Part IV |
Growing Papaver Somniferum Poppies
(Part 4 of 5):
Poppies need cool Temps, but once mature can withstand Temps up to 90 degrees (F).
Poppies also like as much sun as possible. But can also do fine in partial Shady spots.
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Week 6
Cabbage Stages:
Up until this point, poppies can seem to be very “slow growing”. Many people worry if their Poppies might be “Stunted” (which DOES happen).
OR they may wonder how the heck they will get big enough to grow those Big beautiful Blooms and Pods their known for- in time for Solstice?But, once the Poppy reaches this “Cabbage Stage”, it will go into ‘RAPID GROWTH‘.
Especially if it’s getting at least a few hours of FULL SUN each day.
That’s because the Sun beats down on all that Green Foliage, absorbing mass amounts of energy, then suddenly it’s like a Photo-Synthetic Explosion!!
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Week 7
Fertilizing:
7 to 8 weeks Poppies can thrive in both Alkaline and Acidic soils. A good neutral ph will do. But Poppies suck up a LOT of Nutrients from the Soil.
ESPECIALLY NITROGEN! Throughout ALL growth Stages! I suggest an NPK Ratio of 6-3-4 as a good nutrient base (non water-soluble). But for a quick release of Nutrients, I suggest using Water Soluble Organic fertilizers. Adding BLOOD MEAL to your soil, which is rich in Nitrogen, will promote ‘Green Growth’. Then, for Phosphorus, fertilizers such as BAT & SEABIRD GUANO will work great since they’re water soluble, you can make TEA or TOP DRESS.
For a Long Lasting, Slow-Release Nutrient base, use NON Water Soluble Fertilizers: Supplements such as Feather Meal & Bone Meal instead. Use GREENSAND to help loosen compacted soils and promote Root growth.
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Week 8
Pre-Bloom Begins
- Longest Day of the Year
Papaver Somniferum Poppies Pre-Bloom Stage Many people think that this is the actual “Pod” of the Poppy, but in fact, it is only the encasing that holds the flower (and pod) all inside just prior to blooming.
They tend to create a “Gooseneck” effect at first, then they begin to erect upwards the day before they bloom.
The actual Pod doesn’t come until later, after the Flower Petals fall (which only takes 24-48 hours)
05/15/2017 @ 9:11 am
The only video that works is 1-2 on first page. Everytime I try growing, they get about 6-7″ tall and start to flower. Each stem has about 6-8 tiny pods (or flowers) that are yellow. The flowers are super small , then turn into that white fuzz looking weed stuff that you can blow away. They have never grown into a pod. Am I suppose to take the flowers off or remove all but one flower? Obviously all these cant be pods because a stem wouldn’t be able to hold up 4-6 pods. I only had access to part 1-2. No info in part3-4. Just tell me is the plant not getting enuf sun, or am I supposes to be removing the flowers. They are more like buds. Flower is only about 1/2 “. Ive tried removing them and not touching or removing. Ive also tried removing some and leaving some. This is the 3rd year. Starting to think its impossible
05/16/2017 @ 6:27 pm
Wow, you’re this first person in several years to mention that. Sorry about that. I DID just go though and make some changes to those actually, so maybe you tried while I was editing.
If they still aren’t showing up, Perhaps you don’t have the Latest Version of Flash or Java installed (because these are tested across Multiple Browsers and Operating Systems, and all are working fine.
But, for now, be sure to view this Tutorial on a DESKTOP or LAPTOP ONLY. Also, if you’re not seeing the Videos themselves embedded into the Page, Simply Click the BIG RED Image at the TOP that says “PLAY (Fullscreen)” – Lastly, JUST in case you cant see THAT, you can View ANY VIDEO from ANY Page by Clicking the VERY FIRST Text TITLE for that section.
So for Part 3, Just click on “MORE STAGES:”- just beside where it says “WEEK 4”.
Same for Part 4. If you don’t see the obviously LARGE RED “PLAY” Image,
Simply click the title beside “Week 6” that says: “CABBAGE STAGES:“
Otherwise, you can always see all our Videos at our Channels at Youtube: Channel 1 | or Channel 2.
Or, if using Mobile or Tablet, follow the Links on the 1st Part to the MOBILE VERSION
But to answer your question, you’re planting the WRONG KIND of POPPIES!!
You need Papaver Somniferum. That’s why we sell them. Because, although legal, they aren’t very easy to find. And if you do, it’s hard to know what result you’ll get.
But what you described, sounds like Champagne Poppies (Papaver nudicaule), and I know exactly what you mean.
There is a small yellow center. I know.
But so does almost 80% of every Flower that exists.
That’s due to the natural Color of Pollen. Yellow.
There are even poppies that produce FULL Size Pods LIKE THIS, but they aren’t Somniferum. Those are Oriental (see comparison HERE).
There are over 50 types of Poppies. Just Search Google for “Papaver” and view the Wiki Page
But to simplify it, here’s an easy way to put it for you. Somniferum Poppies do NOT Grow in these Colors: Orange, Yellow, Peach, or Blue (although “Blue” is sometimes used to describe a Color, but when referring to Somniferum, it means “Purple/Violet” – Such as with the “Hungarian Blue“).
Not sure why, but it may have to do with their Seed Color.
Of course, the name “Hungarian Blue” sounds a lot like another Blue Poppy, “Himalayan Blue” (Papaver Meconopsis), it’s easy to see why people get confused.
Hope this helps,
-OrgBot
08/02/2017 @ 1:10 pm
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-OrgBot
09/23/2017 @ 3:18 pm
Hi there, great information that got me started growing the Papaver Somniferum. However I do live in the city in a small apartment with no outdoor garden or even a balcony. So I decided to try them in a grow tent with white LED lights. Also, since I have grown medical cannabis successfully indoors, I decided to use the same stuff to try the Somniferums, which in this case are fabric pots, coco-coir mixed with a generous amount of perlite instead of soil and synthetic liquid nutrients (Advanced Nutrients).
Oddly enough, I have been really successful with them UNTIL now, which I assume they should be going into the bolting flowering phase (they are almost exactly 2 months since germination), rather than what you mentioned in your videos which is the other way around (high failure rate in the beginning). Now all of a sudden, the green cabbage leaves are getting paler and more spotted with yellow (not disease looking, but to me, more like a nitrogen deficiency). Then it started almost drying up on the edges of the leaves and new growth shoots look like they are dried up. I wish I could post some picture as pictures are way better than me trying to explain.
One or 2 plants now started getting brown spots on the leaves also. I keep the environment pretty darn controlled, as in temps not exceeding 75 F and relative humidity not exceeding 55%.
I use an automated drip type watering system (the ones you get from Home Depot) and water them 3 times (1 minute every 8 hours) in 24 hours. The water consists of a nutrient solution with a fairly low ppm, 1/4 strength of the recommended feed which is about 600 ppm’s and keep the pH at about 6.5 to 7.
Like I said, the whole set up works until the growth started exploding and then they got really big and luscious and then now all this is happening. Since literature online is scarce for poppies, it’s hard to diagnose. Some information I’ve read on the forum type sites might suggest I have either a phosphorus deficiency or maybe even iron? But since this is my first grow and with no pictures of example deficiencies to compare, I can only guess.
I doubt it’s bugs or disease as it’s in a tent with adequate ventilation and my other tent right next to it growing medical cannabis is just fine. The only “bug” I see sometimes are gnats, as apparently they love the coco-coir substrate. But as I understand, gnats are pretty harmless. Was wondering if you could help since you have so much experience with this plant, but if only I could somehow show you pictures.
Many thanks in advance!
09/27/2017 @ 7:27 pm
We always welcome Photos. You could simply upload them to any Free Public Server (Flickr, Imgur, Giphy, PhotoBucket, etc – then Paste Links to them HERE in your Comment.
There are 1 or two others who have described the same type of instance that you describe. They posted those in the main Comment section in Part 1. If you skim through them, you should be able to find the answer that was concluded.
(you may need to go to page 4 or Page 3 of the COMMENT SECTION) – they have their own sections, separate from the Page they are on (1-5)- Comment Page 5 has the MOST RECENT Comments, and Comment Section 1 has the OLDEST ones.
I too experienced that this year, but it it turned out to be TERMITES (as shown in our VIDEO SECTION on our FACEBOOK PAGE where alot of people actually submit photos and interact with us also). But please Post Links to Photos here or there, so I can diagnose them. It could also be from Over-crowding, or over-watering.
Like I said in the Tutorial, they need a NITROGEN MAJORITY Nutritional Diet THROUGHOUT ALL GROWTH STAGES. Keep in mind, Growing Poppies is like the OPPOSITE of growing the Green stuff. (take it from someone who has years experience growing BOTH – Indoors AND outdoors- but I have NOT grown POPPIES indoors. That’s the one exclusion.
THANKS!!
ALSO SEE THIS TUTORIAL
10/06/2017 @ 9:34 pm
Hi there Organical Botanicals,
Thank you so much for replying. I didn’t get a notification that you replied hence I am just seeing this.
Anyway, yes, I’ve gone through all the comments in each of the 5 series tutorials. But I thought I post the images here on IMGUR like you suggested to see if you have any opinions or if you’ve seen them before. Maybe poppies can’t be grown indoors in coco-coir……?
https://imgur.com/a/tAMZq
I would appreciate your input as to if i might have a disease you’ve seen or a deficiency you’ve seen or whatever you think. I hope the pictures you see represent the same coloring as I see.
What I’ve basically done so far is move them all to the bathtub like you see in the picture, strip off off the dead parts to throw away and just flush them with plain water. The pictures you see are right after flushing…… I moved them to a stronger, redder LED light source about a week ago, and noticed new growth, but it’s too early to tell right now if they will be inflicted with the same stuff you see.
Thanks again!!
10/10/2017 @ 2:22 pm
You scared me there a little. Site was down the weekend and thought it was all gone. Anyway, here are more pictures after the flush and watering by hand once a day with low ppm’s. Hope you can figure out what’s wrong. They seem better, but still not so good. Thanks!!
https://imgur.com/a/QmJ59
Ken
10/12/2017 @ 3:59 pm
Based on the way the most Mature Leaf Tips are suddently Cut Off, it seems as though the Center, most tender foliage is being attacked or eaten by very tiny creatures of some sort. (SEE PIC)
10/12/2017 @ 4:13 pm
Hi Ken, yes, it seems that removing them from that environment, helped. I’m not God, so I can only provide my opinion based on the images, but I believe it to be a very small Pest/Bug/Microbe that is attacking all the New Growth (since new growth is the most tender, it leads me to conclude that whatever the culprit is, must be very small (possibly microscopic).
They sell a Completely Safe, and natural Spray at most Nurserys that you can use on the Foliage that will kill most of these types of Pests. I forgot the exact term, but it’s like a “Plant & Garden Detergent” of sorts.
But that’s what I would try.
The only other thing that would cause this, would be a “Root” based attacker.
In which case, you’re screwed.
Keep us updated.
Thanks!!
–OrgBot
10/20/2017 @ 5:49 pm
Hi there my friend. You asked for an update and I’m excited to give you one!! They are blooming!!
SEE PHOTO
I just wanted to thank you for responding and maybe share my indoor experience of growing the papaver somniferum. The black stuff you see in the photo was silly me trying to cut off all the bad parts of the leaf, so like for example, what you saw was like half of the leaf, the top half gone. I didn’t realize that this plant is so juicy and sappy (i guess that’s a word). And it’s sap or whatever seem to turn that brownish black. That’s what you saw. It was better to get rid of the whole leaf which i did towards the end.
So, I can share my experience if you’re interested. I basically grew 3 Afghanistan variety and 3 Hens & Chicks variety in 2 gallon fabric pots in coco-coir and perlite. Though I didn’t label the plants, it’s very obvious the difference. All the shorter and bushier ones I believe are the H&C. I had to cull all 3 of the H&C. They weren’t doing well towards the end and I didn’t feel it was worth it to keep and take care.
So here are a few factors that I “think” could be be the cause of whatever rot or death of the new shoots and the tips of the leaves. I don’t know exactly what and how, but I know these factors had something to do with it because the plants (minus the H&C which I believe at that point too far gone to survive).
Light Spectrum & Intensity
Space
Humidity & Temperature
Nutrients
As soon as I changed the light colors and intensity and gave them more space they started to recover. And I believe though I got the temperature under control, the environment might have been too dry (sometimes dropping from 44% RH to 55% RH). Also, these guys aren’t heavy eaters. I cut down on the additives etc and they seem to do better.
I also had them on a DIY drip system and they didn’t seem to like that. They seem to rather one good drench of water & nutrients once or twice a day.
So, if I had to guess, I probably had some nute burn in combination with too dry (at times the tips felt almost crispy). Plant had too much against it they couldn’t fight back and started to die.
I would have to definitely try another grow and experiment with the factors and dial it in. If i had to do it again, I’d go bigger with the pots (their roots aren’t crazy big and fat, but they did fill up the entire 2 gallon pot. Experiment with the lights. And don’t over crowd them even though they are each in their own pot. I didn’t keep too much notes, but enough…… But after growing this once, I now know why poppy’s are silly to grow indoors. Oh well. It was fun. Thanks again.
10/22/2017 @ 5:15 pm
Thanks Ken!! That’s awesome to hear!
Maybe Document your efforts next time from beginning to end (Photos and/or Videos), and I’ll create a New Blog Post from it, (where I can give you ‘Contributor’ Status) so you can make edits, Changes to it, etc – and even reply to other User’s Comments/Questions.
THANKS!!
–OrgBot
03/21/2021 @ 11:41 am
Hi, I’m really glad I read your posts, because I couldn’t find anything online about the problem I am dealing with. I am growing poppies indoors also. The same exact thing is happening to a couple of mine. The inner, new leaves have shriveled up tips that are blueish/brown and dry as a bone. And the plant doesn’t seem to be growing anymore. They’re planted in a 36 in. planter. I started with 18 plants in it(crazy, i know!), and now have thinned to just 3. they all now have 12 inches apart. But up until just recently, I had 5 plants in it. Maybe it was a result of overcrowding? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks
03/21/2021 @ 12:23 pm
I would thin down to ONE single Plant per pot. It’s better to have a single strong plant, with multiple pods, than several thin stems with only one Pod each.
One windy day is all it takes.