Poppy Stems Darkened And Bent Over

Question From: S. Laramee - Oxford, Massachusetts, United States
Q: I bought a poppy plant this year and love it. I had four buds the first was beautiful, second was smaller. The other two stems darkened and bent over with no flowering. What caused this and will they come back next year?

A: Unfortunately I can't answer your questions. The poppy is not happy. They like lean fast draining soil and fertilizing them is a no-no. I have clay soil and do not have luck with oriental poppies, What I can grow is annual poppies. Scatter the seeds in fall. After they bloom and produce seed pods collect the seed and scatter it where you want them to grow.Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy