Dahlia Care

Growing conditions:

In order to thrive and produce abundant blooms, dahlias require a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day. Select a sunny area in the garden with soil that drains well, or if needed, elevate the garden bed to ensure proper drainage. Growing in pots is also very popular and a great way to control drainage. Every plant we grow is done so in pots, ranging from 3 to 10 gallons with fantastic success and beautiful healthy tubers after the season ends.

For Dahlias to thrive, it is important to mix at least 2 to 4 inches of good compost/well-rotted manure and a sprinkle of 1 tbsp feathermeal into the soil before planting. Some people find good results from adding alfalfa pellets into the hole below the tuber, always mindful to have a small amount of soil in between the alfalfa and the tuber.

It’s imperative to stake dahlias to prevent them from toppling over due to the weight of their blooms and in windy conditions.

When planting small numbers of plants together, insert strong stakes next to the tubers to secure the stems as they grow.

The corral technique is highly effective for flower growers with large amounts of plants, involving metal T-posts placed roughly every 2.5 m along bed perimeters with bailing twine strung between the posts to support the plants.

 

Tuber care:

After receiving your tubers, keep them in a cool, dry area inside or under protection until the risk of frost is gone. Do not plant any tubers in soil that is too wet, whether in the garden or in pots. Heavy Spring precipitation in your region might indicate that it is advisable to postpone planting until the soil is consistently ready.

When planting, dig 4-6 inch deep holes or trenches positioning the tubers on their sides, with the growing eye/shoot pointing upwards. Leave a gap of 12 inches between tubers before applying a layer of soil. Wait to start watering until the first green shoots appear. Too much water can and will rot your tubers.

 

Cutting care:

Treating your cuttings like tubers when it comes to how deep you plant is encouraged. You do not want to plant them at soil line level but rather removing a few sets of leaves getting as much stem and roots as close to 4/6 inches as possible to ensure good tuber production and plant growth.

The big difference with cuttings are:

1 - They need far more water then tubers. When you plant tubers, you don't want to over water causing unnecessary rotting until you see a few inches of growth coming out of the soil. With cuttings though, they already have a root system in place and need to be treated as an established plant would. Keep them well watered and fed will encourage happy & healthy roots!

2 -Cuttings need to be acclimated to the sun if you have had them indoors or if they have just arrived after being shipped. Take a few days to slowly get them used to their forever spot outdoors. After a few days, when you see there is no shock taking place it is safe to plant them providing the weather is good when you do. They are delicate and in need of a little more attention but the blooms prove to be even more stunning than from tuber grown plants.

 

Plant Care:

Make sure to water your Dahlias regularly throughout the entire growing season.

Soaker hoses are ideal for watering plants, or alternatively, water directly at soil level using a hose, avoiding the leaves. When your plants are about 9 inches tall or are showing 4 sets of leaves, it is wise to pinch the growing tip to promote lower branches, enhancing flower production and stem length on very sturdy plants.

Be very cautious of slugs, snails and earwigs near your plants. All of them have the potential to harm the young plants, flowers, and tubers and in some cases can do so very quickly.

 

Cut flowers:

Following your diligent efforts, your precious tubers will repay you with a magnificent display of lovely flowers.

When cutting your blooms to share with friends & family or simply to enjoy their beauty inside your home you can expect stems cut at the right stage to last for 5 to 7 days. With some forms keeping their beautiful shape & color for even longer.

It’s crucial to pick dahlias when they are almost fully open but not overly ripe as they do not open much after being harvested.

Inspect the rear of every flower, ensuring the petals are plump and properly moisturized. If the petals feel dry or wrinkled, it indicates that the flowers are getting old and won’t stay fresh in the vase.

After coming inside, make a new horizontal cut at the stem’s bottom. Some find that putting stems a bucket of very hot water (not boiling) can extend their beauty and viability. Allowing the stems to remain in the water until the water cools where you then can arrange them in a clean vessel with fresh water.

Using floral preservative can also help prolong the life of flowers in a vase as well as changing the water daily.