# Why do cut poppies turn in a vase?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cut-poppies-turn-in-a-vase/181998>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 15, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cut-poppies-turn-in-a-vase/181998 "2003-06-15T11:53:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Badbug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Badbug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badbug)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cut-poppies-turn-in-a-vase/181998/1 "2003-06-15T11:53:28Z")

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I realize this sounds odd but my Mum has cut several poppies and brought them in the house as a cut flower. We have noticed that while unseen to the naked eye the poppy will slowly after several hours turn to another direction. It has literally moved from center to left then right. It is on a shelf away from direct sunlight. While I realize potted plants will lean to the sun I was not aware that cut flowers would do the same. Is this possible?

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**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cut-poppies-turn-in-a-vase/181998/2 "2003-06-16T00:50:11Z")

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yep, it is possible… i noticed tulips do it. they swing around like merry go rounds.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cut-poppies-turn-in-a-vase/181998/3 "2003-06-16T01:28:59Z")

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Plants grow towards the light. As long as the plants are getting water and are still alive, they will still do it.

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**Author:** ![thatDDperson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@thatDDperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatDDperson)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-cut-poppies-turn-in-a-vase/181998/4 "2003-06-17T03:59:49Z")

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Poppies, like sunflowers, are heliotropic. They will always try to face the sun.

Tulips just have a mind of their own, and will go off in all directions, Some will open and close with the time of day (diurnal), but if they have any energy for growth left in their stems, tulips will grow. Sometimes florists put a small vertical cut in the neck of a tulip to keep it from growing "out’ of the design pattern. sometimes it even helps.

Your friendly neighborhood florist…me