Has anyone ever been successful in growing blue poppy/seed

I have tried several fresh seed packets and never had any luck with Grandis seeds. Hate to admit this but I probably have spent 30 dollars on them. I purchased a plant for 15.00 one year and it died even though I protected it. I'm curious has anyone ever had luck with seeds? What's the key?
Running out of patience. Any suggestions?
Thanks for replys.

This is my 3rd year at trying to get flowering Meconopsis plants from seed.They are quite challenging. I do get germination, but raising them to bloom stage is tough. Climate is the chief factor as they do not tolerate heat.Alaska is reported to be an ideal location,as is Pacific Northwest.There are a number of articles online,one I just read is at www.coastbotanicalgarden.org/articles/bluepoppy.htm Hope this will help.The blue poppies are by far the most beautiful of all the family, but probaly the most difficult to grow.

WOW - I've never seen blue poppies before! They are pretty!

Wow, that is a beautiful blue!

LimeyLisa Kay

Meconopsis betanicifolia.At least one bloomed.

This message was edited Feb 23, 2004 2:06 PM

They are TOUGH! I had one bloom for me once. And I have tried at a dozen times in different gardens and different conditions. I actually have them come back the following spring, but they shrival up just before they bloom. It is so frustrating watching the bud getting bigger every day then one day the whole thing just dies.I would love to have them bloom for me, they are just beautiful!

I have heard that M. betonicifolia behaves as a biennial unless ou clip the buds the first year they attempt to bloom. Supposedly, when nipped, it becomes a perennial.

I have a lovely Meconopsis grandis here in southcentral Alaska. I has survived in my flower bed for several years. I have harvested seed and attempted to start more plants, but the seedlings, once germinated, have usually failed. These poppies need special care, I'm sure, but I'm still working on it!

I planted some Meconopsis betonicifolia last week, just following the directions on package. Put them in a west window in a cool room. At least it was cool, till we started getting over 40 degrees this week. I see they are starting to germinate. I am so anxious now... tempted to pluck them out and place them in their own little pots to avoid disturbing them later. What do you think Weez? Should I put them under the lights now. They were supposed to go out in the cold for a few weeks after the window treatment. I wouldn't want to do that to the ones that are spouting. I'm just so surprised to have gotten this far with them.

echoes

I'm probably not the best person to ask. I've had luck with germination, but pretty much a failure keeping them going. I found this site with some transplanting information:
http://www.coastbotanicalgarden.org/articles/bluepoppy.htm

Yes, I went and read that last night before I posted. Too bad not before I sowed. I wish I had added pearlite and sand to the mix. They are commercial seed, too. He says people most often fail because the commercial seed isn't fresh.

Echoes, a friend just gave me a goodly amount of meconopsis seed she harvested last fall. I'm not sure if it is the grandis or betonifolia, but it would give you a chance to try out a couple more methods. Would you like me to send you some? I'd benefit from your experiments, as well, you know.

For the past two years I've started meconopsis seeds in a seed starting flat with the cover to keep in humidity. Germination is pretty good and most survive pricking out into individual 1 1/2" pots as well as going into soil later. However, the problem, which seems to be pretty universal, is growing to bloom. This year I've bypassed everything and sowed the seed directly into the areas where they are to stay. Perhaps treating them as though they were 'native' to their area will provide better results.

Oh, thanks Weez. Do you still have my address? I'm determined to have blue poppies in my garden, somehow. I know it's a reach, but some summers here are OK for them. I put some seed down last fall too, balvenie. Half of the pack I'm attempting to start now.

Echoes, I emailed you with the address I have for you. Let me know if it is correct and I'll send the seeds out.

potofgold, maybe you would have better luck with M. betonicifolia. If you've tried grandis, a different variety might just make that little difference that counts. I have a M. grandis plant coming in an order this spring( M. napaulensis too, but now you know I'm nuts). They'll probably all die for me, but I have to try.

balvenie and rest of you. I too have coveted the rare Mecanopsis grandis. Planted seeds and had fair germination and first transplant. Bought a couple of plants and they didn't do anything either. I think my summertime is too hot for them, and they also probably like a more acidic soil than mine. Hope the rest of you have good luck with them. Donna

My problem is getting them from seed to maturity. I've had germination and even set some out in the summer. They seem slow-growing to me. Meconopsis loves our mild, moist summers. I have one that was purchased as a plant at least five years ago, and it was a mature plant then. Year before last, I had 22 blooms on it. I think rutholive is right about the hot summers, and placement could be critical, as well as soil amendment.

I never got your email Weez. Did you get mine?

Yes, I did, I think, Echoes. I'm sending you both kinds of seed. I think you have to OK my email addy in order to receive messages from me.

I'm so encouraged by reading this thread as I'd been feeling so guilty.
You sent me grandis seed ages ago Weez and I thought I'd done all the right things - but they failed. I had divided the seed up and tried a number of times, but only one lot germinated and they didn't come to anything.
I knew they were difficult but not how difficult.

Do hope you and echoes have some luck
Yes, ruth I believe they like acid soil

I'm hoping one of us will get the knack for growing these and pass a bit of info on to the rest of us. So sorry the seeds didn't work out for you. Maybe we'll get a technique going here and I'll send you more seed to give it a try.

You're so lovely Weez
I shall stand even less chance in France probably as the summers are warmer than here, though there's more rain.
I shall just be pleased if you manage to get the knack and post some photos of your triumph. Hope you both get them to grow and flower for you, they're so beautiful

Moist is good... maybe you can grow them in France in the 'off season'. It is a bit closer to Tibet, isn't it?

LOL
We'll have a shaded woodland patch - so perhaps that would be suitable?
Not sure about the relative distances from Tibet *G* The new place is only 700 miles from here anyway

See there! Miles closer!

LOL
Due south, not east!
;)

Oh, dear, you've discovered that I have no sense of geography or direction. I get lost at in a hallway or a freeway. Oh, well, I have some other good traits, so I can't have it all, can I!

No we can't all be perfect (LOLOLOLOL)
I know for a fact you have MANY good traits ;) They just need direction TIC
:D

Maybe I should get a pair of shoes with compasses on the toes, or a compass that hangs from the bill of my hat! I'm glad you were more travel savvy than me, or you could be planting your French garden in Italy.

Well my niece lives in Italy so that'd be OK :)

Wow - a hat like the Aussies have with compasses instead of corks ;) then whichever way we turned....
Never need to be lost again!

Weezingreens I got your seeds today. Will get some started asap. The M. betonicifolia seedlings are coming along. They're still tiny, but green and growing. I pricked 6 out at germination and will transplant the others when they're large enough to handle. Well, I'll try anyway.

echoes

Good luck, Echoes. You can compare the two types. Keeping them going seems to be the main issue. Let us know how it goes.

Can someone send me some pollen off of one of the Blue poppies?

Pollen? Are you trying to cross pollinate one?

I'm thinking about it. Have you tried?

No, I haven't. Which species are you considering crossing?

I have once managed to grow the blue poppies and get them into the garden, but lost them latter on when quite big to too much hot dry weather.
I can't remember how I started them, but I know the temp is important but I do remember the article said to transplant at two true leaves into peat pots with peat and some drainage mix and when growing well plant the lot.
If I get WZ seed going in spring here.I think this time I will mix peat and smallish gravel into the garden soil to plant the pots into then hope for the best.

Sounds like a good plan, Boots.

Here is some info:
http://www.coastbotanicalgarden.org/articles/bluepoppy.htm

Well, Weezingreens' seed (grandis) is germinated on a paper towel and planted in individual pots. I see green. The others are very slow and dropping off, little by little. I am going to transplant them now and see if they do better. Such tiny plants are hard to work with.