Peony - Blooming Issues

[LateBloomer]

Hi there!

I've had an issue this season with my peony plant. It looks healthy and fine, even as the buds starts to show color. Then when blooming, the flower opens very unevenly, has develops brown areas on it, and generally doesn't look healthy. This has happened to 4/6 of my buds. For the remaining two, one bud started looking a little decayed before blooming and another just looks brown.

My best guess is the dreaded botrytis blight, but I'm a little unsure because the leaves and stems look perfectly fine. I would appreciate any thoughts!

 

[big rockpile]

Did it rain on them?

big rockpile

 

[LateBloomer]

Yes, we had some rain earlier this year! Though we did try to keep them under a more covered area.

 

[big rockpile]

Rain hit mine while blooming and couple freezes so not sure but they are done.

big rockpile

 

[Tetters]

Bud blast on peonies can be the result of Botrytis, but not always. Sometimes the cause can be dry conditions when under watered, Too little potassium in the soil, or not sufficient nutrition. These plants do love the sunshine. The good news is that even if your plants suffer bud blast, you may lose the flowers this year, but you might not lose the plants They usually live for around 20 years.

 

[big rockpile]

I have some but I'm thinking of splitting them up and some Hostus I have.

big rockpile

 

[Tetters]

Well don't split them until the autumn - (oh yes, you don't have autumn do you - I mean fall)
As for Hostas, I was given a huge clump of those once, and had to get a panel saw to them and saw them up...... not the easiest job in the garden that day! It was like sawing through house bricks

 

[big rockpile]

Yelp got Fall and Winter, kind of.

Yea I was going to wait. I'm also wanting to move my Blueberries and take cuttings and make more found out it takes 4 months to make root.

Now have 3 Banana Trees and a Pineapple. Oh and a Palm Tree.

big rockpile

 

[LateBloomer]

Thanks for all the replies on this one! Where I live very, very rarely falls below 40 degrees, so it's probably not a freeze issue and more likely one of the issues Tetters mentioned. Guess I will have to wait until next year to see if it's just a temporary problem!

 

[Tetters]

Good luck. The one thing you can do now is keep them moist and fed - and clear of debris.