How to Grow Peonies in a Greenhouse: From Planting to Luxurious Blooming

Peonies are not only a garden decoration, but also one of the most promising greenhouse crops for cutting. Due to the steady demand for lush buds and a variety of varieties, peonies are increasingly grown not only in open ground, but also in greenhouses - for early flowering, prolongation of the season and protection from weather risks.

But how justified is greenhouse cultivation of this perennial crop? When to plant peonies indoors? What conditions and care will ensure a stable result? And most importantly, which greenhouse is best suited?

In this article, experts from the Nova Teplitsa company share professional recommendations on growing peonies in a greenhouse - for beginners, gardeners and those who are aiming for commercial success.

Why Peonies Should Be Growed in a Greenhouse

Growing peonies indoors has a number of undeniable advantages:

Early flowering – already from April (with heating).
Microclimate control - stable temperature and humidity ensure uniform development.
Minimizing risks – protection from rain, spring frosts and fungal diseases.
Quality of cutting - large buds, straight stem, longer standing in water.
High income - especially when growing rare varieties for sale.

But to get such results, you need to understand the features of the greenhouse cycle.

Which greenhouse to choose for peonies

Peonies are a crop sensitive to microclimate. To achieve lush and timely flowering, especially for cutting for sale, it is important to create stable conditions for temperature, lighting, air exchange and humidity. All these parameters directly depend on the type and quality of the greenhouse. Below is an overview of designs suitable for peonies, with their features, advantages and limitations.

Type of greenhouse	Advantages	Is it suitable for peonies?
Arched greenhouse made of polycarbonate	Uniform diffusion of sunlight Good wind resistance Energy efficiency Durability of the structure even in snowfalls and strong winds	Yes, one of the best options. Optimal for year-round cultivation and early flowering.
Straight-walled greenhouse (gable)	Increased usable area Convenient for vertical placement of shelving, lighting and ventilation Ease of installation of drip irrigation systems and garters	Yes. Particularly suitable for container planting of peonies or for experimental gardening.
Film greenhouse	Rapid warming of the soil in spring Low installation cost Quick assembly	For seasonal use only - April to June. Requires daily temperature and ventilation control.
Heated greenhouse	Full control of microclimate (from +10 to +25 °C) Possibility of programmable lighting and distillation Minimal risk of freezing or overheating	An ideal option for year-round commercial cultivation, especially for forcing for cut flowers in the off-season.

Technical recommendations from Nova Teplitsa

Covering material: Cellular polycarbonate with a thickness of 8 mm or more – optimal in terms of light transmittance (up to 82%), thermal insulation (λ ≈ 0.032 W/m K) and resistance to ultraviolet radiation.
Frame: Galvanized steel with a thickness of at least 1.2 mm - guarantees rigidity and durability.
Ventilation: Ventilation vents at the ends and in the roof (automatic or manual) are required to remove condensation and prevent overheating.
Watering: An automated drip system with soil moisture control is recommended. Peonies do not tolerate stagnant water.
Heating: For winter forcing, install infrared or water heating to maintain a temperature of at least +12 °C at night.
Lighting: In cloudy months, phytolamps (luminous flux ~6000–8000 lm/m²) are necessary, especially for young plants.

If your goal is to get a consistent bloom of peonies for early spring, holidays or for commercial cutting, a heated arched or straight wall peonies are the best choice. polycarbonate greenhouseIt allows for the most precise control of plant development phases and reduces weather risks.

The Nova Teplitsa team is ready to help you with the selection, design and delivery of a greenhouse fully adapted for growing peonies - from amateur to industrial level.

When to plant peonies in a greenhouse

Peonies are traditionally planted in the fall, but in a greenhouse the timing can be adjusted. The main thing is to provide conditions for rooting before active growth.

Planting dates

Type of greenhouse	Optimal planting times
Heated	Late September – October
Unheated polycarbonate	From the beginning to the end of October
Film (in warm regions)	Second half of October (at temperatures not lower than +10 °C)

Important: Before planting, peony rhizomes (divisions) are treated with a fungicide solution (Maxim, Fundazol) to avoid rot.

How to prepare the soil and the site

Peonies do not like over-watering and poor soil. Before planting, it is important to create a nutritious and airy environment.

Soil mixture:

humus or compost - 1 part;
turf soil - 2 parts;
sand - 1 part;
wood ash - 200-300 g/m²;
superphosphate - 40-60 g/m².

It is recommended to raise the beds by 20–30 cm. There should be at least 70–90 cm between the bushes to ensure good air circulation.

Caring for peonies in a greenhouse

Lighting:

Peonies love the light: they need at least 10–12 hours of light per day.
In winter and early spring, supplementary lighting with LED phytolamps with a temperature of 4000–6000 K is recommended.

Temperature conditions:

For rooting: +10…+12 °C.
For active growth: +16…+22 °C during the day and not lower than +10 °C at night.
If the temperature is too high, the buds may become deformed.

Watering peony:

Moderate, 1-2 times a week.
It is important to avoid stagnant moisture - use drainage and drip irrigation.

Top dressing:

Spring: nitrogen (urea, 20 g/m²).
Budding period: complex fertilizer with potassium and phosphorus.
Autumn: phosphorus-potassium fertilizers to prepare for dormancy.

Pruning peonies:

After cutting the buds, leave 2-3 leaves on each stem.
In autumn, the shoots are cut to the base and plant debris is removed.

How to speed up flowering: forcing peonies

To obtain peonies by a certain date (for example, by March 8), the forced forcing method is used. The rhizomes are kept for 2–3 months at a temperature of +2 °C, then planted in a greenhouse with a gradual increase in temperature.

Early varieties are suitable for forcing: Sarah Bernhardt, Red Charm, Coral Sunset, Bowl of Beauty.

Possible problems and solutions

Problem	Cause	Solution
No buds are formed	Lack of light or nutrition	Increase lighting, fertilize
Gray mold	Over-watering, poor ventilation	Install drip irrigation, cut off affected parts
The leaves are turning yellow	Acidic or heavy soil	Carry out liming and loosening

Growing Peonies Yourself in a Greenhouse

Growing peonies in a greenhouse is not just a way to extend the flowering season, but an effective agricultural technology for obtaining high-quality cutting, early harvest and stable income. To achieve success, it is important:

choose a suitable greenhouse design (optimally, an arched or straight-walled one made of polycarbonate with a thickness of at least 8 mm);
plan the planting correctly – depending on the type of greenhouse and the goals (forcing, cutting, decorative growing);
provide plants with a stable temperature regime, sufficient lighting, good ventilation and humidity control;
regularly feed peonies and carry out pruning and sanitary measures in a timely manner.

If these conditions are met, even in a small greenhouse it is possible to grow peonies with high commercial value – both for home use and for commercial sale.

Ready to start or scale up production? The company "Novaya Teplitsa" will help you choose the optimal greenhouse for growing peonies, design an effective ventilation, heating and irrigation system, and also provide high-quality consultations at all stages.