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| I have a peony that I have been waiting to see bloom for 3 years. I actually planted it 3 summers ago. It got one bud this summer but than it turned black and dried up. It is in my perennial bed and I have one plant that is touching it but not shading it. I have another peony that started out with blooms and they never developed. I think they are getting plenty of sun. I have them planted with roses and the roses are doing great. We had a hot spell where we had unseasonably hot, humid weather for about 6 days. Could that have done it? What could be wrong? I was sooo looking forward to the blooms. BooHoo. Maybe next year. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by jenny_in_SE_PA USDA7 Sunset 32 (My Page) on Sat, Jun 18, 05 at 17:00
| We had that same hot spell and mine bloomed fine, albeit, for a much shorter time. Sometimes it takes that long for them to be mature enough to sustain a bloom. Alternately they might be planted a bit too deep (shouldn't be more than 2" below the surface) or they might have botrytis, a disease that can impact the flower bud. Usually you'll see signs of it on the leaves and stems as well, with them appearing unhealthy and wilty. |
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- Posted by gardeningfan z5bMa (My Page) on Sat, Jun 18, 05 at 22:38
| Everything else on the plants looks very healthy. The one that had several buds actually bloomed last year though it was only one bloom but oh what a glorious bloom it was. So do you still think maturity is still a factor? I am so disappointed. I was careful when I planted them to not plant them deeper than the top of the soil ball. A friend of mine gave me a huge bowl of peonies when I had my third baby and absolutley fell in love with them. It is really frustrating to me that I am having trouble growing a plant that is supposed to be easy to grow. I will double check to see if they are planted to deep. |
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- Posted by jenny_in_SE_PA USDA7 Sunset 32 (My Page) on Sun, Jun 19, 05 at 19:20
| It could be that the peony has sunk down a bit deeper than when originally planted as the soil settled or if there was mulch or leaf litter in or around them, that might have piled up over time to increase the depth. I grew up with some peonies that my mother had but over the years, they apparently sunk deeper and deeper and were increasingly shaded by what is now a 35ft tall pine tree that we had planted back in the late '60s, and they eventually stopped coming up and disappeared. It can be frustrating because you say - "Maybe next year... " and the next year comes and it's disappointment. Another thought is that the original plant had a bare minimum of eyes and has been spending all this time forming more. Hopefully it's a simple problem. |
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- Posted by Peony_Grower z6 MW (My Page) on Mon, Jun 20, 05 at 9:27
| Why do the buds on my peony sometimes turn black and dry up early in the season? Likely the buds have been damaged by frost or a fungal infection. What you describe is often called bud blast. It can be caused by environmental conditions at a critical stage of development such as frost or drought. It can also be caused by a fungal attack, usually during cold wet periods. In these cases the problem is unlikely to be repeated the following year and the plant will likely continue to thrive. If the problem happens next year you might also suspect a nutritional problem, likely not enough potassium, too much shade or that the plant is planted too deeply. All of these are correctable by either adding fertilizer or moving the plant to a more suitable location in the case of shade or planting to deeply. Bud blast often occurs in newly planted peonies. Peonies form their buds in the fall. If a plant is divided and replanted in the fall (as it should be) the previously formed buds will continue their growth in the spring on a much-reduced root system. Often the newly divided plant does not have the "strength" to fully develop all the buds and they just dry up. As the plant matures this problem disappears. Here is your solution for the problem: THE RESULT: You are in PA and the growing conditions are exelent there for peonies. Take these measures and you will have some real nice blooms next spring. |
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- Posted by Peony_Grower z6 MW (My Page) on Mon, Jun 20, 05 at 9:45
| NEVER< NEVER allow fertilizer to contact the crown, as it will burn the crown and eyes.... There are no roots or feeder roots in the crown area that need fertilizer, only the lower roots need it. |
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- Posted by gardeningfan z5bMa (My Page) on Sun, Jun 26, 05 at 17:28
| Thank you so much for all the wonderful information. Would bud blast effect 2 plants in 2 different areas? I guess what I am asking is does it typically infect 1 plant at a time or does it infect more? I have a feeling it is because of bud blast or they are getting to much shade. These beds are full with compost and the dirt is wonderful so I don't think it is a nutritional problem. I will check the depth of them and thanks for clarifing what you meant by NEVER |
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| Peony Grower has given very good information. Note that the fertilizer he suggests has a lower nitrogen number. This is important but often over looked when selecting fertilizer, the majority of which are heavy on the nitrogen. Al |
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