Skip navigation.

Oriental Poppy Propagation

Last post 30-12-2008 10:24 AM by Sue. 6 replies.

Page 1 of 1 (7 items)

  • 23/11/2008 06:14 AM
    • Foxnfirefly
    • Virginia,USA
    • 01 Jul 2008
    • 165
    Top 50 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    Last summer I grew some Oriental poppies for the first time, and they surprised me by quickly dying back after flowering, leaving nothing of a trace that they had been there.  I read that you can propagate by root division in the Fall, but that means I will have to find them somehow and do this. If I do find the roots, is there a certain rule of thumb to follow in where to cut?  I have not seen the roots, so I don't know what I'm to look for.  I'm thinking you would do this before the foliage disappears, as it is risky digging blind-sided.   Any advice?  Thanks!

     

     
  • 23/11/2008 11:21 AM
    In reply to
    • sue1002
    • Ipswich, Suffolk
    • 06 Sep 2005
    • 5,200
    Top 10 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

     I think I would leave it until next year Foxnfirefly if you can't find them, and then divide them when they have finished flowering.

    sue1002
  • 23/11/2008 06:30 PM
    In reply to
    • Phot's-Moll
    • The sunny South coast.
    • 06 Jan 2007
    • 3,347
    Top 10 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    When you do find them you need thickish bits a couple of inches long. The end nearest the plant goes at the top (or do what I did and lay them flat) I think you need to take them now so they start growing at the same time as the parent plant. I took mine from new bought plants which made it much easier!

    It is normal for them to die down quickly. It's OK to cut them off at the base straight after flowering if they look tatty.

    They can also be grown from seed, although saved seed might not come true. It's possible to buy seed too and the plants seem to grow quite easily as far as I remember.

    Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.
  • 24/11/2008 03:51 AM
    In reply to
    • Foxnfirefly
    • Virginia,USA
    • 01 Jul 2008
    • 165
    Top 50 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    Thanks, Sue & Phot's!!  I raked today and didn't get to them, but will try next weekend!!

     
  • 26/11/2008 03:20 PM
    In reply to
    • miranda
    • Oxfordshire
    • 17 Nov 2004
    • 2,977
    Top 10 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    I've propagated poppies from root cuttings and it's an easy way to do it. When you cut the root sections, make sure that the lower part of the root gets a slanted cut and the top bit stays flat. That way you know which way up to plant it. The top should be flush with the compost and then should be kept just moist. You should see new shoot appearing within a couple of months.  
  • 02/12/2008 03:43 AM
    In reply to
    • Foxnfirefly
    • Virginia,USA
    • 01 Jul 2008
    • 165
    Top 50 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    Thanks, Miranda.  You and Phot's provided some good details.  We've had some rain and a major holiday, so I wasn't able to get out there and dig them up.  My real concernnow  is the digging up, not wanting to break them at the wrong point.  I think I could rake the soil away to an extent where I can see the base.  They went dormant before I realized it and left a ghost of a space......
  • 30/12/2008 10:24 AM
    In reply to
    • Sue
    • Loughton, Essex
    • 20 Nov 2008
    • 7
    Top 500 Contributor
    Reply | Contact

    I dug up a huge clump of oriental poppies a few weeks ago, and to keep my 9 year old grandson amused, I gave him the clump, told him to cut up bits of the root and pot them up. Kept him quiet for hours, and to my surprise, I now have about thirty plants. I didn't expect them to take in winter - so I didn't show him how to take root cuttings properly. Shows what hardy beasts they are! Best of luck, Sue