Poppies

[Jennykenny]

Is there any way of cutting poppies to put in a vase without them falling apart?
I am reminded of Burn's words: 'Pleasures are like poppies spread, you seize the flower, it's bloom is shed.'

[dustypuss]

Step 1

Go out early in the morning to find the poppies you wish to cut. Look for healthy flowers whose buds have not yet opened.

Step 2

Use clean, sharp shears to cut the stem just above dirt. Dull blades can make uneven cuts and damage the flower.

Step 3

Singe the cut briefly with a match until the end is almost black. This prevents the milky substance from reaching the cut and allows the flower to draw water.

Step 4

Remove the outer green calyx from the base of the petals as this will help the plant last longer indoors.

Step 5

Place poppies in a vase filled half way with filtered water.

Step 6

Place a plate or cloth beneath your vase of poppies to catch fallen petals. Though singeing the end will significantly increase the life of your poppies, they will not survive more than a few days

[vakayu]

My goodness dustypuss I did not know there was so much to it,thanks for the info,I have often wondered how to achieve this myself.

[craft1948]

This is why I have poppies in the garden, and silk poppies in the house..

[viv38]

They look so much better in the garden, don't last long once cut.

[Jennykenny]

I agree they look better in the garden but these are on a disused building site, seen by no-one, so I thought I might take a few of them home.
Thanks to all.

[viv38]

I'd definitely leave them in the wild, they attract bees and other pollinating insects.