In my 2nd year of germinating tree Peonies and now have 2 seedlings about 3 inches high, each with one set of small leaves. It’s September 19th and am wondering what will happen to them this year? As so young, will they still lose the leaves they have and survive kept indoors, or will they keep these and stay as they are for a while until they’re outside at this time next year? Unsure what to expect. Any advice/help from anyone gladly received. Many thanks, Brian.
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Hi, hello Khurtekant, thanks. I suppose I’m concerned because the seedlings only have their 1st, very thin stem – one’s been out about 2 months (4 inches tall), the other only in the last two weeks and is only 2 inches tall. They seem too delicate to be put outside when we had temperatures down to -10° last winter.
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That’s young growth of course. That will probably be more prone to frost. Then it’s best to keep it inside, it will remain green for a longer time and the stem will slowly have time to become somewhat woody. Eventually the leaves will fall of, but as it has only started growing lately, it will be several months still. Then you’d better put it somewhere where it can receive a few months of cold (two to three months). After that, which will be in Spring, you can grow it outside where it can adapt to natural circumstances. It can normally take that low temperature of -10°C. It depends somewhat on the species or group of hybrids (rockii cultivars can take lower temperatures for example than usual suffruticosa cultivars), but that -10 should comprise no problem for either when the woody stems have matured enough. And even when above ground growth freezes, it will normally send up a new shoot, although there’s less chance of a flower then. Of course with the small seedlings you currently have, you’re still several years away from a truly blooming plant.
Hello @brianrayment . I’m not completely sure I understand your question. But what will happen to your peony seedling is quite clear. It will lose its leaves soon and after Winter it will grow again. As they are tree peonies, the stem will remain. Keeping them inside is of no real use, it will shed the foliage later, but the plants need a cold Winter to start growing again in Spring.