NEED ADVICE FOR CONTAINER PLANTING OF PEONIES AND ROSES IN WINTER

I can understand the temptation, BO, in buying the Peonies as I have 11 or more in my borders but Peonies do become big plants in time so you''ll need big pots of, in my opinion at least 13 inches in diameter. To be honest, I'm not a fan of growing Peonies in pots but then if you've got no other choice then go for it. You could, perhaps make a bigger container to put them, or some of them, into making it easier. The other thing is that once they start in growth they will need feeding at least once a week with either a General Fertiliser or Tomato Feed [I use the last] to keep them healthy as they produce growth quickly once established


Planting


Herbaceous peonies have thick, tuberous roots and are sold as either bare-root or container-grown plants. Bare-root plants usually have at least three or four growth buds and produce flowering plants quickly, often within a season or two of planting. Container-grown plants often have fewer (two to three) buds and can take longer to establish.

• Ideally plant in the autumn. Alternatively, plant in early spring
• Prepare the planting area by incorporating organic matter such as garden compost or well-rotted manure
• On poor soil apply a general fertiliser such as Growmore as at 70g per sq m (2oz per sq yd)
• Avoid deep planting; make sure that the top of the crown is 5cm (2in) below the soil level
• If planting actively-growing plants, it is generally best to plant at the same soil level as in the pot
• Water regularly when rain is lacking during the first year to aid establishment, especially if planted in spring or later in the season

Container cultivation
Herbaceous peonies are not well-suited for long term container cultivation. If necessary, for example when moving house, lift the plant preferably in the autumn. Otherwise, do it in early spring. Use soil-based potting compost such as John Innes No 3. Do not let the compost dry out. Plant it out into the final position as soon as possible.

Moving
Contrary to popular belief, herbaceous peonies can be successfully moved. This should be done in the autumn. Try to cause as little disturbance to the root system as possible. This can prove challenging as established clumps have deep tuberous root systems and the roots are brittle. Avoid replanting too deeply as this may adversely affect flowering. It can take a couple of years for the plant to settle"

They're one of my favourite plants, even though they have a short flowering period relative to other plants, and it always seems to rain when they flower Don't believe the myth, because that is what it is, that Peonies don't like being moved. In the early years my original Peonies, which I still have, were moved by my Wife several times when she thought they were doing as well as they should where they were, and they always flowered the following year. They will need extra care if they're in pots and if you've got any bubble wrap I would insulate the pots with that if you haven't got any where sheltered to put the pots and then in Spring when they show growth use that Tomato Feed!! A lot of the GC Gang only have small gardens like you but love their gardens so you're in good company.

 

Well, I don't have any tree peonies as hardy herbaceous perennials that disappear into the ground are more my line!! But Tree Peonies are just woody stemmed peonies so, firstly you've done the right thing by potting them on even if they were looking very miserable, and without any buds.
Secondly, Peonies are now in their dormant stage so they will never look good at this time. If you've potted them on into good standard compost they'll be fine but, again, they will need large pots of around 13 inches in diameter or more to be happy.
Then, in Spring, feed them as I advised for the other Peonies. One thing though, I do know that one of the biggest killers of Peonies in pots is over watering so you can let them get reasonably dry before watering. Tree Peonies will last around 5 to 6 years in containers before they start to go down in growth and flowering and the only real way to get them back is to plant them in the ground. What varieties of peonies did you get?

............like all marketing blurb there's always a optimistic, exaggeration, of the "truth"

To a certain extent that's true, but buying dry root plants is really good during the dormant phase of late Autumn to Spring.