Need help with Oriental Poppies that have just been ripped up...
rachelmed1986
Posts: 3
Hi there,
I wonder if anyone can help. My downstairs neighbour had a small clump of Oriental poppies (the huge orange ones) at the very front of his garden. He never planted them, they naturally came up a couple of years ago. A passerby just asked him if she could take a cutting and proceeded to rip the whole plant out. Don't ask me why!
She took most of it but I shouted out the window to ask her to at least leave some as my neighbour didn't say anything.
So, I have four stems with the heads still on them. The petals had fallen off in the last few days.
For the moment, I've planted them back where they were, although the roots are broken. I also think the original root may still be in the soil as it goes under the concrete of the path just in front of our fence.
Is there anyway to save the stems I have? If not, can I use the seeds and what do I do with them if yes?
Thank you in advance.
Rachel
Posts
If the petals have only just dropped off, the seeds will not be ripe, and will not grow.
It's the wrong time of year to take root cuttings. All you can do is plant what is left and water in well. To be fair it is difficult to kill oriental poppies , but this person might just have managed it. The bits she took are unlikely to root or transplant at this time of year.
Unfortunately, she took most of the plant and only left us a few stems. I'm so angry, we didn't even know this lady! I've replanted the stems but I think you're right, she's probably ruined it.
If the root was left in the ground, is there a chance that it could come back up?
It's worth watering it and giving it a feed to help it along. Then cross your fingers and be patient. You may see nothing till next spring.
I have several of these poppies. One clump is in a border where it clashes with everything else. I've tried to dig it out year after year and any fragment of root will regrow. They get very straggly after flowering so its best to cut them back to the ground, they soon resprout and you get nice fresh leaves. If any of the bits you have have a root on it then pot them up but cut off the undeveloped seed head.
Thanks, Obelixx and Bilje, I'm hoping the root was left behind and it still comes back up next year!
I agree, I tried to move some of mine, snapped every root and now have twice as many. I reckon if you keep it watered it might grow new leaves this year. Good luck