Poppies can be propagated by seed or by root cuttings.
By seed
- After poppies bloom in spring, let the seed pods dry on the plant.
- Clip the dry pods and put them in a paper bag.
- Store the bag in a cool, dry place over the summer.
- In the fall, sow the seeds in a sunny flower bed.
- Water the seeds daily.
- After seedlings emerge, thin them out and water less frequently.
- The plants will grow over winter and bloom in spring.
By root cuttings
- When the plant is dormant, dig up the clump and gently separate it into sections.
- Each section should have some taproot, stem, and one or more eyes.
- Cut a healthy root section from the base of the plant.
- Sprinkle the root with a rooting hormone that contains fungicide.
- Press the root into a small pot with a sterile rooting medium.
- Place the pot in a cool, bright location.
- Water the cutting to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
- After about eight weeks, new sprouts should appear.
- Transplant the sprouts outdoors in the spring.