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werner_stiegler

Itoh Bartzella Disappointment

9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago

I bought a large Bartzella Itoh Peony last year (5 gallon pot), which has grown rapidly. I fertilized with 10-10-10 right as the shoots were coming up, and the plant is now 2' tall and 3' wide. It is a large established plant. YET, there is only a single flower on it. Last year when I bought it, there were 4 flowers on it. The plant is twice the size this year. Am I doing something wrong? Why would such a large plant have only one bloom. It looks very healthy. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Werner (Klavier)

Comments (13)

  • 9 years ago

    It is common to take 3 years to fully establish itself for peony. You could make a mistake to planting it too deeply, but hard to say anything at this point. Location should be as sunny as possible for Bartzella. Please use tulips/bulbs fertilizer with a first lower number in reasonable quantities.

  • 9 years ago

    Does it have more than 6 hours of sun each day?

  • 9 years ago

    I think the issue might be not enough sun. Baltimore gets scorching hot, so I put the plant in a partial shade area, Morning and evening sun only. I will move it after the one bloom is finished.

    Cheers,

    Werner

  • 9 years ago

    Never move it in the middle of spring/summer if you can avoid it. Fall after leaves turn brown is best. Personally I would wait another year before moving it - peonies do not like it at all and you should not expect a lot f flowers in the first year anyway. Keep it far from tree roots as well.

  • 9 years ago

    I moved my TP about a month ago. It had one bloom and thought for sure that I would have lost it. Luckily, it's been raining like crazy and the temps have been cool enough. It looks like the bloom has made it. I got lucky on this one! :-)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Though there were more buds on most my peonies, I had fewer percent of buds and even fewer number of buds make it to bloom this year I think to the late cold snap in April. Patience! Perhaps next year will be better.

  • 9 years ago

    Peonies did not do well for me at all this year. Mature peonies have few blooms, a couple had none. There were buds that never matured. Bartzella bloomed, but had fewer blooms than last year. We had a cold snap, not really late for my area, but after lots of early warm weather, so that is what I'm blaming it on.

  • 9 years ago

    Many people did not have the regular number of buds develop this year. No reason why given that they are from different parts of this country and abroad. Since this is apparently widespread it is not your plants but something outside of your control

  • 9 years ago

    If you're getting a lot of leaf growth and not many blooms it sounds like too much nitrogen in the fertilizer or planting too deeply.

  • 9 years ago

    I wouldn't automatically assume planting depth is a problem unless it's been in place for much longer without blooming. Itohs aren't as susceptible to that herbaceous rule anyway, with their tree peony heritage some growers actually suggest that they be planted deeper. I think maifleur's assessment is correct, leave it where/as it is and let it get established--the blooms will come.

  • 9 years ago

    I do think the lack of bloom is related to the unusual spring weather this year. The one flower is open now. Plant is getting approximately 6 hours of direct sun.

    Cheers,

    Werner

  • 9 years ago

    It was the weather here, -17 below, the buds were there, they just blasted.

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