There are several reasons that peonies may fail to bloom:
1. Crown (where the stems meet the roots) buried at wrong depth: Peonies that are planted too deep or too shallow often fail to bloom.
2. Immature transplants: Peony roots that have been divided and transplanted usually fail to flower for at least 2 years. If the divisions were extremely small, the plants may not flower for as long as 5 years.
3. Crowded plantings: Old, established peony clumps eventually become overcrowded and stop producing flowers.
4. Too much shade: Peonies stop blooming when they are heavily shaded by trees, tall shrubs, or buildings.
5. Lack of fertilization: Peonies that are not being fed enough will fail to bloom.
The numbers below correspond to the numbered sections in the analysis.
1. Carefully dig up and reset the crown so that the eyes are 1½ to 2 inches below the soil surface.
2. With time, the young plants will mature and start flowering.
3. Peonies usually need to be divided after 6 to 10 years, or any time after that when flower production starts to drop off. Dig up and divide old clumps into divisions containing 3 to 5 eyes. These divisions may be replanted.
4. Transplant to a sunny location.
5. Apply a handful of balanced fertilizer in early spring and work it in lightly around each plant.
Plant Care for Paeonia