Fertilizing peonies: when, how and with what?

When they are in bloom, peonies are a real delight in the garden. However, in order for these to return year after year, peonies need to be properly fertilized.

The genus of Peonies (Paeonia) currently comprises 32 different species - so it is no wonder that this plant species has earned a place in so many gardens and delights garden owners with a veritable splendor of flowers. However, to get the strong, light pink flowering ‘Louise Mouchelet’ or the vigorous Gilbert Barthelot ’ There is one thing that is particularly important to keep in your garden paradise for the long term: the right one Fertilize.

Peonies are one of the more easy-care plants, after all, their roots also extend to remote nutrient stores in the surrounding soil. But the natural nutrient reserves they find are rarely perfect. For this reason, you should regularly feed your peony fertilizer. Unfortunately, not every fertilizer is equally suitable for the flowering plants. The dose and timing should not be random either. That is why we explain to you how and when to best supply a peony with nutrients.

Why should you fertilize peonies?

Nutrients are essential for plants to build up biomass, i.e. to be able to grow up happily. This is no different with a peony. If you pay attention to the correct composition and concentration of the energy sources, you can support a lush flowering and vital growth. Peonies are particularly interested in a good supply of nutrients in the growth phase instructed, because in the cold season, many species of the pretty flower hibernate underground as Rhizome. This is where all the nutrients are stored that are needed for new shoots in spring. If the plant was not sufficiently fertilized in the previous year, this deficiency is reflected in the nutrient storage of the rhizomes. In spring these plants then have a less optimal start into the growth phase.

Fertilizing peonies: when and how often?

When the peony sprouts after hibernation, fertilization also begins; after all, the budding into the new year needs proper support. The last fertilization then takes place in July or August, before your peony flowers for the last time, to say goodbye to summer. You shouldn't fertilize again later, as a late shoot cannot harden before winter.

If you use a slow release fertilizer, you only need to fertilize at the beginning and end of the fertilization period. at mineral fertilizers you should feed your peonies with small amounts of nutrients every four weeks. In most cases, these only have a very short-term effect and can easily be rinsed out of the floor. This not only shortens the watering interval, but also pollutes the groundwater. For this reason and because of the high risk of over-fertilization, it is advisable to use an organic fertilizer when fertilizing peonies. This also offers a long-term effect in a natural way and therefore only needs to be used twice a year.

Summary: when and how often to fertilize peonies

• The first fertilization takes place with the budding after the winter rest
• The last time is fertilized in July or August before the last bloom
• A slow release fertilizer only needs to be fertilized at the beginning and end of the fertilization period
• Mineral fertilizers are applied in small doses every four weeks
• In contrast to mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers do not pose a risk of over-fertilization and, because of their natural long-term effects, only have to be used twice a year

Fertilize peonies: instructions and fertilizer recommendation

Fortunately, peonies are not on an excess of extra because of their deep rooting Dependent on nutrients, because they use a large space of earth and the stored in it Nutrient. This is why the dose of nutrients depends heavily on the substrate in which your plant grows. Sandy soil can store fewer nutrients than loamy soils. Therefore, in this case, it is important to clean the floor through a neat one Plant fertilization with compost and to improve the mixing in of loamy soil. Also, it is very beneficial to be accurate Variety of peony to know. Most varieties are quite frugal, but there are also breeding masterpieces such as the fast-growing variety ‘Gilbert Barthelot’, which consume a little more nutrients. In general, fast growing varieties naturally consume more nutrients than slow growing ones.

In the case of the peony with all of its mentioned properties, it is therefore a primarily organic long-term fertilizer like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer advisable. Nitrogen (N) should be the least available, as you don't need an unnatural growth spurt. Phosphorus (P) promotes, among other things, the formation of flowers, which is what gives the peony its special status in your own garden - this is why the largest proportion is required here. Potassium (K) regulates the water balance, but is also responsible for root growth and frost resistance of the plant. Therefore, in terms of the proportion, it should be in second place.

Organically fertilize peonies

In the case of most peonies, a mineral fertilizer should not be used, because with such a fertilizer there is an oversupply of nutrients, with which the plant is quickly overwhelmed. The reason for this is the slow growth behavior of many peonies. The slow availability of an organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect goes perfectly with this. This should ideally also be available in organic quality so that the soil organisms can do their work well and happily. Our primarily organic one Plantura organic flower fertilizer offers exactly these qualities - and almost exclusively based on vegetable raw materials. The NPK ratio of 4 - 2 - 7 promotes healthy, bushy growth, vigorous flowering and brings your plant through the winter strengthened with potassium.

Organic long-term fertilization: application recommendation for peonies

You can't really go wrong with organic fertilizers with a view to the dosage, because even if too much ends up in the pot or bed, the following applies: You don't need to fear over-fertilization. But if you want to look after your garden as environmentally conscious as possible, you should avoid unnecessary fertilizers. So that fertilizing your peonies does not end up unnecessarily wasted, we have a short application recommendation for ours below Plantura organic flower fertilizer ready for you. This organic fertilizer, composed almost exclusively of organic components, ensures happy peonies all year round when applied as follows:

• Before planting 100 - 150 g / m² (well-filled 0.2 liter jar) of ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer work into the upper soil layer
• Pour the soil and freshly inserted peony well so that the granules can dissolve well
• With maintenance fertilization in spring, you should fertilize another 80 - 120 g / m² (0.2 liter jar) per plant

Fertilize peonies with minerals

If you dare to use mineral fertilizers with the neat perennials, you should never exceed the recommended dosage. Otherwise the high-dose nutrient suppliers quickly become too much for the frugal peonies. Also, be sure that you Blue grain and Co. only give with sufficient water. Otherwise the nutrients cannot be absorbed and, in the worst case, burns in the root area occur. Since a mineral fertilizer quickly does more harm than good with the peony, you should rather use an organic long-term fertilizer. This is gentler on the plants and also considerably more environmentally friendly.

Fertilize peonies with home remedies

Peonies in the bed are suitable for traditional fertilization with ripe compost, with manure from goats, sheep or horses or with bone meal. Work that Natural fertilizers twice a year in the upper soil layer in the root area. Covered with a fresh layer of earth, the nutrient release can then start. But peonies can also be supplied with home remedies in pots. You can simply dry your plants every four weeks Fertilize the coffee grounds. This is scattered in the root area or given with the irrigation water.

Fertilize the peonies in the pot

If the peony grows in a sufficiently large bucket or pot, there are a few special features to consider. First of all, shrub peonies are much more suitable for the pot than the perennial varieties. The reason for this is that the latter are pronounced deep roots and are more affected in the pot. Furthermore, the substrate of the pot should be rich in nutrients and there should be drainage on the bottom of the pot to avoid waterlogging (for example from pottery shards or gravel). Fertilizer additions to potted peonies are generally to be applied more frequently than to outdoor varieties, as it is common it happens that the plants do not bloom and the fertilizers give them constant growth or blooming stimuli offers.

Tip: It is much more advantageous to offer the peonies a place in the field, as they are much more blooming and frost-resistant there.

Another important maintenance measure is the right cut. Like you at Peonies cutting should proceed, you will learn in this article.