Have I planted my peony a bit shallow? And other peony related questions

Katsa

Hi all

I planted a peony and wonder if it's a bit shallow? I know you're not supposed to plant them too deep but I'm worried I've gone a bit too far the other way. 

Here's a photo showing how I planted it:



Ive also realised that it doesn't get enough sun where it is so want to move it. I have a pot that's 38cm high and 40cm wide. Will this be too small?

Finally, if I move the peony when's the best time and will it flower next year? I hear they can be a bit delicate that way. 

Thank you so much!

Kate

Loxley

Not too deep, I presume it's not been planted for long? I'd move in autumn with a good spade of soil, without disturbing the roots if possible, and plant in a sunny spot in the ground rather than in a pot. 

Cloggie

Call me the peony whisperer but i found a floundering one in my last garden potted it up, brought it to flower, then brought it with me.  Blow me, I found another here growing under the hedge unsuccessfully so moved it next to its friend.  I worried that I'd transplanted both too shallow but they're both thriving in part shade.  I don't know but I think that overcrowding makes them unhappy. I don't know what time of year any of this happened since I have no records but I would always pick Spring for such an exercise.  Let it burst into life and challenge it at that point. As far as flowering, lets take a step at a time.  Move without death and flowering will happen ...later. Just my take on it.

Fairygirl

They're better in the ground, without doubt, but they need decent drainage, sun, good soil and some food. They can take a year or two to start performing well, and that will depend on the maturity of the plant on planting, and how good the conditions are.

I plant mine a bit proud, as we get very wet weather all year round, and the soil is clay. 
I'd just move it now if it was mine 

Bijdezee

I've had one that has refused to flower for 3 years. Last autumn I moved it to a damper half sun area and planted it very shallow, it was its last chance. It flowered this year.

They are Indeed very temperamental and they don't like being moved. I would leave it as is and see if it flowers for you next year, if not then try another spot. 

Palustris

"They don't like being moved!"

We brought half a dozen bits of root with us when we moved here last March. They have all flowered this year.

Given the right conditions and planted at the right depth they will move without any trouble at all.

Fairygirl

I don't know how this myth started, but it's nonsense. You can move them without any problem, as @Palustris says. 
It's usually when they're planted too deep that they tend to sulk and not flower. 

Bijdezee

I suspect that success in moving them depends on how it's done. If you get a nice big root ball with plenty of earth then I think moving has less impact. 

Katsa

Thanks all. I'll leave it until the autumn and once things have died back, will evaluate its situation. At present it's east facing and partially under a magnolia tree which didn't cast a very big shadow when I planted it, but has taken off recently! It gets sun in the morning, but is mainly in the shade from about 1pm onwards, so I think it's not getting enough sunlight. 

I only planted it earlier this year, so its quite young. The rootball isn't that big either, so I think autumn might be the best time to move. 

Palustris

Just to point out that the ones I moved in March had no soil at all on them. I just grabbed as many of them as I could just before we moved.

Bijdezee

Palustris said:

Just to point out that the ones I moved in March had no soil at all on them. I just grabbed as many of them as I could just before we moved.

Well you were lucky then.. Or maybe it depends on the variety but I've read and seen plenty of experienced horticulturists saying they sulk and won't flower after being moved otherwise I wouldn't have said it would I?