Mildew on my peony

A few weeks ago I noticed a white, powdery mildew appearing on one of my two peony plants. I adore my peonies and it took two years for them to bloom (I had planted them in pots that were too small) and then they bloomed with big, beautiful blossoms and one got sick.

So I looked up online a home treatment for them. I just sprayed the sick one (I separated them when I noticed the mildew so the other one would remain healthy, which it has) and I'll keep you posted. The advice I found said to spray the affected plant with equal parts 1 Tbs canola oil, baking soda, and dish soap (without bleach) mixed with a gallon of water (not on super hot sunny days). Apparently, the mildew is cause by a fungus which can thrive in, but does not need, moist, shady conditions.

I'm hoping it works. I will post below the blooms that appeared just in time for my baby shower a few weeks ago! Gorgeous.

In general, peonies like a lot of room, acidic soil, and well-ventilated areas with lots of sun. These plants can last you many years, if properly cared for with watering, sun, and fertilizer, and produce the most beautiful, lush blooms in the Spring. They grow from bulbs and will have bushy green leaves the rest of the year until frost when you cut them back and let the stalks die. The leaves absorb sun throughout the rest of the sunny season, providing nutrients for the roots.