Just in time for Pentecost, and often earlier, the rose-like and pleasantly scented flowers of the peonies appear. But what happens when the flowers don't appear? Something went wrong!
Why isn't my peony blooming?
If a peony does not bloom, the cause may be incorrect planting depth, unsuitable location, inadequate care, disease or pest infestation or frost damage. If there are problems, check the location, planting depth, care requirements and take action if necessary.
Wrong or recently planted
The peonies aren't blooming? The most common reason for this is that they were planted too deep. The buds of perennial peonies should not be covered with soil more than 3 cm high. Bush peonies, on the other hand, should be 5 to 10 cm below the ground with their grafting point.
Furthermore, a lack of flowering can be due to planting too late. If you planted your peonies in spring, they will not be blooming in May/June. They first have to take root properly in order to have enough strength to bloom. A recent division coupled with a transplant can also be behind the flower failure. Peonies don't like changing locations.
Location-related causes
Perhaps the location is unsuitable?
- Is the location too shady?
- Is the substrate too wet or dry?
- Is the soil too compacted?
- Are other plants in competition?
Failed/inadequate care
Mistakes in care are not uncommon:
- cutting back too early
- cut back too much (for shrub peonies)
- do not remove wilted flowers (too much energy was sacrificed for seed production)
- overfertilized with nitrogen
- Nutrient deficiency (it is best to fertilize annually before budding)
- Drought (watering in hot and dry conditions)
Disease or pest infestation
Illnesses can also be so bad for peonies that they don't want to bloom. These plants are often attacked by gray mold in spring when the weather is damp. This fungus not only colonizes the leaves, but also likes to colonize the flower buds. The buds dry up and fall off. You can recognize an infestation by brown to black colored plant parts.
In addition to diseases, pests can also be behind the flower failure. Sometimes nematodes attack peonies. You can spot these tiny little pests when you take a closer look at the leaves. Are the leaves yellow and dried up at the edges? Then this indicates a nematode infestation.
Frostbite through the wintertime
Last but not least, frost damage can also be a reason for missing flowers. This is especially true if the peonies were planted in late fall and were not protected over the winter. It is better to cover them in the root area with brushwood.
Tip
Even if you did not remove the winter protection in time, the peony may not bloom. The buds are then located too deep under the light (similar to planting at too great a depth).
