First of all, it’s important to select the right blooms for drying, no matter which preservation method you choose. Select flowers that have newly bloomed, when the petals are just beginning to exhibit their color. Choose the most perfect specimens you can find – ones without blemishes or signs of disease or insect infestation. Cut the blossoms with sharp scissors or shears, trying not to crush or damage the stems. Leave about six inches of stem on each flower for air drying, and remove any leaves. For other drying methods, it’s best to remove the stem and to dry the flower heads only. Make sure the flowers are free of dew before using a drying process.

Peony Petals

The easiest way to preserve your peonies is by air drying them. Simply gather five or six peonies into a bunch, and secure the bunch with a wide rubber band or by tying twine around the stems. Hang the bunches upside down so that air can get to all sides of the flowers. You might want to suspend them from a beam or from a clothes hanger. Allow them to dry in a dark place to maintain good color. You also need to choose a place that’s low in moisture. Hanging the flowers in a basement is just asking for mold. Depending on the humidity level of their drying place, the peonies will take from one to four weeks to completely dry.

By drying your peonies in silica gel, more natural color will be maintained than from air drying. Silica gel closely resembles coarse salt, and it’s very absorbent. You can find it at most any craft store. Place about three inches of the gel in a plastic container that has a sealable lid. Place your peonies, face up, in the gel. Don’t let the flowers touch each other. Carefully add more silica gel to the container until the flowers are completely covered. The gel has to get to all sections of the blossom, so you’ll need to GENTLY shake the container from side to side to shift the gel around. Place the lid on and allow the blooms to dry. It takes an average peony two or three days to dry in silica gel.

Another method for silica gel-drying involves the microwave. Place three inches of the gel in a deep plastic or glass container. Each flower head should have its own little “nest” in the granules and should be supported by the silica gel. Place the container of flowers in the microwave, along with a cup of plain water. Set the water in the corner of the microwave. Microwave drying times vary widely. Check your blooms after two minutes. Once the flowers have dried completely, remove the container from the microwave, place the lid on, and allow the flowers and the gel to cool for several hours before removing the flowers.

Peony Plant Problems

Common Problems of the Peony Plant

The peony plant is a solitary genus in the flowering plant family. They are generally found and grow predominantly in Asia, western North America and southern Europe. Nearly all peonies are herbaceous perennial plants growing up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. However, some peonies are woody shrubs that could reach around 1.5 to 3 meters high. Peonies are some of the most attractive and admired flowers due to their large and rounded, full blooms and wide variety of colors. Their leaves tend to be shiny and deeply lobed, so that they resemble beautiful lacework. Regardless of how pretty a peony plant can be though, it can suffer from some problems.

Problems are actually not more prevalent among peony plants, as these contain all the characteristics gardeners recognize most in perennials. They have aromatic flowers, endure for a very long time and are simple to grow. In addition, they are resistant to deer, drought and cold hardy. Despite these strengths, peony plants still need to be taken care of, as with most other garden plants.

Probable Causes And Risk Factors

There are several possible reasons as to why your peony plant might have some type of problem. It may be planted at the wrong depth, and may also fail to set flower buds or may still be too young. Furthermore, the peony plant may not be receiving enough sun, or it is receiving too much nitrogen. It may be suffering from a late freeze. It may be situated in a spot that is too crowded, or it may have been relocated or divided recently. Other possible causes of peony plant problems include being exposed to either excessively cold or hot temperatures, being exposed to too much water, damaged open flowers, chafers, thrips and broken or fallen stems.

Peony Plant Diseases

Peony plants can suffer from a number of diseases. They can suffer from botrytis blight, which is caused by the fungus Botrytis that affects the buds, stems and leaves. They can also suffer from phytophthora blight, which is also caused by a fungus known as Phytophthora cactorum. The buds, stems and leaves are also being attacked in this case, except that there is no felty proliferation or sporulation on the surface of the plant when in a moist surrounding. Wilt is yet another condition caused by a fungus, which is a soil-borne fungus called Verticillium albo-atrum. White mold can affect the stem and cause it to rot. Moving on, peonies can have leaf and stem spots, which are this time caused by numerous fungal organisms. The spots can differ in size and color and may be found on leaves, stems, flower petals and bud scales.  The peony plant can also suffer from virus disease.

Peony Plant Care

Examine your peony plant consistently and as soon as you notice any suspicious infection or attack. The earlier you notice any changes, the better you can treat your plant effectively. Make sure you provide the appropriate drainage to avoid wilt, as this often occurs when the surroundings are moist and poorly ventilated. Slice off any infected stem and shoot right away. Make sure you completely eliminate all infected plant material, including remains like leaves and roots. Finally, you need to change the existing soil that has been infected and think about re-planting your peonies on the same spot.

Chinese Peony - History

History Of The Chinese Peony

The peony is indigenous to southern Europe, western North America and Asia. The majority of peonies are herbaceous perennial plants, however, there are other types of peonies, which can be distinguished easily by their loftier height. Tree peonies are more like woody shrubs that can grow up to 1.5 to 3 meters tall. Peonies typically have deeply lobed leaves and massive, usually sweet-smelling flowers, varying from yellow to white to red when they are in bloom. The peony has been attached to various cultures in legends and through admiration. Peony flowers have been used as ornamental designs in one of the national emblems in China. Together with the plum blossom, the Chinese peony is a traditional floral symbol of the country. The Chinese peony is widely referred to as the “flower of riches and honor.”

The Chinese peony can be found in several works of art in China. In 1903, the Qing Dynasty announced that the peony become the national flower. Presently, the Republic of China in Taiwan assigns the plum blossom as the national flower, while People’s Republic of China has no legally assigned national flower. In 1994, the Chinese peony was planned as the national flower after a countrywide poll, however, the National People’s Congress failed to confirm the option. In 2003, another plan has been set to choose what the national flower should be-a decision is still yet to be made.

The Chinese Peony in Art

The exquisiteness of the peony flower has long enthused artists in both western and eastern culture. Preceding the 17^th century though, it was the artists of China and Japan who employed images of the peony into their creative endeavors. The Chinese peony is basically the national flower of China and is usually mentioned in poetry and literature. Peonies are some of the major motifs of Chinese decorative arts and have been employed in screen paintings, porcelains, woodblock, clothing and tapestries.

Both herbaceous and tree peonies were brought to Japan at the start of the 8^th century. The Japanese soon started employing imagery of the peony into their tapestries, porcelains and paintings. The peony was also the theme of several poems and constantly employed in Japanese literature. At present, the peony continues to be an extremely prevalent subject matter in Japanese art.

The Chinese peony as art was introduced to the Western world at a much later date and has never reached the same extent of utilization compared to in China and Japan. Nevertheless, when a particular type of tree peony started to increase in popularity in Europe in late 18^th century, artists started to incorporate them into their paintings.

The Chinese Peony and Medicine

As you may have noticed, Chinese medicine and herbal solutions are continuing to gain acceptance in the Western world. In Chinese medicine, the peony is known to offer several health benefits. The peony is utilized currently as a single cure or in amalgamation with other herbs to alleviate emotional-nervous conditions. The Chinese botanicals have been among the most remarkable as observed through sufficient documentation over the decades. The peony is known to especially treat memory problems. As it means “most beautiful” in Chinese culture, the Chinese peony is also considered a powerful medicinal property.

Peony Flower

The Story Behind the Admired Peony Flower

Peonies are comprised of deeply lobed leaves as well as massive, usually aromatic flowers, varying from white to yellow or red, in late spring and early summer. Previously, peonies were usually categorized in the family Ranunculaceae, together with Anemones and Hellebores. Peonies have distinctively glossy and lacy leaves, but it is the peony flower that has captured the hearts of gardeners and flower enthusiasts.

Description and Symbolism of the Peony Flower

The history of the peony flower goes back all the way to thousands of years. So it’s not unexpected that even the mythology associated with the origin of the plant has various adaptations. A particular legend tells of a story of a physician to the gods who was given the peony flower on Mount Olympus by the mother of Apollo. In the legend, the physician’s name is Paeon, which is where the term “peony” was supposedly derived from. Another adaptation of this same legend describes the physician who was rescued from the doom of death as other mortals by being made into a flower, which we now refer to as the peony flower.

The peony flower has been referred to as several things in previous decades and centuries. In fact it has become the traditional floral symbol of China, the state flower of Indiana and the traditional 12^th wedding anniversary flower. It has been widely attached to the meaning of wealth and honor. With their luxuriant, generous and rounded bloom, peonies symbolize success and romance, and are also considered a sign of happy marriage and good fortune.

The traditional floral symbol of China, the state flower of Indiana, and the 12th wedding anniversary flower, peonies are known as the flower of riches and honor.  With their lush, full, rounded bloom, peonies embody romance and prosperity and are regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage.

Helping The Peony Flower Bloom

The peony flower is unable to successfully bloom for several reasons, including failure to mature. A peony needs to stay in the same spot for a minimum of 3 years before it can be transferred to another location. Bigger tubers with 3 to 5 eyes may bloom the second year subsequent to planting-those with fewer than three eyes can take 3 to 5 years to bloom.  They may also not be able to bloom if the tubers are set too deeply within the soil. They should be fixed in the soil so that the eyes don’t go an inch beyond the surface of the soil. Peonies need to get lots of sun (without shade) for a minimum of 6 hours per day to develop properly. Keep peonies as far away from trees and shrubs as possible, since these other plants can suck up a considerable amount of nutrients and water, which the peonies need as well. The soil needs to be well-drained and loamy with a pH anywhere from 6.5 to 7.0. Fertilize peonies yearly, if possible based on soil test outcomes. The fertilizer should have a low to fair amounts of nitrogen.

The Peony

A Guide To The Peony

Peonies are naturally found in Japan and China, where they have been valued for their attractive array of colorful flowers, and they come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and styles. Several garden stores have peonies, and a considerable number of companies in fact focus on growing and hybridizing these plants, developing a striking set of cultivars to please various tastes. You may also notice the peony portrayed in several works of Asian art, where it is linked to fortune, happiness, honor and long life. Moreover, the peony has been used for Chinese medicinal purposes for decades.

The peony comes from the buttercup family, but interestingly, it doesn’t have much similarity to the buttercup. The peony grows big, attractive flowers that are usually very colorful, with leaves that may be so deeply lobed that they may appear quite lacy. Peonies can come in yellow, white, red and pink, and they generally show up in the late spring and start of summer.

Many people love peonies because they are quite attractive once they’re in full bloom, and they are classically grown in flower gardens. These cheery perennials produce a whole collection of aromatic blossoms during the late spring and their appealing, lustrous leaves emerge quite nicely in the border throughout autumn. Peonies can have some problems due to disease and insect attacks and so require continuous care once settled. The very first thing you should do is to make certain that you plant your peony properly.

Plant peonies within the months of September through to early October since these plants develop much of their roots during this point. Peonies that are planted in the spring usually reach their prime much slower compared to peonies planted during the fall. Next, select the best site for your peony plants to grow in. Choose sites with well-drained and fertile soil that receives a minimum of 6 hours of sun per day. Another thing you need to make sure of is to space your plants 3 to 4 feet apart.

Burrow a 24 by 24 inch depression for each peony. Blend 4 inches of compost and a fourth to half a cup of granulated organic fertilizer into the dug-up site. Fill up the hole and compress it down a bit or let it set for a few days. For a bareroot division, burrow a shallow opening that is about 2 to 3 inches deep with proper soil, and then sow the root clump, making certain that the eyes aren’t beyond 2 inches under the soil’s surface. When planting a potted peony, burrow a hole into the worked soil that is the depth identical to the pot’s. Set the peony, making certain to do so accurately. A tree peony should be set 4 to 6 inches under the surface of the ground.

If you plant a peony too deep, the plant will have trouble settling and may take a much longer time to bloom. Peonies also seem to not favor being disturbed or moved around too much in a year. Good preparation will give you the best looking peonies in your neighborhood.