How to Plant Peonies in Pots

Some peonies have survived for over 100 years.

Peonies are perennial plants that have vertical stems with colorful blooms in every color except blue. They reproduce via underground tubers that grow off of the main root system. Because of this, each peony should be placed into a separate pot. The pots must be located outdoors since peonies require high levels of sunlight. The best time to plant peonies is in the fall, however, you can also plant them in pots in the early spring.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

• 20-inch or larger plant pots
• Gravel
• Bucket
• Potting soil
• Compost
• Hand spade

1. Place a 1-inch layer of gravel into the bottom of a 20-inch or larger diameter plant pot. This is necessary to provide proper drainage for the root system.

2. Fill a bucket with equal parts of potting soil and compost and mix the contents up thoroughly using a hand spade. Place the mixture into the plant pot until it is half full.

3. Insert the roots of the peony plant into the pot and spread them out gently on top of the soil. Fill in the remainder of the pot with soil until it is 2 inches above the top of the root system.

4. Pat the top of the soil gently with your hands to remove any air that is trapped in the soil near the roots.

5. Water the soil in the pot until it runs out the bottom drainage holes.

6. Place the pots in an outdoor location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day.

Tips & Warnings

• Most peony plants only bloom for approximately one week each year.

• The blooms that appear the first spring after planting may not be full size.

• Peonies attract a lot of ants, so place the pots away from the entrances to buildings or treat the plants with a pesticide.