3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

Thanks, Sturgeon Guy and Viking Craftsman. I actually had seen the website recommended before I wrote my starter query, but it must have been written by a botanist, or some sort of intellectual; I was confused and looking for a simpler recommendation, LOL, silly me. But I reread it and it makes SOME sense, so I went looking for the recommended rooting medium, "Sunshine Basic Mix 2" which had the 96% success rate (as opposed to the "Oasis" which had only a 62% success rate), and it isn't for sale anywhere around here. I threw the dahlias out because the stems looked like they were decaying, even tho I was changing the water in the vases. My DH didn't want to look at them anymore and I didn't think they'd have a good success rate. Should I have stripped the leaves? snipped of the wilting flower heads? I was afraid of injuring the growing nodes next to the leaves. Can you ask your neighbor how she does that VM, And/ or can you recommend another rooting medium SG? I am just about to run over to the farmers' market for another bouquet of Dahlias, gosh they're beautiful, This time I'll pick long stems with lots of nodes and won't trim off the ends. I didn't put the ends in hot water like they suggest because I was afraid it would make them difficult to take cuttings from.

I REALLY appreciate your help. Sorry so helpless but willing to learn. -Roze Gardener

They'll root in just about anything. I used Miracle Grow Start Mix with hydrating crystals for my cuttings this spring, worked just fine.

Cheers,
Russ

We had friends over after church today and I took the female part of the couple up to the garden and cut her a bouquet. A Pennsgift with rather good form, and a few Honkas not to mention various other flowers and the obligatory earwig. I love giving people bouquets, especially the informal, mixed colors and forms of the home garden; whatever is in bloom goes in there.

Triple b that is our gift to the world. We make this a better place to live by growing dahlias and introducing them to others who have not grown them. I have a cancer survivor across the street who is having another incident. She is looking forward to growing my dahlias in her garden next year. Making it a better place one person at a time.

what is that orange and yellow? stunning!

Thanks rozegardener. Triple b that orange and yellow is called Bodacious. It is a dinner plate dahlia. It gets about 10 to 11 inches across when fully opened.

Viking, I love jungles. Mine is a jungle, all 8x9feet of it.

Thanks triple b, the cats love it. Lots of places to hide. Also it make a great screen to sit behind. It gives us privacy from the road.

Victoria Ann gets my vote as well.

I agree Victoria Ann is extraordinary. Can I ask best way to overwinter? I have been using peat moss dampened a bit in Baggies that are twist tied and stored in the basement (or garage) and this has worked pretty well in the past (although I had some shrivel issues). Other times I have let them rot in the ground (good composting but somewhat expensive). Does anyone have a tried and true overwintering technique?

That lavender one is just lovely, Viking. Bolstering the stems of the tall ones, even without a stake, is a good idea. Sounds like Hannah is going to leave her mark on your area this weekend too, so I hope you cinch up the stems and I'll hope all passes without too much damage.

Thanks poochella, I have been giving away bouquets all day. Hoping to lower the resistence to the wind.

Henry,

We lost tubers to flooding in May this season. They just floated away never to be seen nor heard from again. Yes. Strange weather indeed.

In the hoophouse, we spread compost and till it in before planting the Karma dahlia plugs. We fertilize with a liquid fertilizer 10-20-20 through our drip irrigation line. This seems to work well.

We need to get manure spread on certain sections in our fields at some point this fall; and, if it continues to rain, this will prove to be quite the challenge since we are blessed with both clay and sandy soil. But, get the manure on those sections this fall is a number one priority. At this point we will just hope for an Indian Summer. But, I have to tell you digging dahlia tubers in November is not fun. We did that last season. Not looking forward to a repeat of that.

Karma dahlia do require support netting. We use Hortonova netting, 6" squares. We lay the netting directly on the ground when we plant so we know to plant in every other square. We then raise the netting up to around 18" from the ground for support. We use only one layer of support netting. The first cutting of dahlias is sometimes challenging. But, we are so happy to see color that we don't complain -- much.

The Karma dahlia cutting arrive pinched supposedly. If we see a bloom deep in the plant, we pinch it out which forces the two laterals to bloom at the same time. There are not a lot of side buds that require removal. These side buds will be long and bloom a few days after you have harvested some of the other blooms. The advantage of the Karma dahlia is they don't have the unsightly buds appearing above the flower such as many field grown dahlias. What we find annoying is that if we leave any buds in a bouquet, the market customer ALWAYS asks if these will bloom.

One other advantage to the Karma dahlia is they can be harvested before they are fully open -- unlike field grown dahlias.

Here is a photo of Corona showing the Hortonova support netting.

Trish

Trish,

Beautiful photo! I'm assuming the Hortonova netting is a plastic of sorts and you raise it using T-bars.
When watering, are you fertilizing each time or do you alternate between 'fresh' and 'fertilizer'?

Manure can be a beautiful thing! However, I've found that if it's too thick and not mixed well enough it holds the water too long but also can dry out very quickly. Also, its interesting what type of seeds sprout! It's all about the horse's menu I guess!

ALYRICS-We should name your storage method "The Alyrics Treatment!" Wish I could get away with it, too. I don't much value the mass marketers who label things willy-nilly and foist them on the unsuspecting consumer. Sometimes you get good stock from the big box stores, sometimes not. Quality control isn't their strong suit.

Do you use stakes in your large containers? I did quite a few in large pots last year, but avoided it this year because I don't care for the support system for a stake involved which was cross wires.

Good point on the water absorbing crystals, Russ. I had quite a few on the soil surface looking like globs of clear jello, as I did not hydrate them first. They worked well otherwise.

But thats just it, I didn't buy these from big box stores, these were from reputable garden centers. Very irritating. When I pay a $1.50 at Costco I have an expectation to just get something that grows. But if I'm paying $6 per tuber for a named item I'm sort of supposing I'm going to get what's on the picture - LOL.

I just got lucky last year - had Dahlia JuJu - haha!
If its colder this yr it prob won't work. I also got them out at the beginning of March and used your baggie method Poochella - dampened peat. It did give me some head start.
A

Thanks alot, that's very reasonable and understandable, and I'm glad to hear that's how its done.

Cheers,
Russ

Thanks for that good info Huey and Plantlady. I'm sure coming from experienced and dahlia-savvy growers, that it is as much appreciated as it is confounding to some.

National Show is back in WA! Whoo hoo- count me in.
Huey, you will drop a jaw when you visit Wynne's. It's well worth the short trip north.

Hi Russ,

Spider mites, huh? I'll look into that... the bugs do seem to really like dahlias. In previous years, it was ants.

Thanks for responding!

Jessie

Put a piece of white paper under a leaf that looks affected and tap the leaf...if its spider mites, you should see them move around on the paper.

Here's hoping you don't see anything move...

Cheers,
Russ