oriental poppy

The Oriental Poppy requires regular watering in order to keep it healthy and promote optimal growth. Water your plant approximately every 7-10 days, allowing the soil to become completely dry between waterings. During the summer months, when the weather is dry and hot, you may need to up the frequency of watering to every 5-7 days; taking into account the temperature and humidity levels in your area. Try to water directly at the soil level, avoiding splashing the foliage. This will help to discourage fungal diseases and other damage to the plants.

Oriental poppies require full sun to partial shade for optimal growth. To ensure the best results, provide the plant with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon. If the plant receives too little light, its flowers and foliage may fail to appear, and the plant may develop sparse leaves and thin stems. However, in particularly hot regions, you may need to protect the plant from the intensity of the midday sun by providing filtered shade.

Oriental poppies should be pruned shortly after the flowering season has ended. This is usually in the summer, depending on the climate. Pruning should cut down all existing stems, typically about 6-12 inches in length. This should remove all of the flowering stems and will encourage the re-growth of new foliage and stems that will bloom in the late spring of the following season. It is also important to remove any brown or discolored foliage from the plant at the same time. Oriental poppies do not require extensive pruning to stay healthy, so it is generally recommended to prune only once a year.