Should my oriental poppy be doing this?

CraighB

Hi guys,

I purchased patty's plum oriental poppy in a 2 litre pot a month ago and I noticed that some of the leaves were going brown and crispy. I pulled them off and potted it into a bigger pot and 1 month on the leaves are still going yellow then brown and then just going crispy.

Even the new growth starts off nice and green but then eventually the same thing happens. The compost has plenty of perlite for drainage and I let it dry out slightly in between waterings. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks

nutcutlet

the leaves of Oriental Poppies aren't their best feature through the summer. Best planted behind something that hides the leaves from around now. Not sure how well they do in pots and that looks a little small

CraighB

Hopefully it will do better next year then. When I bought it, it didn't have many leaves really so I thought it was at the beginning of it's growing season but it hasn't really done much since I got it home.

The pot it's in is a 4 litre David Austin rose container that they send their roses in. I have it in this temporarily as I will be buying a house next year and didn't see the point in planting it in the garden because I will want to take it with me. I read that oriental poppies don't like to be moved.

Paul B3

CraighB

I would leave in the pot until you buy your house ; just water well and feed .
Don't expect too much in the way of flowers this year ;  they grow rapidly in open ground and can almost become , shall we say , something of a nuisance in a border .

When eventually planted in open ground , make sure it has plenty of space .
Yellowing or discoloured leaves can be pulled off at any time , the root will survive .

Posy

My poppies, which are in the ground, look like that or even worse. I am used to loads of leaves and lots of flowers but last winter's wet followed by heat and drought have really done for them. Some have failed to emerge at all and the ones that have are miserable. I'm not sure how many will make it.

hogweed

My blooming Oriental poppies were standing tall and proud and then Storm Hector did them in!  Not a happy cookie. 

Mary370

I agree with Posy, I have the worst showing of them in 5 years.  Usually I have to remove lots of them due to over-crowding, not this year. 

Hostafan1

you could try taking some "root cuttings" to get some more babies for the house move.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-propagate-oriental-poppies/ 

CraighB

Good idea hostafan I will try that! Glad to hear that im not the only one with the foliage browning. I thought I was doing something wrong somewhere.

I do love this plant after seeing it in a few different gardens so im already looking forward to seeing it flower next year!