Meconopsis, that Blue Beauty
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cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Jun-02-2005 at 4:31pm
In a recent posting DebbyTT included a picture of the Blue Meconopsis grandis and I love that picture of the blue Meconopsis. I have tried to grow them from seed--no luck, purchased a plant that had one flower spike and another just forming. The nursery person told me if I wanted it to survive and come back the following year to cut off the bloom, that didnt make any sense to me nor did I cut it off, nor did it come back the following year! Do you plant a new one each year? I sent the above note as a PM to her and she suggested that lots of you have been sucessful, Please share your successful work plan with those of us who have tried and failed.
Carol
HarleyLady
Location: Willamette Valley
Posted: Jun-02-2005 at 5:27pm
As I understand it, they're monocarpic so they die after flowering. The deadheading prevents it from forming seedpods so it'll sprout additional shoots and become perennial.
Although they like a moist location, they can't take too much moisture in the winter. I lost some seedlings because of this and if I grow them again, I'll cover them with a clay pot and bait for slugs as recommended to me (can't remember who).
I successfully started them from seed but it was a long time ago and I dont recall the exact procedure I used. I bought the seed from T&M and used the instructions they sent.
I plant to grow them again when I get moved
HarleyLady
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Jun-02-2005 at 6:21pm
A number of years ago, I was given some seed. I planted them in pots and they easily germinated. I had oodles of them so I gave some to my sister-in-law and planted the ones I kept. The slugs ate them—every single one. My sister-in-law didn't know they were hard to grow and how to grow them and she successfully grew them to flower. I don't think she deadheaded them though, if I remember correctly. I was jealous that she was able to get them to flower while mine nourished the neighborhood slug herd.
I bought this batch from a local wholesale nursery last year, that some here have been to—Foxglove Nursery. I planted them just under the eaves of my front porch in very well drained soil. I protected them from slugs. And this year I've been aptly rewarded with flowers.
Of course they began flowering just before I went on vacation. I photographed them and then cut them and put them in a vase in the house for my hubby to enjoy, and off I went to the beach for the week. When I came home the flowers were still in the vase, with no change of water or any care, six days later. So I conclude they make a good cut flower too. So we shall see how these do after not being allowed to set seed. If I hadn't gone on vacation, I might not have cut them, and then they probably would die.
So Foxglove Greenhouse has a whole greenhouse full of these plants for their mailorder business, and they have strict orders to save me some (he would laugh if he read that), when they are ready. I am going to plant quite a few more in various places in the garden and see how they do in different soil and locations.
Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: Jun-02-2005 at 8:53pm
My one I planted from a 4 inch pot this year has been beautiful. It has loved the cloudy, cool weather and each flower lasts about a week, they have opened one at a time. It makes me happy when ever I see it, too. I'm on my 4th flower from one crown. I'm leaving one seed pod to get seeds. It has 4 crowns and I know the flowering crown will die and the others will bloom next year. I won't let them all bloom if it doesn't make some replacement crowns. The other one I had a few years ago lasted about 3 years but finally succumbed to more invasive plants and a bad slug year. I do worry about the slugs, it's not their favorite food but the big ones will eat it sometimes and I don't try to control them because it would be a losing battle in my yard. Because of these warnings I think I will sow some seeds in a pot and leave them on my back porch to gain some size before they have to deal with the slugs. I remember they need a cold period to germinate so I am just going to sow them when ripe and let them freeze and thaw outside.I think I might try the clay pot idea with remay cloth over the hole[to keep out the slugs] during the winter.
Harley Lady, with that rich bottom soil you are moving to I bet you can grow them perfectly.
Fern
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Jun-04-2005 at 8:50pm
So where is this Foxglove at?
~BakingBarb
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton