I cut some for a wedding on Friday, I have never cut them before but my mom has and always singed the ends to keep the sap from running. I also consulted a great book I have Garden to Vase by Linda Beutler, I highly recommend this book even to seasoned flower growers. She writes: cut in AM, heat seal with candle flame and put in flower preserve; the flowers should last five days or so. I'm going to cut more today for my pleasure and see how long they last.

I also have oriental poppies and am unsure of what stage to cut. It seems if I cut when the sepals start to separate, the bloom takes several days to unfurl and the petals are black tinged on the edges from the pollen. I have pink poppies with a black blotch.

Do you want until the sepals are completely off before cutting your poppies?

Teresa