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Itoh Peony - please help!

webber.danniwebber.danni Posts: 3
edited June 2020 in Problem solving
In spring I was given a new peony in a pot. It flowered beautifully and then the foliage remained and it looked healthy. Now it is wilted and the leaves and stem has turned purplish red. It did get quite wet in the recent heavy rain but I have tried to leave it to dry out. It was in a position of getting full sun each afternoon.
I have repotted - didn't disturb roots just put in a bigger pot with more soil, plenty of crock at the bottom. And moved out of full sun. Is this all just a result of water logging or is there something else wrong?Can it be saved? 

Posts

  • RobmarstonRobmarston Posts: 338
    Poor thing is shocked to hell. If the pot had drainage holes, the rain would t have mattered. But leaving it out in full sun to dry out was probably not a good idea. They prefer to be in the ground generally. If you want it still in a pot, I’d say put it in a big pot, with holes and a good compost, water regularly, shelter it, not full sun, and hope for the best. They are tougher than alleged. 
  • webber.danniwebber.danni Posts: 3
    We are first time gardeners and only have a walled concrete yard and so doing the best we can in a small space! It does get hot too as it is surrounded, that combined with the few days of heavy rain I guess wasn't a good combination!
    I've put in a much bigger pot and will find a shadier space... It was still quite wet when I replanted should I still continue to water or leave it a couple of days? I've read some articles that say they like lots of water and some that say they prefer not to be too wet. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Water is fine as long as the drainage is right. They do like plenty of sun, but they're more vulnerable in pots, so need a bit more attention. Just water if the compost is drying out, or the plant is a little droopy, but don't let it get completely dried out, as it becomes difficult to get them rehydrated again. If it's always going to be in a pot, you'll need to use a soil based compost, as compost on it's own isn't enough for a plant unless it's only for a season. Some grit mixed in with it will help with drainage too.

    It's also a a big specimen, and therefore has a lot of foliage which is more difficult for the roots to support in very hot spells. That's why it's harder for big leafy plants in pots, and even if they like sun, they benefit from a bit of dappled shade in extreme weather  :)

    Did you plant it at the same level as it was in the pot? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • RobmarstonRobmarston Posts: 338
    Looking at the photo I’d say it needs watering. It needs drainage - that is so that all the water runs out and doesn’t sit in the pot. But you still need to water it regularly so that it has a good drink. Don’t let the pot dry out, but at the same time, don’t let water accumulate in it. Feed fortnightly with a generic all purpose liquid feed and cross your fingers. At this time of year you have lots of time for it to settle in and hopefully next year it’ll grow and bloom beautifully. 
  • webber.danniwebber.danni Posts: 3
    @Fairygirl - thank you! I planted at the same level as the other pot. Just some more compost under and around. I used organic garden compost. Didn't mix any grit in though - is it worth disturbing again to do this or should I just leave alone for a bit?
    @Robmarston - thanks again - Only feed I have at the moment is liquid seaweed which I have only braved using once. Would this be suitable?

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd wait then. No point in disturbing it again. You can refresh/replace the soil medium in autumn when it's dormant. That will be easier.  :)
    Seaweed is fine for foliage, but ideally, a slow release food like Blood Fish and Bone is better to help it strengthen up. Not really necessary at this stage though if it's in fresh compost. It's better for early spring to get it ready to form the new buds and flowers.

    It would really be better in the ground though, where it can access all the nutrition it needs, and it could just have a top up of tomato food or slow release food in spring, but as long as you take care to give it some fresh soil/compost each year, and feed and water appropriately, it should be ok  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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