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Peony not flowering

SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42
in Problem solving
I've got two peonies which don't seem to be doing very well (my neighbour's peony is covered in flowers!) I've had one flower which has now gone over and the other 3 buds haven't opened. I love peonies, how can I get more blooms this/next year? 

Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Well, first things first. How old are they, what sort of soil and light do they have, are there other plants around them, have they had enough water? Have you had sudden, heavy rain?
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited June 2022
    People often comment that peonies are often planted too deeply and with not enough full sun.


  • SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42
    Posy said:
    Well, first things first. How old are they, what sort of soil and light do they have, are there other plants around them, have they had enough water? Have you had sudden, heavy rain?
    I'm not sure how old they are, I moved in last year and they were already in situ. We have clay soil, but plenty of light (south-facing). There are some geraniums and aqualigia around them - do they prefer not to be crowded? We have had some heavy rain, the weather in general has been a bit naff so far this year! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    As @Posy says - what age are they, and how are you growing them? Have they been planted at a suitable depth - ie not too deep?
    They need pretty good, well drained soil, and plenty of sun and light. They also take a few years to establish and mature in order to flower well. 
    Mine are later to start into flowering stage, which is mainly because of the colder, poorer weather in May, just when they want to start growing well, so your conditions could also be a factor, despite your neighbour's plants doing well.
    Some varieties are easier, and earlier than others, especially the P. officinalis rubra type   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    If they usually flower the problem could be a need for sunshine down at the roots - make sure they are not too crowded. Heavy rain on buds that are about to open can stop flowering, too. Mine are on clay and have no problem. 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    We are on clay soil and over the years they have got better and better. We give them some wood ash each year and this encourages the flowering.
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Mine hasn't flowered either. We're clay subsoil,much improved. We inherited it 10 years ago,it was already here, flowers every may, not even a flower stem this year. Weird.
  • SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42
    bertrand-mabel said:
    We are on clay soil and over the years they have got better and better. We give them some wood ash each year and this encourages the flowering.
    Thank you, will try wood ash 
  • SweetPea2022SweetPea2022 Posts: 42
    Nanny Beach said:
    Mine hasn't flowered either. We're clay subsoil,much improved. We inherited it 10 years ago,it was already here, flowers every may, not even a flower stem this year. Weird.
    Not just me then! 
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