Fear not, floral designers! Opening poppies in time for your event is easy. In this video, I’ll demonstrate how to open poppies with a simple method for opening the buds and share a few other related tips, such as:

• When to cut poppies

• How to judge the longevity and vase life of poppies

• And a few favorite varieties for cutting!

How to Open Poppy Buds

1. Cut poppies when there is a small crack in the sepal—just enough to see a little color coming through. From here you can better time and control the opening.

2. Using your fingernail, gently but firmly begin peeling the poppy at the base of the flower.

3. The poppies will take a day or two before opening completely.

4. Practicing this technique is important for success and mastery.

Kelly's favorite poppies for cutting

• Peony Poppies, available here.

• Mother of Pearl Poppies, available here.

• Icelandic Poppies, available here.

Learn to grow poppies and more with Kathleen and Kelly in Foundations for Growing Cut Flowers.