Reproduction of peonies: rules and terms, features of dividing the bush, requirements for seeds
Peonies are very popular among gardeners due to their decorative properties. Bright lush flowers can decorate any garden plot from May to mid-July. Peony seedlings are not cheap, however, if desired, flowers can be propagated on their own. Let's figure out how to properly propagate peony bushes.
Description and features of the plant
Peony is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the monotypic genus. In nature, there are about forty varieties of plants. The herbaceous peony is characterized by the presence of brightly scented flowers that open in May and bloom for six weeks.
Dividing the bush
The peony bush is recommended to be divided every four to five years, as the old roots of an undivided bush are intertwined and tightly connected with tissue, which will make their roots difficult to dig out. The division of the bush is carried out from mid-August to mid-September. Dig a small trench around the bush and swing the bush until it comes out of the ground. Bushes should be separated with a stake.
How to propagate by layering
Propagation by layering is one of the easiest methods. This method is suitable for a five to eight year old bush. At the beginning of spring, the earth is raked from the bush, exposing the buds. From above you need to put a box without a bottom. It needs to be filled with a mixture of garden soil, compost and sand. After that, as the shoots grow, compost, garden soil and manure are added to the box in layers. The buds of the plant are pinched, keeping the leaves. In the fall, we remove the box with the ground, cut off the rooted shoots and transplant them into the garden.
Using air layers
Propagation by air layering is carried out in May, before the peony flowers bloom. On the shoot, it is necessary to make incisions and wrap them with moss and film, and then tie them up. Roots form in late summer.
Cutting
Cuttings are a simple and affordable method of propagating peony bushes. A branch for growing a new plant should not contain a bud.
Timing
Preparation of cuttings is easiest to do after the peony blooms, during the formative pruning. It is necessary first to remove all faded flowers and carefully cut off the leaves on which there are stains from diseases. We form an even ball from the bush.
How to cut
After pruning, select a stem that has not yet bloomed.Divide the cut branch into parts so that each leaves two leaves. We make the lower cut at the handle oblique, two centimeters lower than the sinus is located. We make cuts with a sharp secateurs. We make the upper cut straight, two centimeters above the sheet. The bottom sheet should be cut to one centimeter, cut the green leaves in half.
Landing
Before planting the cutting, it is necessary to pierce its lower part from the bottom up with the sharp tip of a knife, and treat the cutting with a solution for root growth. This is necessary in order for the plant to take root better. A solution of Heteroauxin is suitable as a stimulant: 2 milliliters of the drug per liter of water.
It is recommended to hold the cuttings in the solution for sixteen hours.
Choosing a seat
The landing site should be in the shade. Large shrubs are suitable as shelter from the sun's rays.
Soil preparation
The soil for planting should be moist all the time and not dry out. If you are planting flowers in a region with a cool climate, you can equip a small greenhouse.
Plant pattern
Dig a groove in the ground and fill it with water. The grooves should be removed from each other at a distance of fifteen centimeters. We insert the plants and compact the soil. We water the soil again and sprinkle with earth. In very strong heat, you can cover the cuttings with a thin protective material.
Inoculation
The best time for peony propagation by grafting is the end of summer. In this case, ten to fifteen centimeter segments of the roots are used as a stock. The roots must be dug out of the ground and kept in a cool place for a couple of weeks. Young shoots of this year are used for grafting.
Wedge cut method
A wedge-shaped cut is made on the stock. The graft is cut from below, forming a wedge-shaped shape. Both surfaces must be smooth. The graft is inserted inside the stock and tied with electrical tape. Outside, it is coated with garden pitch. After grafting, plants can be planted in the soil, but it is better to keep them in a greenhouse for several weeks first to protect the young plant from exposure to direct sunlight. However, it must be watered regularly and thoroughly.
Side Graft
When using this method, a diagonal incision is made on the scion. Povoi is cut in the same way, at the same angle. The root and stem are combined and coated with var.
How to collect and store seeds
To collect peony seeds, you must leave the flowers on the bush until the end of summer. Then, at the end of August, in place of flowers, a box with seeds is formed, representing pods connected in the shape of a star.When the pods open, they are cut off and the seeds are removed. For planting, full seeds of a shiny, light brown color are suitable.
Features of tree peony reproduction
The tree-like variety of peony can be propagated by various methods: layering, cuttings, seeds, division, and grafting.
Layers
To propagate a peony by layering, you need to select a shoot at the bottom of the bush, cut it and press it to the ground, then cover it with soil. It is best to do the procedure at the very end of the spring season. In autumn, the shoot must be separated from the bush and transplanted to a separate place. Instead of earth, you can use moss to press the shoot or wrap the shoot with a thin, durable film.
Shanks
Cuttings are made in July. From a he althy bush, you need to separate the shoots with a bud and leaves.Shoots must be placed a few centimeters in a substrate of peat and sand. The leaves on the shoot are pre-cut in the middle. Cuttings can be covered with plastic cups or bottles to protect from the scorching sun. In autumn, the plants are transplanted into separate pots and stored at home until spring.
Seeds
Propagation by seeds is used mainly by professional breeders, and this method is not suitable for the average gardener due to the high labor and time costs. The seeds themselves must be the first freshness. When growing, it is necessary to strictly observe the mode of processing plants with heat and cold. Peonies grown from seeds germinate after two or three years, and bloom only in the sixth or seventh year of life.
Dividing the bush
This method is suitable for five year old bushes. It should be held in August or September. The bush needs to be dug up, washed with its root system and divided into several parts.At least three shoots should remain in each part. Separation points should be treated with potassium permanganate and wood ash. Before planting in the soil, the roots are dipped in a clay solution.
Inoculation
Propagate peonies by grafting should be at the end of summer. To do this, you need to take part of the root and make an incision on it. A scion is inserted into the incision in the form of a young stem. The joints are wrapped with electrical tape and treated with garden pitch. A few weeks before planting, the workpiece is placed in a container with sawdust, covered with a strong film.
When and how to transplant
Peonies can be transplanted in spring, summer or autumn. In the spring, after the snow melts, transplanting should be done only in case of emergency. At the same time, in the spring, you should not divide the bush, as you can damage the plant. Mid-April is considered the normal time for a transplant in the Middle lane.
In the summer, transplanting should be done at the end of August, after the heat subsides. Rinse the roots from the soil, inspect for diseases and, if necessary, divide. Parts of the bush planted at the end of August after division will have time to take root before frost.
In September or October it is also possible to transplant and divide the bushes. This is the most optimal and safe period for transplanting a peony, so this procedure is best done in the fall.
However, it should be remembered that the plant should be transplanted no later than thirty days before frost to give it time to take root. A specific date should be selected based on the characteristics of the onset of cold weather in your region.
Recommended
Propagation of strawberries by dividing the bush in August: transplant rules and care

How to propagate strawberries by dividing the bush in August. Advantages and disadvantages of the method. When is the best time to do this? Further care. Common mistakes gardeners make.
Hosta propagation: seeds, dividing the bush, when to spend in autumn or spring at home

Reproduction of hosts - how to sow seeds, division and cuttings, cultivation rules, soil preparation and planting material
Lavender: propagation by cuttings, layering, dividing the bush and seeds

In order to successfully propagate lavender, you should decide in advance on the breeding option and find out all the nuances of this method. Then in this process there will be no difficulties and unpredictable situations.