Not much nutrition in peat/sand, and that may be a little quick draining for meconopsis. They like a highly organic, somewhat rich soil - I use the Cornell recipe (local garden center mixes it for us here), or any packaged good quality potting mix I might have on hand. I start the seeds in the same mix, outdoors so sterile isn't required.

I think the cooler-than-normal temps have something to do with the growth rate this year. I have germinated seed pots in three places (none as shady as your site) and the container doing best with the most vigorous seedlings is on a semi-protected, partially glassed in porch, facing south.

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Hi
As you know these poppies are difficult to grow and transplant--which does not mean we should not try. I know people that neglect them all the way through and the plants thrive. On the other hand, I know people that baby them and are extremely careful (me!) and have never been successful. I will keep trying though :)
If I were you I'd try using some liquid kelp fertilizer (very diluted) to see if that helps. A friend of mine reported good results with that technique. The lack of growth is, I am sure, in big part due to the cool days. Good luck.

You are doing good to get a second set of leaves.
Mine have always damped off before that.
They are definitely slow in my experience.

A well draining potting mix is good, adding extra sand and gravel to a commercial mix can help.
Add some fine gravel on the surface after transplanting and
provide good air circulation.
Try watering from the bottom only.

Grrr! I have never been able to grow these out. I had germination lots of times. Been so careful with the seedlings only to have them die. Is there anywhere you can buy a Himalayan Poppy plant in our area? This is something I really, really want. Very elusive to me so far, the Blue Poppy.

Most independent garden centers here stock blue poppies. These plants come originally from mountainous areas in monsoon climates where they grow in rich meadowlands receiving lots of clouds and rain during summer. Enemies are heat, drought, infertility, slugs and mites. They also don't like to be pelted by water dripping from high-branching trees. In the wild they grow in the open, yet may get little direct exposure to hot sun as the summer climate is wet and the altitude high.

At Windsor Great Park in England and the David Lam Asian Garden, UBC Botanical Garden, Vancouver they grow them in special beds of moist soil - sometimes near streams. Moist, but not soggy.

G. Shenk suggested in the Sunset rock gardening book that the "rainforest" valleys of the Olympic Peninsula would be ideal for these. In UK they get the best results in parts of Scotland.

Poppies do not like to be transplanted and won't do well.So the ones that you have transplanted won't do well and if they were mine I would just get rid of them.The others ( assuming that you did not move them?) will be ok they take time and the weather has not been great.Mine are small also they don't like it too hot.I would just leave them and they may start growing.You need to cut out ( not pull) to thin them out as needed and don't bother saving any because they won't do much when transplanted..

Scarleta, I've grown them from seed for years and I don't find meconopsis resent being transplanted like papaver does. Not seedlings (which I move up into individual containers), and not mature plants either, I have divided and moved established clumps in Fall without problem.

This year I lost a 24" ceramic container to winter weather (cracked) and it held meconopsis Lingholm and other assorted perennials. I didn't get around to replacing the container until dormancy was fully over and even with roots grown into other plants the Lingholm sailed though it's move this Spring, produced multiple flower stalks just like those in the ground. They really aren't that fragile - unless presented with dry or compacted soil.

Elbereth, an afterthought...You might find the information in this site from my Favs helpful. It's England, so keep in mind when 'compost' is mentioned, it's not decomposed plant remains but what we would call potting soil or mix.

Cultivation, Propagation

Here is a link that might be useful: Meconopsis Group

A local nurserywoman offered blue poppies grown from division for years. Although related they are not in the same genus as poppies (Papaver) - and even the perennial species of these latter are not as apt to be knocked for a loop by transplanting as annual poppies.

Many kinds of plants seem to be enjoying the recent weather, I'd think as long as their crowns did not get too wet or the potting soil too leached or decomposed etc. I'd think blue poppies would be thriving under these conditions.

Thanks Morz 8.
I never had any luck transplanting poppies they just did not do well.Same with dill never works for me.??? Thanks maybe if I have different kind ? may work out..

I live pretty much in the rain forest, very close to the Olympic Peninsula. The best growing specimen in my garden is moss. I have masses of papaver somniferum growing everywhere. (Those do not like to be transplanted, I have way more success direct sowing these) Just threw seeds everywhere last Fall. They are just beginning to open now. All different colors and kinds. I will give the Himalayan Blue Poppy one more chance. Put more peat pots out with seeds. Even the seeds for these suckers are pricey. bboy, where does this lady sell divisions? Does she still? I would LOVE to get some! I even have heard to make it a stronger perennial, DO NOT let it bloom the first year. Just let it concentrate it's energy on vegetative growth. :o) Good luck elbereth, hope yours make it!

That's how she got her perennial stock started, if prevented from blooming the first year from seed Meconopsis betonicifolia forms side shoots and becomes perennial. Many people want to try these plants (blue poppies of various kinds) so independent garden centers here do stock them. Try calling around. If geographically isolated may have to mail order.

Was out making sales calls today and discovered that the Haggen/Top Food stores in the north sound area are selling Meconopsis grandis at very attractive prices. May be worth a drive :-)

Many gardeners or elusive blue poppy fans cannot bring themselves to remove the flowers with the unconfirmed prospect of possibly encouraging a more perennial habit - no guarantees, this a fussy plant to establish well. So a reasonably affordable price for those who are inclined to treat it as an exotic annual is justified.

I've grown M. betonicifolia, removed the buds the first year and had them persist myself. I don't think this is an unusual outcome. First year plants attempting bloom look like biennials, with not much going on at the base. But if you prevent flowering sideshoots pop right out. And first year plants may not produce that much of a bloom, so you're letting the plant terminate itself for a lesser display then a clump that has been in place for a few years might make.

Since like poppies (Papaver) these produce salt shaker type capsules that blow around better on stiff stems they probably produce toxins that kill the flowering stem and make it stiff. Maybe growth of offshoots is suppressed by the developing flowers, and without the flowers the barrier to offshoot production is gone.

M. grandis is perennial regardless unless conditions are too dry.

Wow, I've been away from the comp for a few days, and so many replies! Thanks for the help! I'll definitely keep on trying. Its been so hot here for the past week though that even my native plants are sulking.

Hot? Where the heck are you? We haven't been out of the 50s here on the coast in about three weeks - meconopsis don't tolerate hot well, not even established clumps.

Yes, I did some research and found out that meconopsis don't tolerate hot weather. I was hoping for a cool summer this year. But we've hit the 80's / 90's here in Toronto. I hope the heat won't last and my seedlings will pull through. I did sprout another pack of meconopsis, this one Thompson & Morgan M. betonicifolia, and they don't seem to mind the heat at all!

Hmmmmm......with a continental climate that includes hot, dry summers all bets are off for perennializing these plants :-)) Outside of areas to which they are native, they thrive best in Alaska. Not sure Toronto's gonna be able to measure up to their preferred growing conditions. Good luck!