Oriental poppy is a perennial that can be grown in the garden for decorative purposes. It blooms for a very short time. But the greenery that is visible on the surface before flowering is very decorative. Each flower lives no more than two days. But the look of the flowers is worth the effort to get them in your flower bed.
How to grow oriental poppy? Planting and cultivation
First choose a place for this plant. Oriental poppy needs intense sunlight. In extreme cases, penumbra is suitable. It is good if the site is protected from the wind. It is desirable to fertilize the soil in advance with humus. As you can see in the photo, the oriental poppy is a beautiful flower. It reproduces by seeds and division of the bush. Some species can reproduce on their own, thanks to the involuntary shedding of seeds from boxes. But these random seedlings often do not winter well and can be brittle.
Oriental poppy is best grown from seed and should be sown in July orAugust. The place must be permanent, since this plant is not subject to transplantation. The division of the bush should be done in the summer, after the oriental poppy has finished flowering.
Caring for a bright flower
Poppies should be watered moderately. If a drought occurs, watering can be increased, but not excessively. Top dressing with organic fertilizers is carried out in the same way as in the case of all other perennials. After flowering is over, it is better to remove the shoots. Next to the poppy, it is worth planting other flowers in advance, which will look decorative after the poppy has faded.
But don't plant them too close. It is better to mark the place where the poppy is located so as not to accidentally plant another plant there. The taproot deep root gives him the opportunity to calmly overwinter, as well as endure drought. The pubescent leaves also help the poppy extract moisture from the atmosphere. But regular watering still makes the bush more magnificent and aesthetic, and the flowers are larger. If you do not dig up a poppy, it can remain in one place for ten or more years. Cold winters are not a threat to him. But spring floods can provoke root rot. Over time, the bushes become larger. This must be foreseen immediately when planting a poppy: leave a place between fifty centimeters to one meter between the specimens. Large and tall flower stalks can be tied to a support so that strong winds do not damage them. A transplant, as already mentioned, is undesirable. But in extreme cases, you can try, trying to keep a large clod of earth around the roots of the oriental poppy. This plantvery disease resistant. Occasionally affected by powdery mildew and spotting.
Poppy planting hazards
In some countries, this plant is illegal. Planting more than ten specimens of Oriental poppy in a garden plot may result in criminal liability. Therefore, in pursuit of decorative flower beds, you should not break the law. Unfortunately, poppy is used to obtain narcotic substances. This causes increased attention to this plant.
