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How to propagate oriental poppies

in Home : Projects: Planting

You will need

  • Established oriental poppy
  • Sharp knife
  • Multi-cell tray
  • Seed compost
  • Horticultural grit
Do it: September - March
Takes just: 20 minutes to take the cuttings

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Overview

You can easily propagate oriental poppies by taking root cuttings. They make perfect candidates for this propagation method as it exploits the plant's propensity to reproduce itself from every scrap of root left behind when plants are moved. Once most fleshy rooted plants are established it is impossible to eliminate them.

Once you have planted up your cuttings and new shoots have emerged, wait a little longer (new roots are made just after new shoots), pot individually and plant out when they've formed a good root system.

How to do it

Lifting clump of poppies

1Lift a clump of the oriental poppy that you want to take cuttings from or just scrape away the soil around the roots.

Trimming off section of root with a knife

2Trim off a good section of the roots with a knife.

Inserting the roots into the compost

3Cut the root into short lengths (around 2.5cm) and push these vertically into a seed tray, of compost, thick end up.

Covering the seed tray with grit

4Cover the seed tray with a thin layer of grit to improve drainage and water well.

Young poppy plant

5Wait until new shoots have emerged and formed new roots, before potting up singly.

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