Hi, I have a heavily treed back yard and, even if they were pruned, it would not allow for the amount of light peonies need per day to bloom. I have been trying for the last 60 years to accomplish that and have numerous peonies planted all over my yard to get the light and waiting years for them to become established only to find out they're not blooming because it seems there is not long enough of a period of sun - even though the light changes to dappled later in the day(although, a couple of years ago I met a woman who had a huge area behind a shed on the north side and she had masses of them - almost completely in shade from spring to fall). I've checked for all other reasons why they may not be blooming and it seems that not enough light is the reason. In desperation, I've decided to try growing them in pots and moving the pots around the garden where there is sun. Don't know what else to do. I live in Zone 3 and would appreciate ideas on how to do that and to winter them over(I've read up on that, however, even with suggestions on how to do it, it seems to be hit or miss to get them to survive the winter).

@anyagoro is also gardening in zone 3. She is the best one to give advice.

generally speaking when trying to overwinter things in pots, you should choose plants that are 2 zones warmer than your range. So for example if you live in zone 6 as I do, I would choose a plant cold hardy to zone 4.

Have you tried over wintering the pots in a garage/basement where it doesn't get quite that cold?

Frillylily said: generally speaking when trying to overwinter things in pots, you should choose plants that are 2 zones warmer than your range. So for example if you live in zone 6 as I do, I would choose a plant cold hardy to zone 4. Have you tried over wintering the pots in a garage/basement where it doesn't get quite that cold?

Thank you for your reply. I don't think there are any peonies for zone 1. As for storing the pots in a garage or basement - I don't have a garage and read that basements aren't cold enough(and if they are water pipes would freeze). I do have a shed but can't imagine hauling 10 gallon pots(which I heard in the minimum size to start) in there and wondered if it mattered that the shed has no windows(light) and if that's needed even though the peonies would be dormant. Also, whether the pots need to be inserted in something to insulate them further(like a box of packing peanuts). I have read that pots can be placed in the ground over winter then lifted out in the spring but can't think of doing that for pots that size.

Hi janyss471! to the Forum! There is no way peonies will survive in pots above the ground outdoors during winter in zone 3. Sorry, but it is reality. I am not sure the light is the reason for no blooms in your garden. You told that the woman you met had a lot of peony blooms in very shady area. I wold guess the reason could be soil and root competition. I prepare a square of 3' by 3' and 1.5-2' deep for every peony and cover the ground with weed barrier. Aspen roots still get into the soil where peony roots are but at least during the first couple of years peonies have time to get established and I try to get rid of aspen roots/shoots when I notice them. Peonies are happy to grow in zone 3 but in the ground. Unless you try pots and bury them in the ground for winter.

anyagoro said: Hi janyss471! to the Forum! There is no way peonies will survive in pots above the ground outdoors during winter in zone 3. Sorry, but it is reality. I am not sure the light is the reason for no blooms in your garden. You told that the woman you met had a lot of peony blooms in very shady area. I wold guess the reason could be soil and root competition. I prepare a square of 3' by 3' and 1.5-2' deep for every peony and cover the ground with weed barrier. Aspen roots still get into the soil where peony roots are but at least during the first couple of years peonies have time to get established and I try to get rid of aspen roots/shoots when I notice them. Peonies are happy to grow in zone 3 but in the ground. Unless you try pots and bury them in the ground for winter.

Thank you. So, you're saying, even in a shed or garage, they wouldn't survive in pots? As for other reasons why they may not be blooming, I'm extremely puzzled if it's not the light. It seems that for 99 -percent of the peonies I've ever seen, they've been in the most neglected backyards, poor soil, never watered and they're thriving like crazy. There is no competition with roots and the soil is the same as the neighbours on either side - what we call "gumbo" and their peonies are doing fine however theirs are in full sun. When I originally planted them I used the soil that came with them as well as a general potting soil in the hole.

Maybe you should do a soil test to see why peonies are not thriving in your garden. Perhaps, it is too acidic? Yes, light is important but I think they should at least give you a few blooms in spite of being in some shade. I have peonies growing in partial shade but still produce a few blooms for me though not as floriferous as those planted in full sun. My Red Charm is planted on the north side of my house and in complete shade most of the day and yet it still produces some blooms for me every year.

kousa said: Maybe you should do a soil test to see why peonies are not thriving in your garden. Perhaps, it is too acidic? Yes, light is important but I think they should at least give you a few blooms in spite of being in some shade. I have peonies growing in partial shade but still produce a few blooms for me though not as floriferous as those planted in full sun. My Red Charm is planted on the north side of my house and in complete shade most of the day and yet it still produces some blooms for me every year.

I may have to do that.l The one peony - which I purchased at two - years old and was blooming when I bought it from a nursery - had one bloom the second year and none after that. The soil is the same soil that grew peonies on the north side sixty years ago. When the landscaping changed they were moved to the back yard and refused to grow. As I said, I've been trying to grow them ever since.

If you are sure about there not being enough sun to bloom peonies, putting them in containers does not improve the amount of light. It seems logical that that may be a reason for you to hold out hope that they will flower.
Think about dragging containers around the yard chasing sun that is inadequate to begin with.
Sounds like to me you won't have flowers, just a sore back.

BigBill said: If you are sure about there not being enough sun to bloom peonies, putting them in containers does not improve the amount of light. It seems logical that that may be a reason for you to hold out hope that they will flower.
Think about dragging containers around the yard chasing sun that is inadequate to begin with.
Sounds like to me you won't have flowers, just a sore back.

Actually, I'm willing to do that. Follow the sun around the garden if it will give me peonies that will bloom. That's not the problem, it's wintering them over in pots in zone 3.

It's not that the sun is "inadequate", it's that it doesn't stay long enough where I have peonies and it's the same with the rest of the garden. Oddly enough, I am growing daylilies for the first time in the same conditions despite the fact they require full sun and they're doing very well.

Definitely you can try to grow peonies in pots and move them during the day chasing the sun. If you think it might help of course you should try. Peonies will survive in pots during the winter if they don't freeze, so the temperature in the shed should be around 32F.

The fact that the sun doesn't stay long enough where you need it to, is the definition of inadequate sun. But you know what, it is your back and you are the one who has to drag these plants around.

Why not try the peonies where the day lilies are?

anyagoro said: Definitely you can try to grow peonies in pots and move them during the day chasing the sun. If you think it might help of course you should try. Peonies will survive in pots during the winter if they don't freeze, so the temperature in the shed should be around 32F.

Thank you. I read they need freezing temperatures in order to bloom the next year. Will 32F provide that? Also, does there need to be light? My basement might work for this as I don't heat it and I think the temperature would be around that(might be somewhat higher). What is the highest temperature it can be and still provide the cold peonies need to bloom?

BigBill said: The fact that the sun doesn't stay long enough where you need it to, is the definition of inadequate sun. But you know what, it is your back and you are the one who has to drag these plants around.
Why not try the peonies where the day lilies are?

They are where the daylilies are and the most direct sun they're getting is 2 hrs. The rest is filtered sun.

anyagoro said: Definitely you can try to grow peonies in pots and move them during the day chasing the sun. If you think it might help of course you should try. Peonies will survive in pots during the winter if they don't freeze, so the temperature in the shed should be around 32F.

In anticipation of growing peonies in pots, I bought 5 basic variety double peonies( 2 years old). Not blooming . I would appreciate some suggestions as to whether to keep them in the same pots and try and winter them over then repot to bigger pots next year. Also, what type of potting soil to use.

Well what little I know from reading day lily labels says 6 hours of sun for them to bloom well. It says they will bloom with less sun but with fewer flowers.

BigBill said: Well what little I know from resding day lily rages says 6 hours of sun for them to bloom well. It says they will bloom with less sun but with fewer flowers.

It would be nice if my peonies did the same.

Temperatures just above freezing is enough for peonies to bloom next year. The bigger pots the better. Light potting soil with some compost and maybe perlite.

anyagoro said: Temperatures just above freezing is enough for peonies to bloom next year. The bigger pots the better. Light potting soil with some compost and maybe perlite.

Thank you and thank you for giving me hope that I just may be able to pull this off.

Look at the area your daylilies are in. Peonies can live in a lot of conditions—extremely acidic/alkaline might be challenging, but the only truly bad as in will kill them is full shade and boggy conditions. I'm sure your garden doesn't thaw out a lot during winter but check the area you had them planted in; does it get really wet and stay that way for a long time in early spring? I used to garden in zone 4b (CO at 6,700 fly altitude) and had some peonies that never thrived, finally realized after being nudged in that direction by a member here that my spring runoff for snowmelt sat right on top of that area! It was fine the rest of the year but super boggy when the peony roots were dormant and just waking for the spring and they were rotting instead of growing.
People are actually advised to put dark blooming peonies in part shade to keep full color longer. Even the 2 hours of full sun combined with partial shade should be enough to provide some blooms. I'd do as Anya suggested, clear roots out of a large area. Make sure they're planted so the top of the root is 2" deep—you don't want them shallow in your zone as you're actually pushing it on the cold side for them to survive already. Make sure the spot never gets boggy—damp for a few days after rain or with spring thaw is fine but routinely staying really wet isn't. Good landscape fabric would provide a small amount of insulation as well as keeping weeds down, know lots of people hate it but it probably would help in your climate. Pick a variety that is known to be vigorous like Sarah Bernhardt or Festiva Maxima for the experiment, I wouldn't start with a hybrid but just straight lactiflora that has been around and thriving for ages. See if you can get them to grow well and bloom before trying to extend the season with different types. Good luck!