Why is my large orange poppy brown and not blooming this year? - Ask Extension
The leaves started browning before the buds came out. Buds grew but turned brown and didn’t bloom. This is a many years old plant that has been heal...
Knowledgebase
Why is my large orange poppy brown and not blooming this year? #874451
Asked June 24, 2024, 2:10 PM EDT
The leaves started browning before the buds came out. Buds grew but turned brown and didn’t bloom. This is a many years old plant that has been healthy every year and always blooms profusely. We had no flowers this year despite all the buds.
Larimer County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Patti,
I suspect it's related to water - too much or too little. It sounds like the plant was able to push flowers with the reserves or moisture that we had in winter and earlier this spring, but then it got very hot. These plants prefer more moderate temperatures and will usually go dormant shortly after bloom - this may have been earlier this season due to the heat we had in June.
Or perhaps they had too much water, if they are on a drip system. They don't like waterlogged soils and do best in a soil that's well-drained and on the drier side (but not too dry). If the soil was too wet, they can form buds but not flower.
I suspect it's related to water - too much or too little. It sounds like the plant was able to push flowers with the reserves or moisture that we had in winter and earlier this spring, but then it got very hot. These plants prefer more moderate temperatures and will usually go dormant shortly after bloom - this may have been earlier this season due to the heat we had in June.
Or perhaps they had too much water, if they are on a drip system. They don't like waterlogged soils and do best in a soil that's well-drained and on the drier side (but not too dry). If the soil was too wet, they can form buds but not flower.
