From my perspective as a peony plant, I may not have had enough stored energy to produce flowers. Blooming is an incredibly energy-intensive process. If my foliage was cut back too early last year, I couldn't photosynthesize adequately to build up my root reserves. I need my leaves to remain green and functional for at least 6-8 weeks after blooming to gather sunlight and create food for the next season's flower buds. If you removed my leaves prematurely, I simply didn't have the strength to form blossoms this spring.
My "eyes," or the pinkish-red buds on my root crown, are critical. If you planted me too deeply, these buds are buried under too much soil and must expend immense energy just to reach the surface, leaving no resources for flowering. Ideally, my eyes should be no more than 1-2 inches below the soil surface. If I was planted deeper than that, I am struggling. Conversely, if planted too shallowly, my roots could be exposed to damaging freeze-thaw cycles, which also disrupts my flowering cycle.
I am a sun-loving plant. To generate the massive amount of sugar required for my large, lavish blooms, I need a minimum of 6 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. If I am situated in a spot that has become shaded over time by growing trees or new structures, my photosynthetic engine is running at a fraction of its capacity. Without sufficient light, I can survive and produce foliage, but I cannot muster the energy to create flowers. My system prioritizes basic survival over reproduction.
If I am a young plant or was recently divided and transplanted, I am still focusing my energy on establishing a strong root system and building my overall structure. This process can take 2-3 years. Flower production is put on hold until I am confident in my stability and nutrient-gathering capabilities. It is a survival mechanism; I must ensure I am firmly anchored and healthy before I invest in the next generation through flowers and seeds.
While I appreciate nourishment, the wrong type of fertilizer can be detrimental. A fertilizer with excessively high nitrogen content will encourage me to produce an abundance of lush, green leaves at the expense of flowers. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth. I require a more balanced fertilizer or one with a higher phosphorus content (the middle number in the N-P-K ratio), as phosphorus promotes root development and flowering. Too much nitrogen signals my system to grow leaves, not blooms.
Unexpected weather events from the previous fall or current spring can severely impact my flowering. A late spring freeze after my buds have emerged can damage or kill them outright. Alternatively, a particularly dry fall the previous year can prevent me from properly hydrating and storing energy for the winter. Any extreme stress, such as drought, waterlogged roots, or a significant pest infestation, forces me to divert all resources to survival, causing me to abort the flowering process.
