Troubleshooting
Poppy Anemone problems — and how to fix them
Poppy Anemone (Anemone coronaria) is generally low-drama, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Corm rot (Sclerotinia and Botrytis)
Wet storage or poorly drained soil causes corm rots; store lifted corms in dry sand or vermiculite in a cool, frost-free place, and inspect before replanting, discarding any that are soft or mouldy.
Leaf eelworms and caterpillars
Leaf eelworms (Aphelenchoides) cause browning between veins with no chemical cure; caterpillars can shred foliage rapidly — hand-pick or apply a biological Bacillus thuringiensis treatment.
Prevent poppy anemone problems before they start
Most poppy anemone issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Poppy Anemone problems — FAQ
Why is my poppy anemone corm rot (sclerotinia and botrytis)?
Wet storage or poorly drained soil causes corm rots; store lifted corms in dry sand or vermiculite in a cool, frost-free place, and inspect before replanting, discarding any that are soft or mouldy.
Why is my poppy anemone leaf eelworms and caterpillars?
Leaf eelworms (Aphelenchoides) cause browning between veins with no chemical cure; caterpillars can shred foliage rapidly — hand-pick or apply a biological Bacillus thuringiensis treatment.