Meconopsis betonicifolia

Woo Hoo!! I am so excited. I planted my Himalayan Poppy seeds on the winter solstice. I had so many seeds I put them in two fairly large pots. I put them out in the cold frame and checked them frequently. I was thinking of bringing one pot inside today because they didn't seem to be doing anything and I read something about starting them inside instead of outside. Thought maybe I'd done it all wrong and was already starting to think how I should do it next year. I couldn't believe it when I discovered that many of the seeds have germinated. I must have 50 or more. I just hope I can keep them going and not lose them now. They are soooo tiny. If anyone has grown them and have any tips, please pass them along.

We had 2 plants last year that we've had for a number of years. I noticed the other day that only one has survived. I don't think our hot summer last year was appreciated by them.

Sandy

They're lovely, but I've never tried growing them. I hope yours improve.

If they grow well and I've got them into individual pots by the RU, I'll bring you some. Our pacific northwest is one of the few places they grow well so they're well worth trying. The only thing is that some of the information I've read says you have to break off the flower stems in the first year in order to get them to grow as perennials. I think that's going to be a tough thing to do should I get to that point.

Congratulations Sandy.....I hope Weezingreens will come along, I know she has grown them from seed (I think echoes has too). I've only planted one and that was the summer we had many days over 100F...... it curled up and died.

Uh oh. So what you're saying here is that I had better plant the peony poppies Joelle is sending me, in the shade, right? I just love the color of those ones Sandy. Gorgeous!

Sandy, we've grown them from seed. They keep coming back every year. Some say to just sow the seed where you want them to grow.

The peony poppies will take full sun Donna......it's just the blue ones that are really tricky and appreciate cooler and damper conditions. They are really happy up in Weeze's corner of Alaska..

Awww, and I so liked the blue ones too. Figures, huh?

Congratulations Sandy, I have not tried them from seed but have killed a plant or two! Joelle

Last summer would have been a great one for us to have grown it eh Joelle. ;)

This message was edited Mar 1, 2005 7:01 PM

LoL! I gave up on those beautiful plants. For now...

We grow them well enough in Newfoundland but they end up more purplish-blue than the sky-blue I prefer.

I did put some seeds in the garden in a couple of spots Jeanne. I'll have to check to see if they're doing anything yet.

I tried growing them here but they didn't survive the first winter. I was misled by the name...figured if they grow in the Himalayas, they should grow here! And they are SUCH a beautiful colour. Lucky you, Sandy. I found them hard to germinate--you must have the touch.

It's funny you know Rosemary....after I planted them I read several other ways to do it. I was afraid I might have left the seeds too long before planting them. I didn't even store them in the fridge. I checked them today and they're still so tiny. I must have at least a hundred of them growing. I think it was just pure luck and I think it will be very lucky if I can get very many of them to grow to flowering size. If they do keep growing I'm going to have to put them into individual pots when they get their second leaves. That should be fun.

nightowl
really pretty, wish you luck on them, heard that they were hard to grow,

Wilma

I really hope you have success with these, they're beautiful. I tried the Himalayan Cream Poppy a couple of years ago but had no luck getting them to germinate. I think they probably had too much heat in the greenhouse. Good luck with yours Sandy....Jo

Sandy, I started some betonicifolia and grandis last year. Germination was not that difficult, but getting them big enough and healthy was a challenge. Once they were planted out(all five of them) they did fine. I remember keeping them in the coolest window I have in this old farmhouse. Maybe yours could stay outside there already, and be happy. I used to give them a spray with the peroxide water once in a while. That's the best of what I can remember, a little late to be of any help. I think the next ones I try, will just winter sow.

Brenda

I'm just going to leave them in the cold frame. As they get their second set of leaves (or should I say if?) I'll prick them out and put them in their own pots. I check them every day and so far so good. There are some moldy seeds but hopefully it won't spread.

Do you still have all five of your plants Brenda? Did you pick the flowers off the first year?

I haven't seen the cream coloured ones Joanne but they sound nice.

Sandy, there were still five of the six survivors visible last fall. They didn't flower yet, so depending on how lucky I get, and how well I time taking the flax straw off them, maybe this year.

Can't wait to see pics this summer everyone!

Here's a picture of one of the pots. The seedling are coming along slowly but surely.

Sandy--I just had a horrible thought...are you sure those are poppy seedlings and not some weed? Was the soil sterile? I'm asking because a pot of earth that was in the g.h. all winter has suddenly produced seedlings that look just like yours! And they definitely are not poppies (I wish they were).

I've got some poppy seedlings happening and they look quite different--but they are Papavers, and perhaps Meconopsis has those wider seed leaves--does anyone know? Maybe the first set of true leaves will be more revealing

Rosemary

Rosemary, are you planting seeds of doubt in my mind? LOL I'm pretty sure they're my blue poppies because I used sterile potting soil. At least....it came from a bag. They must just look different when they first come up. Yours don't look like poppy seeds to me. Ü

...and the mystery unfolds....

Oh, if you used potting soil I'm sure there's no problem! Not to worry. My papaveras do have roundish seed leaves, but they are very tiny. It's just that your seedlings look so much like things popping up all over in old used potting soil! Probably Creeping Charlie or some such. Dinna fesh, sorry to have planted the seeds of doubt....good one, Sandy! lol

It's difficult to really see them very well but I didn't think your leaves looked round enough for poppies. They look long and slender to me. Is that because they've got several sets of leaves? They look kind of star shaped. I must go and check my poppies. I hope they're still okay. I never know if I should open the cold frame up a bit or leave it shut. I've never really used one before.

Those seeds in the soil blocks are a papaver, all right. The seed leaves--the first ones that show--are round. The next leaves are more fern like, like oriental poppies. I believe the meconopsis have a different shape?

Oh, that's why they look kind of star shaped. Yes, the blue poppy leaves are more rounded. Some of my seeds are starting to die off. I suppose that's normal. I tried taking some of the ones where the root isn't going down into the soil and putting them in a new pot. It's an experiment to see if they do any better. I still have lots so hopefully some will make it.

You probably know this, but it is best to wait until the seedlings have their first set of true leaves before transplanting them. They tend to just wilt and die, otherwise!

R.

I know....it looked like they were dying anyways though so I figured I'd give it a try.