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gardenymph
Member

Reged: 01/27/08
Posts: 33
peonies
      #19483 - 05/11/09 01:14 PM

Why do ants love peony buds? Anyone know?

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IntrepidMeredithModerator
Member

Reged: 03/20/06
Posts: 172
Loc: Zone 4 Wisconsin
Re: peonies [Re: gardenymph]
      #19484 - 05/11/09 07:20 PM

I think the buds secrete some kind of nectar that the ants are drinking. Everything that I've ever heard, however, says that the ants do no harm to the peonies while they're crawling on them.

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The great thing about gardening is that you always get a chance to start over!


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MDtibbies
Member

Reged: 06/12/09
Posts: 4
Loc: Maryland
Re: peonies [Re: IntrepidMeredith]
      #19516 - 06/12/09 08:01 PM

I'm told that not only do the ants do no harm, they actually aid the plant in getting the buds to open.

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Pat, in rural Maryland
zone 6b
Master Gardener


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Pippi
Member

Reged: 04/28/08
Posts: 27
Re: peonies [Re: MDtibbies]
      #19619 - 11/06/09 08:12 AM

Ditto to all of the above responses.

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Janet214
Member

Reged: 03/12/10
Posts: 5
Loc: Northern California foothills
Re: peonies [Re: Pippi]
      #19744 - 03/13/10 10:02 AM

Does anyone know if you can start your peonies in peat pots and then put them in the garden. I am creating new planting beds in my back yard and just a little behind due to the weather this year.

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IntrepidMeredithModerator
Member

Reged: 03/20/06
Posts: 172
Loc: Zone 4 Wisconsin
Re: peonies [Re: Janet214]
      #19774 - 04/03/10 06:00 PM

If you can't plant them in the ground right away, then holding them over in nursery pots with potting soil is probably your best bet.

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The great thing about gardening is that you always get a chance to start over!


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gaileeh
Member

Reged: 05/02/10
Posts: 4
Re: peonies [Re: gardenymph]
      #19829 - 05/26/10 04:55 PM

Contraty to popular belief, the ants do not help open the buds, but they do like the secretions that the buds produce.

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destiny
Member

Reged: 02/22/10
Posts: 17
Re: peonies [Re: gaileeh]
      #19878 - 07/07/10 02:43 AM

Ants are attracted to the sweet resin exuded on the flower buds.Peonies cannot open until ants eat away the seal that keeps the buds closed.

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Vegetable Garden


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