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Himalayan blue poppy

Hi folks! 

Just wondering if anyone can help please. I bought 2 blue poppies from T&M, they arrived early April looking quite healthy. I potted them up and put them in the greenhouse only for them to go black and die immediatly. I told T&M and they sent me 2 more and said it was probably they were too cold. I've potted on the new ones and kept them in the kitchen but they are going the same way as the 1st ones, just a little slower. Help, I love these plants but don't seem destined to grow them. Thing is I know some waste land that every year has a lone poppy growing out of the wall! Any tips would be appreciated, thanks

Posts

  • Alina WAlina W Posts: 1,445

    The problem is likely to be that they have come out of ideal conditions at T&M and don't like the change. Are you putting them in bright sunshine, by any chance? They prefer moist, loamy soil in a semi-shady position - mine thrive with only the early morning and late afternoon sunshine in summer. They also don't like being wet. Not sure if that helps at all?

  • YviehYvieh Posts: 85

    Hi Rosemary,

    I bought 2 blue poppies last year, from the garden centre. I put them in terracotta pots with multi purpose compost.  I left them out and in Spring this year, noticed that 1 had been lost in the frosts.  The other is still in its pot and romping away, with big fat buds on it.  It is in full sun from late afternoon to evening. I thought that poppies needed a period of cold to help them get going?  I have never been able to grow poppies in the ground, whether they be established shop bought, bare root, or from seed, even when helping my clay soil along with compost.  My only successes have been in pots, and I tend to think thats luck.

    Yvie

  • I agree with Alina. Now that we're into May, albeit somewhat cold, I might be tempted to plant them out.

  • Thanks for all the help, I'll try your suggestions and fingers crossed they will survive. Maybe I will consider putting them into pots and not in the border as planned. Really hope they survive. Thank you guys x

  • Had a mecanopsis plant in a pot all last year, was not happy at all, did not die but did not grow either!  Put it in a shady moist spot in March and now have a flower bud (just the one)  maybe they are happier just in the ground?

  • I have grown some from seed this year. They are heavy feeders - I have used an organic seaweed feed and they prefer acidic soil so I have used an Ericaceous compost.keep moist in semi shade, I think a greenhouse is too hot for these.

  • My problem is I bought one young plant it had two leaves and a stalk but both leaves have died now .I have only had it for 2 weeks and I put it in a pot ..What has happened is it dead..Can anyone advise what to do .x

     

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