Harlem Oriental Poppy

<h2>How to Plant and Care for Oriental Poppies</h2> <h2>Planting Instructions</h2> <ul> <li>Choose a spot with full sun or light afternoon shade.</li> <li>Ensure soil is well-drained. Oriental poppies dislike wet roots.</li> <li>Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide.</li> <li>Place the plant so the top is level with the surrounding soil.</li> <li>Space plants 18–24 inches apart to allow for airflow.</li> <li>Backfill soil and press gently to remove air pockets.</li> <li>Water deeply after planting.</li> </ul> <h2>Watering</h2> <ul> <li>Keep soil evenly moist after planting until established (about 2–3 weeks).</li> <li>After establishment, water when the top inch of soil is dry.</li> <li>Do not overwater — oriental poppies prefer slightly dry conditions over soggy soil.</li> </ul> <h2>Fertilization</h2> <ul> <li>Fertilize once per year in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar).</li> <li>Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers — they encourage foliage over flowers.</li> </ul> <h2>Maintenance</h2> <ul> <li>Deadhead spent flowers to extend blooming time.</li> <li>Foliage may yellow and die back after flowering — this is normal. Leave it until it fully dies back to feed the roots.</li> <li>Cut back dead foliage in late summer.</li> </ul> <h2>Winter Care</h2> <ul> <li>Apply 2 inches of mulch after the ground freezes to protect roots.</li> <li>Remove mulch in early spring as new growth emerges.</li> </ul> <h2>Container Planting</h2> <ul> <li>Use a large pot (minimum 12” deep) with drainage holes.</li> <li>Fill with well-draining potting mix (add sand or perlite if needed).</li> <li>Water thoroughly and let the top inch of soil dry before watering again.</li> </ul>