilizer into the holes, then the young bushes will grow magnificently for 2 years without feeding the roots. It is not recommended to plant peonies in spring. They are planted in the fall.

They are quite demanding on the composition of the soil; on sandy soil they grow a larger number of stems and leaves, but the leaves are small and the stems are very thin. On clay soils, peonies grow slowly, although their stems are quite thick. They do not like peat soils, since peonies sometimes have too little or too much moisture. In addition, such soil has increased acidity, and this contributes to the disease of peonies with gray rot. If you, nevertheless, plant peonies in peat bogs, then you need to add dolomite, bone meal, ash, and manure during digging.

Feeding peonies in spring for flowering

It is recommended to plant peonies on loamy soils that are rich in nutrients and have excellent drainage. In the hole for planting you need to pour a mixture of soil, compost, well-rotted peat, then add 200 g of phosphorus or 400 g of ash or bone meal, and for acidic soil add 400 g of lime. Subsequently, peonies already need constant feeding at the root.

It is recommended to fertilize for the first time after the snow has melted. In spring, the flower most needs nitrogen and potassium: 15 g of nitrogen and 20 g of potassium salt per peony, instead potash fertilizer You can pour a glass of ash. If the peony does not have enough nitrogen, the leaves and stems will become fragile and frail. Fertilizing with nitrogen is done when the flower begins to grow in the spring. It is also possible to pour 50-70 g of complex mineral fertilizer into a bucket of water (10 l) and water the bush. You must remember that plant fertilizers are applied only after a rainstorm or intensive watering. It is not recommended to apply fertilizers to dry soil, as the flower may die.

Feeding peonies before flowering

Peonies are fertilized a second time when they form buds. Take 15 g of ammonium sulfate, 20 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride per peony.

The flowers are fertilized a third time 14 days after the start of flowering. Take 20 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride. Carefully monitor the rate of fertilizing due to the fact that an excess of fertilizing, especially nitrogen, can result in a sharp decrease in the formation of buds, although the leaves will grow well. Even in this situation, the resistance of peonies to certain diseases decreases.

Peonies will bloom magnificently after applying a solution of manure or chicken droppings, but mineral fertilizers must be added to the solution.

You need to make this solution like this: pour 6 buckets of water and 1 bucket of mullein into a barrel, put the barrel in the sun, let the mullein ferment for 10-15 days. Then you need to pour in 0.5 kg of ash, 200-300 g of phosphorus and mix everything thoroughly. After this solution needs to be diluted, add 7 buckets of water.

It is also advised to start feeding peonies by leaves in the spring like this: dilute 10-15 g of growth regulator “Bud” in a bucket of water (10 l). In total, they are treated with it 3 times during the summer. 3 cups of ash are scattered around the peony. Peony is very beautiful flower . Gardeners value these plants for their lush foliage and. abundant flowering for peonies in the spring will help make your flower garden even brighter and lush, and significantly increase its flowering period. This process should begin as soon as the snow melts. As soon as the plant begins to awaken from sleep, it will need to be given a little attention.

First thing

You should start by cleaning up last year's dried branches of the plant. After this, the soil around the flowers should be slightly loosened to a depth of 3-5 centimeters. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to disinfect the soil. This is best done using a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. It should be poured 700-900 grams under each bush. Further experienced flower growers It is recommended to mulch with a mixture of straw and humus. Mulch is the first thing you should feed peonies in the spring. The consumption of this nutrient composition should be within a 10-liter bucket, then 10 centimeters of shelter will be placed under each bush. A month after mulching, young shoots should appear and should be treated. This will protect them from illness for a while and garden pests. After spraying, loosen the soil around the flowers again.

Proper feeding

Feeding peonies in the spring is no less important than their proper “awakening”, because spring marks the peak of vegetative growth of plants. In total, specialist flower growers recommend carrying out at least four feedings only during the growing season.

First, you should learn how to care for peonies in the spring, when young shoots begin to grow. During this period, the plants need to be watered with ammonium nitrate solution. We make the solution as follows: 10 liters of water per 15 grams of saltpeter granules. It is recommended to repeat the application of fertilizer based on nitrate once every two weeks until budding begins. During this period, we will make fertilizer for feeding peonies in the spring as follows: mix five grams of potassium salt, add 10 grams of urea and 7.5 grams of saltpeter. We dissolve this composition in a bucket of water and water the peony bushes preparing for flowering. Excellent results can be achieved by gardeners who practice alternating the application of organic fertilizers with mineral fertilizers to the soil. “Biohumus” is perfect for these purposes; you can take it in the form of a substrate or buy a water-soluble form (“Humate”).

Additional care

The better you fertilize peonies in the spring, the more beautiful they will bloom in the summer! After familiarizing yourself with the feeding technique, I would like to give a few useful recommendations, which will help make your peonies even more beautiful.

Many experienced gardeners They practice cutting off parts of the plant buds before flowering begins. It’s curious, but this makes the flowers look even larger and more “colored.” For those who want larger flowers, it is recommended to remove approximately 30% of the total number of buds. In this case, flowers without “competitors” can be up to two times larger. Do you want the top flower to be the largest and most magnificent? Remove any buds that grow below it. If you remove them completely from the stem where a large bud is formed, the flower will be unusually lush and very large.

Don't forget that you will get the most beautiful blooming peonies in their fourth year. In order for your flowers to survive several winters, they should be covered with a layer of straw. Give your garden beauties a little attention throughout the spring, and they will repay you with luxuriously blooming flower beds.

Peonies are considered one of the most unpretentious garden plants. They don't require special care. All you need is regular watering with fertilizing, as well as loosening the soil around the bush.

These plants are perennial. This means that in the fall you will need to prepare them for winter. Preparation includes pruning and covering the bushes so that next year's buds, which are already being laid underground, do not freeze.

Fertilizer when planting

In order for the peony to grow well and bloom actively, it is better to plant it in the autumn. At the same time, the bush is fed, after which fertilization will not be required for the next three years, until the plant blooms.

Pruning and feeding flowers

During planting, holes are made with sides and a depth of 60 centimeters. Approximately 20 kilograms of humus or peat are placed at the bottom of the pit. About 300 grams of bone meal are added to it. Instead, you can add 200 grams of superphosphate. If the soil is clayey, then to the contents landing pit a bucket of sand is added. If the soil is sandy, then the same amount of clay will be required.

When digging a hole, the top fertile layer of soil must be set aside and then added to the rest of the contents. The resulting mixture is compacted so that the hole is filled to 35 centimeters. Next, a sand layer 20 centimeters thick is made and seedling rhizomes are laid on it. They are covered with fertile soil on top so that the buds are at a depth of five centimeters.

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The peony should not bloom for the first two years after planting. The emerging buds are cut off. Early flowering will weaken the plant, and the flowers will still not be large and lush enough.

Features of fertilization

Feeding peonies is carried out taking into account a number of features. First, pay attention to the composition of the soil. If it is poor in organic components, then adding large quantities mineral compositions will depress the plants.

Secondly, not only the composition of the soil is taken into account, but also the age of the bushes. The older they are, the more actively they bloom and require more feeding.

Thirdly, flowers are fertilized in spring and autumn. The composition of fertilizers varies greatly depending on the season, since different actions are required. During the period of active vegetation and flowering, more nitrogen and potassium are needed.

In preparation for winter, the plant requires potassium and phosphorus, which have a beneficial effect on root system. It is in the rhizomes that the necessary substances for early germination are stored; buds are laid on them, which determine the activity of vegetation and flowering. That's why autumn feeding Peonies are just as important for active flowering as spring.

Application of mineral fertilizers

In early September, peony requires the application of phosphate-potassium fertilizers. These substances have a beneficial effect on the development of new kidneys. If there are not enough of them, then the peony will not be very thick, with a small number of stems and flowers.

One peony bush requires 10 to 15 grams of potassium and 15 to 20 grams of phosphorus. You can choose multi-component fertilizers, for example, potassium sulfate and superphosphate, or a ready-made potassium-phosphorus mixture. The Kemira-Combi fertilizer gives good results.

Fertilizers can be applied dry or in solution. If the first option is chosen, then the granules should not simply be scattered on the ground. Water the soil well beforehand to keep it moist. Then they dig small holes on four sides of the bush and put fertilizer in them, covering them with soil on top.

Granules of mineral fertilizers can be diluted in water and watered with this solution on peonies. In any case, minerals should not fall on the neck of the plant.

Natural fertilizers

If the peony is well fertilized in the fall, then in the spring it will begin to actively grow and bloom. This requires a good supply of nutrients in the rhizome and soil. They can give them organic fertilizers. The advantage of such compositions is their complexity. Organic matter contains a wide variety of microelements that are beneficial for peonies.

In autumn, manure, compost or humus is applied under the peony. Usually it is not buried, but placed on the surface of the soil. Organic fertilizer continues to rot, gradually releasing nutrients. They pass into the soil and are consumed by plant roots. Additionally, organic fertilizers cover the soil, preventing it from freezing. Fresh manure decomposes with the release of heat, so it is most optimal for cold winters.
After the first frost, when the shoots of the plants freeze, they should be pruned. Pruning is done flush with the ground so that the stumps are not visible. After pruning, the soil is additionally mulched with compost, humus or fallen leaves. The shoots of the bushes themselves should not be used, as they become sources of diseases that can be transmitted to the plant the next year.

It is recommended to add bone meal under the mulching components, wood ash or both of these components together. Approximately 300 grams of ash and 200 grams of bone meal are required. They are scattered around the bush relatively evenly and then covered with mulch.

An integrated approach to autumn fertilization will provide the peony with all useful substances. The result will be strong plant and intensive flowering in spring. It is worth remembering that only spring fertilizers will not give the desired effect.

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