Peonies from your own garden also make the gardener's heart beat faster in the vase. We show what to look out for with peonies in a vase.
The idea is interesting and the implementation is simple: why not bring the blossoms of the peonies (Paeonia) into your own house so that you can enjoy them there as well as inside Garden. In this article we explain how the requirements of the peony change as a cut flower in the vase.
Peonies for the vase
The window of opportunity for a farmer's peony in a vase can be very tight. After a day, the flower will already emerge from the bud, and after another three days the fallen petals will wet the table. The lactiflora peonies and some modern hybrids, on the other hand, shine with their shelf life of 10 to 14 days. Popular cut varieties are also various Paeonia lactiflora varieties such as 'Lady Alexandra Duff' with its semi-double to double white-soft pink flower, 'Sarah Bernardt' with a double bright pink flower, 'Karl Rosenfield ' with a double crimson red flower, 'Madame Claude Tain' with a double pure white flower and 'Jan van Leeuwen' with an open white flower with a golden Japanese style stamen.
When to cut peonies for the vase?
The peonies should grow for three to four years before the stems are cut off for the vase. At this point, too, only two to three stems should be removed and no more than a third of the shoots should be cut off. The reason is that peonies need their foliage for nutrition. The flower buds determine the exact time for cutting the stems. If these are still closed and green, it is better to leave them alone. Cutting them off at this stage can result in the buds not opening at all. However, as soon as the buds are brightly colored and begin to open, the promising harvest can begin and the peonies can be cut off for the vase.
Pruning peonies how deep for the vase?
Peonies are placed in the vase with a stem that is about 20 cm long. The vases should not be too shallow, as very short stems increase the risk that the flowers will unfortunately not bloom at all. It is also advisable to leave two to three leaves on the stem in addition to the flower bud so that the plant can still photosynthesize and absorb nutrients from the vase fertilizer.
Skillfully cut peonies
Any pruning work on the peony must be carried out at an angle and with a sharp knife or sharp scissors. If frayed tissue is visible on the cut - which can happen with a blunt knife - it should be cut off cleanly just above it. The cut surfaces of the stems should be as large and slanted as possible so that the peonies can absorb enough water.
Peonies in the vase: caring for and changing the water
Peony stems are very sensitive to pressure, so it is best not to tie them. Long stems in a shallow vase may snap and wilt under the weight of the flower. Therefore, the slightly higher vase is placed in a bright place, which experiences little draught. This is because wind swirls and carries away the plant's transpiration moisture more quickly, and in this case the peony expends more water to create new cooling transpiration moisture. In addition, peonies are very thirsty, so the water level should be checked and changed at least every other day. Regularly changing the water generally serves to prevent too many bacteria from forming in the water, which can impair the water absorption of the stems.
Tip: The right substrate is crucial for your peonies to bloom beautifully. We recommend our peat-free Plantura organic potting soil, which provides your plants with optimal care for lush flowers.