Peonies will reward an attentive and caring owner with abundant, lush flowering. And the main role in this is played by fertilizing. It is the nutrition that determines how many flowers there will be on the bush. This article discusses the main stages of fertilizing and their features.
If you follow a few simple rules, the bush will be covered with flowers to the delight of its owner and the envy of its neighbors.
Stage one: early spring
In early spring, the plant needs nitrogen. As soon as the first shoots appear from the ground, nitrogen fertilizer should be added under the bush. This can be ammonium nitrate or urea according to the instructions.
Or you can use natural fertilizers. In addition to nitrogen, they also contain other nutrients that the plant also needs.
Peonies respond well to mullein. You need to dilute 1 liter of mullein in 10 liters of water, leave for 5 days, and water the bushes (2 liters per plant). It is important to apply fertilizer to damp soil, so in a dry spring you will have to water the bushes well first.
Peonies are fed with bird droppings according to the same principle. Only 0.5 liters of droppings are taken for 10 liters of water.
You can also add any complex fertilizer, where nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are contained in equal quantities. Nitrogen is responsible for the growth of green mass, phosphorus is needed for the development of roots and the formation of flowers, and potassium ensures more lush and long-lasting flowering.
Stage two: before the flowers appear
As soon as the peonies begin to form buds, a second feeding should be carried out. This time, the emphasis should be on potassium. It is thanks to potassium that the buds develop well, the flowers are large, there are many of them, and they do not fade longer. With a severe potassium deficiency, the buds may not even bloom, or the flower will be small.
For feeding during this period, any universal potassium fertilizer is suitable, which must be used according to the instructions. You can also buy fertilizer for flowering plants.
If you have wood ash on hand, this is the best option for natural potassium fertilizer. You need to pour 1 liter of ash with 10 liters of warm water, leave for 2-3 days, stirring occasionally. Then drain the liquid, which by that time will have acquired a yellowish tint. The resulting infusion should be diluted in 20 liters of water and pour 10 liters of solution under each bush.
Stage three: after flowering
When the peonies have finished blooming, their flower stalks need to be cut off and after 2-3 weeks, potassium fertilizing should be done again, as in the second stage. The only difference is that the nitrogen content in the complex fertilizer should not exceed 10%. You can use the so-called autumn fertilizers for the garden, where the ratio of macroelements is ideal for summer fertilizing of peonies.
Ash does not contain nitrogen, so it can be used without any concerns.
Fertilizing after flowering is necessary so that the bush produces the maximum number of flower buds for the following year.
If you feed peonies as described above, their bushes will be covered with flowers year after year.
