3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Hi Poochella-
Geeze, my Neon Splendor is this puny 3" wide very yellowish bloom and super tall (???) not half so nice as your 2008 Neon not to mention your current one.
Here's a classic I have been growing for years...a beautiful melon color and great form about 8". Someone on this forum typed it as a Babylon Bronze.
Here's the Babylon Bronze thread below and your lovely arrangement! Love that soft peachy/pink color in both old and new versions. Very nice. I wish I'd quit finding dahlias I want!
Here is a link that might be useful: Babylon Bronze
Good call rose nutty. Starjr you should read some about digging up and storing for winter. A great starting place is here
http://dahlias.net/dahwebpg/CultureIndex/Culture.htm
Unfortunately, they look to be revising/updating that site and winter prep, digging, and dividing is absent right now. You can read about the process of overwintering whole clumps of dahlia roots or cutting into single/small clumps at almost any dahlia society website. Do a google search.
Below is another good learning site.
Here is a link that might be useful: Mid Island Dahlia Society
Forget the gallery and its puny size limitation: keep on posting right here til Gardenweb refigures the value of a gallery. That's my vote.
So pretty. Wish I could help you out on that stunning purple but I can't. Love the color though. How is Beaucon White on flower production? I like the draping petals.
Hi Viking
My Gitts is barely more than a big fat opening bud. Shows what a difference 50 miles makes.
The tripods are an excellent idea. Are they anchored inside the pot and if so how?
I am still in love with those big fat square wooden planters you have off to the right in the first picture. Any interest in building a couple more....(for a pal, hmmmmm)?
My best regards to your spouse,
Lucinda
The tripods are just stuck in the soil. But most of those pots are over 12 inches deep. That gives the tripodos a lot of support. I tryed selling my home build pots to my neighbors for fifty dollars. The wood cost me around $23 at Lowes. They just laughed at me. They are way to heavy to ship at reasonable cost. I will tell the wife you asked about her. Thanks those kind of things make her happy. As well as all the kitties eatig treats out of her lap.
Our DD just graduated from college in OC and studied in Beijing for a semester. Talk about cough. I don't think she saw the sun break through in Beijing the entire time- just haze and brown glow of the new day. Fascinating place though.
How far from the recent BC fires were you Mactavish? Nasty things and the only thing I dread about a dry summer.
Did you fertilize with anything that might be burning your leaves? When I had a couple container type dahlias, I recall that they were the first to go as far as blooming went. Those are the only things I can think of for what you describe.
I'd just take the brown leaves off, they're not coming back to green, I don't think. Maybe your plant is taking a breather and will have a second spurt?
How is your soil in the pot? Does the soil drain well? NEVER use garden dirt only in a planter.
Another thing--being a container plant, be sure your plant is not "dry" before fertilizing--in other words, if in doubt, water the plant at least an hour before fertilizing.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Hi Annie- that Windhaven Blush is gorgeous!
As for Aztec Gold- it is ours & all of ours are in the process of having the Wyn's put in front of the name. Some of the growers that put out a catalog every year might not change the name because of production costs? Dunno--- but I'll get in touch w/ Don McAllister to have it changed on the Big List- I thought it had been. Ah, well...can't keep up w/ everything. Just finished deadheading all the gardens & disbudding- although it seems like that needs doing again as soon as we get through it. I keep telling Farmer Walt if he didn't fertilize we wouldn't have that problem >:)
SuzieQ- thanks for giving the heads-up! & for the endorcement on the other thread- I'm glad to hear your dahlias are doing so well.
I've been through Salmon Arm many years ago en route from the midwest US to our NW location. I should have known you were up there in similar heavenly surroundings. It's just gorgeous.
Veryzer, you're too kind. I don't know about red letter gospel; red flag warning might be more like it, but I keep trying and learning from those more in the know.
It's not normal but it gives a chance to see some pretty deformed blooms. Something happened when the bud was forming to cause this abnormality. What, I cannot say.
Genetics? Weather? Chemicals?
What I'd like to know is what causes the *$() hard green centers or elongated centers which ruin otherwise wondrous blooms.
The good thing is chances are high your other Grandma's Lemon Pie flowers will come out just fine.
The hard green centers can be caused by the weather- when the bud forms too fast for it to develop properly-- usually really hot weather when the bud is first forming will cause this. Or sometimes a dahlia will just break down & it's time to get rid of that stock & get new. If the green center stays all season- even into the cooler fall then it's time to let it meet the compost pile.
Thanks again. I tried this today and was shocked at how many of those little buds I found. Now I think I stand a chance of keeping the blooms on the plant.
You're welcome. Disbudding is a constant thing and should make a big difference in the weight on your branches, better main bloom and longer stem on that bloom, if you cut them.