Peonies with their huge balls of beautiful flowers tend to decorate the garden. You will definitely not miss them and a great attraction of their cultivation is the possibility to influence their color by adjusting the soil pH. For their good growth, however, proper nutrition is needed, so it is necessary to understand their needs.
For peonies, like all other plants, we have to approach as a living organism – it is still necessary to realize that nature does not have accurate templates and each case can be a little different. What does this mean? Before you plunge into the fertilization of the Pivoněk, find out if they miss some elements at all (and possibly what). It could easily happen that the excessive dose of some substances would rather hurt them.
You can also learn more about peonies in youtub video from Savva Gardening:
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Listen to peonies
One of the simple tests we should perform is to control the soil pH. I certainly remember the litmus papers from school, special sets are even available in specialized stores. Often, however, it is sufficient to navigate according to the signals that send the plants themselves. So let’s try to tune in to their note and the world will be a little more beautiful again.
What do they tell us?
For example: stunted and slow growth signals clearly the lack of almost all basic nutrients, especially nitrogen. Problems with this element are also reflected in the light to yellowish color of the leaves. Few flowers or their smaller size, then testify to the lack of phosphorus, or the imbalance of nutrients in the soil.
Slowly but surely
If you want to be sure that peonies will receive optimal doses of everything they really need, you can of course reach for one of the commercial fertilizers designed for these beauties. If you know exactly which element they are scarce, focus on it. But if it is to be overall support, you do not have to hesitate too much, just look at a mixture that promises slow release of fabrics into the soil. Nutrition will be gradual and longer.
Compost they love directly
A very good home variant of fertilization is the addition of compost to the roots of plants. It is a completely natural mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in an ideal ratio. In addition, the soil remains fluffy, permeable for water, but at the same time absorbent. In short, it is almost a perfect solution. In addition, compost has an amazing ability to strengthen the immunity of plants, which means a much less need for their chemical treatment against diseases and pests.
Phosphorus for a lot of big flowers
As already mentioned, growth problems are mainly a problem with lack of nitrogen. On the other hand, phosphorus has the greatest influence on flowers that we can (not only) peenies due to bone flour. You can add a “holy” three basic elements, ie potassium, with a wooden ash.
Leaf fertilizer for May treatment
In order not only to support the plant, but also to protect the plant against undesirable effects, it is advisable to use in May, when peonies are preparing the first flowers this year, using leaf fertilizer. We mix this in the same proportion from the “NPK” fertilizer, fungicidal product and biostimulator. Pour everything into a sprayer and spray the plant as carefully as possible with this solution.
Select the right time
Be careful not to get to work on a warm day, when the peonies will be under the onslaught of meridian rays. It is always good to perform such a treatment either early in the morning or even better in the late afternoon. In many ways, leaf fertilization is more suitable for its faster action and divorced throughout the plant.
Do you have peonies in the garden? If so, you will certainly use such advice, and if you stick to them, it is difficult to prevent the envy of neighbors from a wide area.
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