Topdressing Paeonia's?

[JPB]

I have some Paeonia species in pots of which the buds are above the soil surface. Should I keep it like this or cover them during winter? What topdressing would you advise?

Thanks,
Hans

[Paul T]

Hans,

If that is herbaceous, then they need a certain amount of cold on those buds or they won't flower.  One of the big reasons here that people don't have herbaceous paeonia is that they cover the crowns too deeply and they don't get the cold.

I'll also qualify these statements as I don't know how cold you actually get, and therefore whether you are cold enough that the exposed buds would be damaged.  They certainly don't have any problems with -8 or -9'C on the exposed crown here, but I realise that we're nothing in the greater scheme of cold climates. 

[Lori S.]

For herbaceous peonies (again, if that's what's in question), having the crown an inch and a half* below the soil surface is the ticket to ensure blooming in even the coldest climates.

*Maximum, is what I meant to say.

[JPB]

All my peonies are herbaceous and from Europe. The plants surely will get cold, as I will let them outside with tempteratures of -10C. It will be cold enough for the buds.

Lori, do you mean that the buds will be completely covered? What compost do you suggest? Just the regular free-draining one as on the picture? 

Hans

[Lori S.]

Never having gardened anywhere where it only gets to -10 C, I couldn't say if it is even necessary to cover the growing eyes at all there!  
Here, a thin cover (as I mentioned, 1.5" max) of soil/garden compost completely covering the eyes seems to be the norm.  (Note:  This is for peonies planted out, not in pots.  Survival in pots over the winter is hit and miss here!)

[Diane Clement]

I've always believed it important not to cover the new shoots of paeonias or they are likely to rot.  Although they look vulnerable to attack by frost, slugs and creatures that nibble, somehow they seem to survive.

[Lori S.]

Rot is certainly not a concern here - even botrytis is rare - but in those soggy climates...

[Paul T]

In my -8 to -9'C winters completely uncovered crowns are the best idea.  There is certainly never any damage from the cold. 

[JPB]

Thanks for the replies. I'll leave the crowns uncovered. The climate here is more or less "soggy" with wet winters (yearly rainfall 800 mm) and winter temperatures a few degrees above zero.

Hans

[Paul T]

Hans,

Definitely uncovered then.  Here's hoping that you're cold enough to trigger flowering though.