In the last days of spring, peonies bloom. They delight with their lush foliage and showy flowers. Peonies look equally great in a flower bed and in a vase. Just a few branches form a magnificent fragrant bouquet. Peonies are hardy flowers. With a few tricks, they are stored in a cut form for more than one day.
Cut flowers correctly
Ideal for the formation of a bouquet are buds that have blossomed halfway. In this state, the flowers are able to retain freshness longer and delight with an unobtrusive and wonderful aroma. Therefore, in order for the bouquet to stand for several days, it is necessary to cut peonies that have not fully blossomed. Otherwise, they will fall off quickly, although they look great in a vase.
Besides:
- The best time to cut peonies is early morning or evening. It is during this period of the day that the air is cooler, the sun's rays are moderate. In the flowers plucked during the day, there is almost no moisture, and it will not work to admire them for a long time: the petals will begin to fall off almost immediately.
- We do not cut the stem at the root. It is necessary to leave at least two leaves on that part of it that remains on the bushes. This will help the plant to receive moisture and fully develop after the cutting procedure.
- Use large sharp scissors or garden pruners. In no case do we tear off the branches manually: the peonies will be seriously damaged and quickly fade. In addition, you can accidentally pull out part of the bush with the root and harm the growing flower.
- Cut the stems at an angle. The larger it is, the longer the peonies will not fade.
At least a week in the house it will be possible to inhale the aroma of fresh flowers.
Keeping cut peonies in a vase
Before placing flowers in a vase, it is advisable to keep them cool and dark for several hours. The ideal option is to lower the bouquet into a bathtub filled with water at room temperature. Flowers will absorb moisture and adapt after being cut from the bush.
Preparing a vase:
- Vessels of darkish tones are more suitable for peonies. The water stays fresh longer.
- Rinse the vase with a solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the stems from the penetration of harmful microorganisms and early decay.
Peonies, like all plants, love rainwater the most. But a simple settled one will also work.
We pour enough water so that the peony stems can be half immersed in it.
Before putting flowers in a vase, do the following:
- We place each branch of the peony individually under a stream of running water and carefully cut the stem obliquely by a few millimeters.
- With a thin blade of a knife, we make a vertical incision about 4–5 cm long. After this procedure, the flowers will be able to absorb the liquid more intensively.
- Carefully remove those leaves that will be buried in water. Otherwise, they will just start to rot.
- We examine peonies and remove damaged and broken leaves.
We place the bouquet in that part of the room where the light is diffused. For flowers, temperatures up to 22 degrees are suitable. They, like a person, should be comfortable - neither hot nor cold. Peonies will delight with their fresh look and aroma for up to a week.
Top dressing for peonies
In order for the flowers to last a week or more, they need to be fed - to prepare a kind of elixir of youth:
- Mix a tablespoon (tablespoon) of sugar or the same amount of vinegar with one liter of water. If there is less liquid, we make simple calculations and reduce the amount of added ingredients.
- We dilute boric acid in water (200 ml per 1 liter).
You can add two drops of camphor alcohol or a tablet of acetylsalicylic acid to the liquid. These “seasonings” will disinfect the water and reduce the negative impact of microorganisms. Peonies are extremely sensitive to them, so such supplements are appropriate.
Features of caring for cut peonies
It must be remembered that peonies:
- do not tolerate drafts;
- wither faster if they are close to heat sources;
- they are not friendly with fruits, so you can’t put a bouquet next to them.
- At night, the buds should be covered with light paper or a large plastic bag.
- Do not add other flowers to a bouquet with peonies. This will not only kill the wonderful aroma, but also greatly shorten their life. But there are exceptions: peonies are perfectly combined with lotus, orchids, freesias.
- Water in a vase with peonies should be changed daily. Before pouring a new one, the container should be thoroughly rinsed.
- If yellow leaves appear on the stem, they must be removed immediately. This also applies to flowers that withered before the rest. It's a pity, but they will have to be thrown away. If this is not done, all flowers will fade earlier.
When the buds do not bloom for a long time, they can be helped. Add some alcohol to the vase or dip the flower heads in hot water. A small miracle will happen: the bud will bloom in a few minutes.
Cut peonies are pleasing to the eye, filling the house with a pleasant and relaxing aroma. With proper care, flowers will last at least a week in a vase.
Let's continue talking about peonies, about these romantic flowers that excite our imagination so much with their unusually bright colors and enchanting aroma.
I always look forward to peonies blooming, because when on a warm sunny day you approach a huge flowering bush, inhale this wonderful aroma, touch fragile and delicate silk petals, you understand how beautiful our life is and all the troubles that happen to us - it's just nonsense.
In we got acquainted with the history of peonies, with their healing properties, with biological characteristics and with a variety of varieties.
Today we will talk about how to properly grow peonies, care for them, about the secrets of the lush flowering of peonies.
Peonies are very popular among flower growers not only because of their beauty, but also because they are able to easily, and can also grow in one place for a long time.
And if the plant is planted correctly and in the future to devote at least a little time to it, then the peony will delight us with its lush flowering for many, many years.
Site selection and soil cuisine
The decorativeness of peonies, their viability and longevity depend on how correctly we choose a place for planting peonies. After all, peonies do not particularly like transplants, and can “live” in the same flower bed for decades.
Therefore, the place for it must be chosen especially carefully so as not to disturb the plant once again.
With regard to the landing site, the peony is very capricious, and if he does not like it, then flowering can not wait. And no matter how carefully you take care of it (fertilizing, watering, loosening), the peony will not bloom. So we quickly dig out our capricious handsome man and transplant him to another place.
It is best that it be an open, sunny place, but at the same time, protected from strong and cold winds.
Peonies do not like damp wetlands, so if in the place where you planned to plant them groundwater comes close to the soil surface, then it is worth planting plants on raised bulk beds.
It is not recommended to plant peonies closer than 2 m from buildings, because this creates very unfavorable conditions for their growth: in spring and autumn, increased soil moisture due to drops from the roof; and in summer, overheating of plants is possible due to the fact that the walls radiate heat.
It is also undesirable to plant peonies close to trees and shrubs, since shade and a constant lack of water and nutrients will prevent them from blooming luxuriantly.
I told you, dear readers, about the general recommendations for planting peonies, but what wishes your plant will have will need to be verified in practice.
Here, for example, at my neighbor's dacha, peonies grow beautifully and bloom magnificently near the very wall of the house.
Although peonies can grow on all types of garden soil, they will develop in different ways.
So, for example, on sandy soil they have more stems, leaves and buds of renewal on rhizomes, while the stems grow thin, the leaves and flowers are not large.
If your soil is clayey, then the plants develop slowly: the number of stems does not increase so quickly and, accordingly, peonies multiply more slowly, but the stems grow thick, the flowers are very large and the leaves are powerful.
It is believed that loamy, nutrient-rich soils, well-drained, but sufficiently water-intensive soils are best suited for peonies, since such powerful plants with large leaves simply need water throughout the growing season.
The peony does not like to grow on peat soils, due to the fact that the plant lacks moisture on them, then its excess, then overheating, then hypothermia - no constancy.
In addition, the increased acidity of this soil can cause such a dangerous disease as gray rot.
Therefore, if you have such soil, then before planting it is simply necessary to add ash, sand, bone meal, and organic fertilizers to it, thereby reducing its acidity.
Sandy loamy soil can also be improved by adding some clay and peat and, of course, organic fertilizers.
When to plant?
The time for planting peonies largely depends on the growing area, as well as on what kind of planting material you have.
These can be parts of an old rhizome obtained by dividing it (delenki), or young plants purchased in nurseries.
Delenki are best planted from mid-August to mid-(late) September, since during this period the peony has already sufficiently formed buds of renewal on the rhizome, but the formation of small suction roots has not yet begun.
If the summer was dry, then the renewal buds may be delayed in their development, and then the planting time can be postponed by 1-2 weeks.
It is important to remember that a peony needs 6 weeks for good rooting.
Of course, if the weather is warm for a long time, then you can start planting peonies in October, but it’s better not to risk it.
A plant planted in late autumn needs special care, as it will go unrooted in winter. Therefore, it must be properly covered for the winter.
First, we sprinkle the roots with peat or loose earth with a layer of 10-15 cm, and then additionally cover the top with foliage or spruce branches. Better, of course, spruce branches, if you have one.
In the spring, covered in this way, late plantings must be unraveled and watered well if the weather is dry.
The good rooting of such a peony and its further development will largely depend on the amount of moisture received.
In the spring, I strongly do not recommend planting and transplanting peonies. Because the buds of renewal in peonies begin to grow very early, when the soil has not yet thawed, and by the time it is possible to transplant and divide the bush, the sprouts can already grow up to 10-15 cm.
And since they are very delicate and fragile, during the planting process there is a high probability that the sprouts will break, bend.
Transplanted, and especially peony bushes divided in spring, as a rule, lag behind in development from bushes planted in autumn for a whole year, and under adverse weather conditions, the plant may die.
But in the spring it is good to plant young peonies bought in nurseries or specialized stores, which, with such a planting, will have time to acclimatize well and grow up before winter.
Planting hole preparation
Peonies have a rather powerful root system that grows deep and wide, so it is necessary to prepare a planting hole no less than 60-70 cm in diameter and 70 cm deep.
If we dig a hole not deep enough, then the roots of the peony, having reached solid ground, will stop their growth.
Be sure to put drainage at the bottom of the landing pit. It can be gravel, coarse sand or broken brick.
Then we fill the lower part of the pit with an earth mixture, which consists of the top layer of earth, rotted manure, compost and peat, it is also good to add 150-200 g of superphosphate or 300-400 g of bone meal or ash there, and if your soil is acidic, then it’s not bad to pour 200-400 g of crushed slaked lime as well.
The mixture is thoroughly mixed and filled with water. We fill the upper part of the pit with good garden soil without adding any fertilizers, and we will plant the plant in it.
If you could not do this and prepare the pit right before planting the peonies, then the soil must be lightly tamped so that it does not settle after planting, and then the planted plant may eventually not be at the depth that is required, which will adversely affect the growth of the plant .
Planting material preparation
The best divisions for planting are those that have 3-5 renewal buds and the same number of roots.
You may have a question, why should there be the same number of buds and roots?
The thing is that if there are a lot of buds in the delenka, and few roots, then in the spring the stems that have grown from these buds will not have enough food. After all, until new roots have formed, a young plant receives nutrients from old roots.
If it turns out the other way around - few buds and many roots, then the plant in the first year (and the next) may not develop new buds, but be content with the existing ones, which will undoubtedly affect the flowering of the bush.
So I advise you to pay attention to the fact that on the delenki that you are going to plant, the number of renewal buds and roots is the same.
Before planting, we carefully examine the planting material and very carefully cut off all rotten and damaged tissues to healthy parts.
Then, for disinfection, it is worth holding the roots in a solution of potassium permanganate (7-10 g per 10 liters of water) or copper sulfate (100 g per 10 liters of water) and sprinkle the wounds with crushed charcoal.
Rooting can also be improved using the following procedure: we dip the roots into a clay mash, then slightly dry and plant.
We make the chatterbox in this way: in 10 liters of water we dissolve 60 g of copper sulfate, 2 tablets of heteroauxin and 5 kg of clay, and you can also add 500 g of wood ash.
Another plus of such processing is that planting material can be stored much longer, and it can also be sent by mail.
We plant correctly
Well, we have prepared the landing pit, the planting material too, so it's time to start planting.
This is a very important stage in the cultivation of peonies, because the further development of our young plant, its lifespan and, of course, the splendor of flowering depends on how correctly we plant it.
We plant the peony in the upper part of the planting hole we prepared, which is filled with garden soil.
Particular attention should be paid to the planting depth: renewal buds should be at a depth of no more than 3-5 cm on loamy soils, and on light sandy loamy soils - 5-7 cm.
And such a deepening of the buds must be maintained throughout the life of the bushes, and then our peonies will delight us with their abundant flowering for a long time.
And if the landing is shallow, then in the spring they may suffer from late frosts, in the summer - from overheating, and in a winter with little snow - from frost. And, as a result, some of the buds may die, then we will not get good flowering.
If we plant peonies too deep, for example, the uppermost bud will be at a depth of 15-20 cm, then we will never see the flowering of the bushes, although they will look completely healthy.
Having set the planting material to the depth we need, we fill it with fertile soil, but do not tamp it down so as not to accidentally damage the buds and roots, but gently squeeze it with our hands, eliminating voids.
Then we water abundantly, add more earth, if necessary, and mulch the plantings.
Peony bushes grow quite quickly, so they should be planted at a distance of at least 90-100 cm from each other.
This will further facilitate the processing of the bushes, ensure good air circulation between them, which can prevent the appearance and spread of fungal diseases.
Basic care for peonies
The main care for peonies is to remove weeds, water, loosen, fertilize and protect against diseases.
loosening. It is necessary to loosen the soil around the bushes carefully: directly at the bush to a depth of no more than 5-7 cm, and at a distance of 20-25 cm from it, you can loosen it already deeper - by 10-15 cm.
If we loosen regularly, then a well-aerated mulch layer will soon form, which will prevent the evaporation of moisture from the lower layers of the soil.
In this regard, it will be possible to reduce the frequency of watering in dry weather. Loosening also helps in successful weed control.
And I also want to remind you that it is necessary to prevent the formation of a crust, for this it is necessary to loosen the soil after each rain and heavy watering.
Watering. After planting, peonies really need regular watering (especially if the autumn is dry), as watering speeds up rooting.
In the future, they can be watered infrequently, but plentifully, pouring 3-4 buckets under an adult plant, about once every 8-10 days.
Peonies really need watering in spring and early summer, because during this period there is a rapid growth of bushes and the formation of flowers, as well as in mid-July - August, when the renewal buds are laid.
Watering is best in the grooves, which are made at a distance of 20-25 cm from the bush.
If the bushes are already old, strongly overgrown, then the distance to the groove must be increased so that water can flow into the zone of young active roots.
Although watering the plant in the grooves is allowed at any time of the day, it is still better in the evening, since at this time most of the water is absorbed into the soil and does not evaporate.
On very hot days, you can additionally carry out surface watering of the soil under the bushes from watering cans, trying not to fall on the leaves (in order to avoid the appearance of fungal diseases), and especially on the flowers, in order to prevent them from lodging.
We feed. If we properly prepared the soil when planting peonies and filled the planting pits with nutrients enough, then the first two years the young bushes develop perfectly without root dressing.
In the future, peonies already require regular root feeding.
First feeding it is desirable to carry out even on melted snow or immediately after its descent. At this time, the plant needs nitrogen-potassium fertilizers the most: 10-15 g of nitrogen and 10-20 g of potassium per bush.
You can also make a solution of mineral fertilizers (dissolve 50-70 g of a flower mixture in 1 bucket of water) and add one bucket under a bush.
Do not forget that it is necessary to fertilize under the plants only after rain or heavy watering.
In dry soil, fertilizers (even in liquid, even in dry form) are categorically not recommended to be applied, since the plant may die.
Second time it is worth feeding the peonies during the budding period and we will need: 10-15 g of nitrogen, 15-20 g of phosphorus and 10-15 g of potassium per bush.
Third time we will feed the plants two weeks after flowering during the budding period.
Here we need a mixture in the following composition: 15-20 g of phosphorus and 10-15 g of potassium.
Keep a close eye on the rate of fertilizer application, as excessive amounts of fertilizer (especially nitrogen) can lead to the fact that only the leaves will grow well, and bud formation will decrease.
It also reduces the resistance of plants to diseases.
It is also very good to feed peonies with a solution of mullein or bird droppings with mineral fertilizers added to it.
You can prepare such a nutrient solution as follows: 1 bucket of fresh cow manure is diluted in a barrel in 5-6 buckets of water (bird droppings in 25 buckets) and, placing it in a sunny place, leave for 10-15 days for fermentation.
After fermentation, add 0.5 kg of wood ash, 200-300 g of superphosphate to the barrel and mix well.
Before feeding, this nutrient solution must be diluted 2 times with water, and the solution with bird droppings - 3 times.
Help to bloom
In the first year after planting (and preferably in the second), you should not allow the peony to bloom, as it will weaken the plant and prevent the root system from fully developing.
Therefore, the buds formed at this time should be removed so that all nutrients are directed to the general development of the plant, and not to flowering.
So prepare mentally for the fact that you will see the first flowers on a newly planted peony only in the third year, and real full-fledged flowering with the size and color of flowers characteristic of the variety will only be in the fifth year.
If you want to get large top flowers, then the side buds must be removed when they reach the size of a pea.
If you prefer the abundance of flowers on the bush and its long flowering, then the side buds should not be removed.
Faded peonies must be immediately removed from the stem, cutting them off to the first well-developed leaf and leaving a very small stump.
Otherwise, falling petals, falling on the leaves, can provoke a disease with gray rot, especially in rainy weather.
During the flowering period, peony bushes with large, heavy flowers need supports, since, even with powerful stems, they inevitably begin to lean towards the ground.
And with strong winds and precipitation, the flowers, leaning almost to the ground, become dirty and lose their decorative effect.
Supports are best placed before flowering.
Preparing for winter
For the winter, we cut off the entire aerial part of the plant to ground level. But we do this only after the first strong frosts, when the stalks of pions fall down.
Up to this point, there is still an outflow of nutrients from the leaves and stems to the storage roots.
Therefore, early pruning will cause great harm to the plant.
Some flower growers explain the early cutting of the stems by the fact that the leaves have dried up, but the leaves dry out only on diseased plants, and if it is healthy, then the leaves remain fresh and beautiful until the frost.
After we cut off the aerial part, it is worth paying attention to whether the buds at the base of the shoots are exposed.
If this happens, then you need to spud the bushes by 7-10 cm.
Usually peonies are not covered for the winter. The exception is newly planted plants, it is recommended to cover them with peat or humus with a layer of 10-15 cm. In early spring, before germination, we remove this covering layer.
Basic Mistakes
Sometimes peonies bloom poorly, and sometimes they don’t even bloom at all, although it would seem that the bushes look healthy.
What mistakes did we make when growing peonies?
And they can be as follows:
1. The landing site was not chosen correctly - too shady, close to buildings, trees and shrubs, not wet enough or, conversely, too wet (no drainage).
2. Planting is too deep or too shallow.
3. The peony was recently planted and the planting material was divided very finely.
4. The peony bush is already old and requires transplantation and division.
5. Kidneys were damaged by late spring frosts.
6. Increased acidity of the soil.
7. Excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizers.
8. Lack of nutrition and moisture during the period when the formation of renewal buds is underway.
9. The leaves were cut very early in the fall (before they lodging).
As you can see, dear readers, it is not so difficult to take care of peonies: water them in time, weed weeds, loosen the soil and feed them.
And they, in turn, will give us a lot of pleasure during their flowering, and not only to us, but to all those who pass by our gardens will also admire this fantastic beauty.
See you soon, dear readers!
What bride doesn't love peonies?! This is a beautiful, lush flower, and also one of my favorites. And the Aroma ... the aroma that is emitted is crazy!
Peonies are a symbol of happiness and prosperity, which is why they are an ideal choice for a wedding bouquet or holiday decoration. Peonies are loved by brides all over the world because of their lush buds, they are a great addition to any bouquets, as well as for wedding table decorations. Peony shades such as pink, white, coral make a peony wedding bouquet truly feminine.
If you mix several peonies together with roses or ranunculus in one bouquet, it will turn out great! If you have some traditional, modest idea of a wedding, then the peony is also your choice. A wedding bouquet of peonies in white or pale pink looks very beautiful, and at the same time modest. Peony is also suitable for lush exotic compositions. A bouquet of peonies looks especially beautiful in coral color.
I would like to note that peonies have a rather large bud, so they will need quite a bit for a bouquet, which will significantly save your budget, while not affecting the splendor of the bouquet.
The peony blooming season is May - July, it is at this time that a bouquet of peonies will cost you the cheapest. But in Holland, peonies are available almost all year round, however, they will cost more, and the freshness of the flowers will be worse. If your wedding falls outside the peony season, don't worry, they can be replaced with flowers that are very similar and have the same virtues. We will definitely offer you a choice of wedding bouquets from other, the same lush flowers, in order to reduce the price of your bouquet, while practically not changing its appearance.
Therefore, always discuss your budget with us, then we will be able to offer you the most optimal wedding bouquet!
Please note that in more detail with our bouquets, you can find in the gallery
How to care for peonies?
Those who are familiar with peonies know that it is best to purchase them when they are in bud, so you can be sure that you have bought "fresh" flowers! Peony buds open very quickly and the temperature in the room affects the speed of opening: the warmer, the faster the peony will open.
What should you do when you bring home:
1. Fill a clean vase 3/4 full with room temperature water.
2. With a sharp knife, cut the stem diagonally a couple of centimeters and place it in the water. It is highly recommended to remove all leaves that fall below the waterline.
3. Wash the vase and change the water while trimming the stem, we suggest at least every 2-3 days to prolong the life of the flowers.
Tricks that will speed up the blooming of peonies:
How to open peonies quickly? This is a question we are asked by many, we hear it at every turn! Opened peonies are used to decorate weddings, for solemn events.
Our advice:
Remove leaves. If you want to leave them, then you can only those that are above the waterline, in no case should the leaves come into contact with water! But if you don't need the leaves, take them all off.
Fill the vase with some warm (not hot) water. The more water, the faster the flower will open.
Place the vase in a warm but not hot room. Heat will help speed up the opening process, but make sure the flower vase is out of direct sunlight and heaters.
If the buds have started to open, but you still need to speed up the process to open more, you can open it very carefully and gently with your fingers. Slightly push back the outer green petals and the outer petals. We recommend these steps if you need to open peony buds quickly. Otherwise, it's best to just let them open naturally!
How to slow down the process of blooming peonies in a bouquet:
If you haven't processed the peonies yet and it's not a bunch of peonies, just wrap them in paper and put them in the fridge. Make sure that there is no moisture, and there are no fruits or vegetables nearby, they release ethylene, which will speed up the aging process of peonies.
Put the bouquet in water, don't worry. You can still slow down the peonies opening process: just put the whole vase in the refrigerator. Making sure to keep them away from fruits and vegetables.
If you do not have the opportunity to put the bouquet in the refrigerator, then keep it in a cold and dark room. It could be a bathroom or even a garage. Just make sure it's not so cold there so the flowers don't freeze!
We hope these tips help you.
DeFlor is a decora & floristiki studio.
Can't figure out why peonies won't bloom? You are most likely taking care of them incorrectly.
The nuances of collecting flowers
Beautiful fragrant peonies are good because they can decorate any interior. It is rather difficult to answer the question of how much peonies cost. It all depends on the variety and size of the bouquet. But if you took care to land these "beauties" in your country house, then their price will be a penny.
Country flowers, as in the photo, are no worse than purchased
In any case, in order for these luxurious flowers to please the eye for as long as possible, you need to take good care of them. And you should start with the right cutting.
If you want peonies to stand longer, do not be lazy and get up early in the morning. This is the ideal time for cutting plants - the buds have not yet fully blossomed, and the midday heat has not dried them out.
And also fresh peonies can be cut after sunset, in the evening. During the night, the plants will have time to adapt to home conditions.
In addition, consider a few more nuances:
| Illustration | Peony collection rules |
| Which buds to cut?
To make the flowers last as long as possible, cut off the buds that are not fully open, which have only opened a little.
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| Weather.
Do not cut flowers when it rains. Due to the falling water drops, they will begin to darken quite quickly. |
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| Required Tools.
It is most convenient to cut flowers with a garden pruner or large scissors. |
Features of caring for peonies
So, the flowers are collected. This is just the beginning of the matter, then you should subject them to preliminary preparation and only after that put them in a vase.
In order for peonies to stand for as long as possible, they must be properly prepared and stored.
Preparatory procedures
Before you put flowers in a vase, you need to carry out a few simple but very important manipulations:
- "Acclimatization". After you have brought the flowers into the house, they should be kept in a dark, cool place. Better yet, dip into a full bathtub filled with room temperature water.
- Preparing water and vases. While the greenery in the bathroom is filled with moisture, you should choose a vase. For these colors, dark glass vessels that do not transmit light are best suited. Before use, rinse it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Store flowers in a dark opaque vase
As for water, rain or melt water will be ideal. But I understand that this is not always at hand, so it can be replaced with the usual settled one.
- pruning. Before you put the bouquet in a vase, you need to cut each stem at as much angle as possible. It is best to perform this procedure under a stream of cold water. So the plant will be able to absorb as much moisture as possible.
To help the plant absorb moisture better, cut the stems at an angle.
- Removing leaves. From those parts of the stems that will be placed in the water, tear off the leaves. This will prevent them from rotting in the vase.
- Location selection. A vase with peonies should be placed in a place where diffused light falls.
Remove the leaves from the part of the stem that will be in the water, so you prevent them from rotting.
Five storage rules
When all the preparatory procedures are over, the question arises of how to extend the life of flowers in a vase. This is not so difficult to do, the main thing is to follow a few simple rules.
| Image | Recommendations |
| Rule 1. No drafts.
Cut peonies in a vase simply do not tolerate drafts, and fade from such exposure many times faster. |
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| Rule 2. Cover the buds at night.
Use special paper or a regular plastic bag for this. Such manipulation will preserve the delicious aroma of plants. |
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| Rule 3. Avoid unpleasant "neighborhood".
When composing a bouquet with your own hands, remember that there are a number of flowers (including lilies of the valley, carnations, roses, lilies, chrysanthemums and callas) that should not be placed next to peonies. |
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| Rule 4. Change the water regularly.
This must be done daily, each time thoroughly washing the vase. |
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| Rule 5. Remove damaged leaves.
If you notice yellowed leaves or wilted buds in a vase, immediately remove them from the bouquet. |
To open cut peonies, dip them buds down in hot water, or add a small amount of alcohol to the vase.
Peonies can successfully coexist with hydrangea, orchid, freesia or lotus
top dressing
Proper care of any flowers is difficult to imagine without additional feeding. I share the most effective recipes.
| Image | Instruction |
| Sugar and vinegar
For every liter of water, add a spoonful of vinegar and sugar. These products will increase plant resistance. |
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| Boric acid
Dilute 200 ml of the product in water for plants. In such a liquid, they will stand much longer. |
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| Aspirin
Add one tablet to water. It will disinfect the environment and protect the plant from negative influences. |
Summarizing
Peonies are famous for their aesthetic qualities, so many housewives tend to decorate the interior decorations of their homes with them.
However, the life of such a bouquet is often calculated not even in weeks, but only in days.
How to extend the life of a bouquet in a vase, how to keep their aroma and freshness longer, you will learn in this article.
Trimming according to the rules
Before you learn how to keep the freshness of cut peonies in a vase longer, you should deal with the issue of their correct. In order to please your eye for as long as possible, you should cut them in the early morning, before the sun begins to warm in full force.
Remember that if you pick flowers during the day, most of the moisture has already evaporated from them and it is unlikely that they will stand in a vase for a long time. You can also cut in the evening, then over the coming night the plants will be able to get used to the temperature of the room. If you intend to transport yours, then immediately after cutting, it is worth wrapping them in paper and placing them in the refrigerator for at least a few hours, this will allow them to keep their fresh and presentable appearance longer without being placed in water.
In order for the flowers to please you with their appearance for as long as possible, it is worth cutting off those buds that have not yet fully blossomed and are only slightly colored. 
The cutting procedure is recommended to be carried out using or at a slight angle in relation to the stem.
Before getting into the vase
Before placing your bouquet in a vase, it is worth holding it in a dark and cool place for at least a few hours. The best option would be to fill a bathtub or a large basin with water at a temperature of approximately 20-25 ° C and lower the bouquet into it. This procedure is designed to give the flowers the opportunity to absorb moisture, go through the process of acclimatization after the conditions of the street. 
Before proceeding with the process of placing peonies in a vase, it is worth performing the following manipulations:
vase requirements
For peonies, vases painted in dark colors are best suited. In such vases, the processes of decay, as a rule, are less pronounced. It is necessary that the size of the vase is at least half the length of the stem, and even ¾ of the length is better. The vase must be perfectly clean to prevent decay, to which these flowers are very susceptible. Before using it, you can rinse the vase with a solution of potassium permanganate. 
Top dressing flowers
Although the flowers in a vase are devoid of a root system, it will not be superfluous to make a little top dressing to preserve their well-behaved appearance. However, keep in mind that these top dressings are significantly different from the traditional ones adopted in gardening, as they are aimed at keeping cut peonies in a vase at home, and not at improving their growth and development processes.
For top dressing, you can use:
Important! Peonies are plants that do not tolerate excessive bacterial load, so disinfection is one of the most necessary measures.
We change the water
The ideal water that is suitable for these flowers is melted water or rainwater. However, not everyone is able to pamper their bouquets in a similar way, so you can use plain settled water quite well. To keep peonies longer in a vase, you need to change the water daily and wash it thoroughly every day.
We monitor the temperature
Cut peonies cannot stand both too cold and too hot temperatures. However, if you want your flowers to open as soon as possible, then you can dip them for a short time in a small container of hot water, then the buds will open within a few minutes. 
Important! If you intend to preserve the beauty of your bouquet for as long as possible, then wrap the peonies in wrapping paper overnight and place them in the freezer, after drying the stems well from the remaining water.
You should not leave a vase with peonies close to a heat source, as constant exposure to elevated temperatures can shorten their life. Also, do not put a vase with these flowers near fruits, peonies do not tolerate such a neighborhood.
