3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Anna, I don't want to burst your sporting bubble, but Seattle has behaved so weirdly over a vast geographic expanse this year that I wouldn't rely on it to be a sport. People here in the NW US have complained it was a "non summer," with cooler and wetter conditions than usual, but others far away have had the same results on this variety.
Either Seattles have been all yellow, or yellow with a hint of a white tip on a couple petals or not blooming at all.
Here is a shot taken today: the best Seattle representative being on the left, and that is the only normal looking one I've had all year. It's just bizarre!
Here is the first bloom off the same plant. Nothing at all like the Seattle I've enjoyed in the past.
If you just got some tubers that have shoots I would put them in pots and hope they will be able to create enough energy to make it through storage soon. The pots would allow you to bring them in on cold nights and prolong their recovery time before they are done for the year.
Nice Pics Daniella!
The blooms are beautiful and the leaves are so green and plush. When or how long ago did you take the pics?
It looks like you've had just about the right amount of moisture and nutrient care. Like many across the country, we too here in Central New York (Syracuse) have had a lack of rainfall plus something like 14 or more days of 90 degrees or more heat this summer and our average is 5 days. It wouldn't have been bad except for the lack of rain. And my water bill was almost double.
But I won't complain as I know in many places like the Albany area who have been on a "Water on certain days only." edict.
It's finally raining today and I hope it stops long enough so I can get a few pics in myself as even the plants look look happy instead of the 01:00 PM droop they've been experencing almost daily.
When I woke up yesterday morning it was 82 degrees at 05:00 AM and I don't ever remember that high of an early morning temp happening before.
Thank you very much! :)
The dates that I took the pics are right above each picture. I was watering every day for awhile, but now I water every few days. I think the trick to the 1pm droop, which i experience too, it to water about 12:30 1:00. just at the base of the plants, and they perk right up. All I use on my dahlias is water, I never feed them. And I didnt even doctor up the soil before i planted the bulbs at the end of June. I pulled the grass & weeds, dug the bed, went about 6-8" down, then plopped the bulbs in. I've just gotten lucky I think. was hot here yesterday too, almost 90 at 8:30 pm. But thats how i like it.
Heres some more i took this morning.
9-09 This is my fav so far.Don't know the name, they were mislabeled..Any clues?
9-09
9-09 I'm not supposed to have white ones either..Any clues on this one?
Rowansmom:
Boy do I wish I lived out in OR....the heart of dahlia country! I would suggest you go to Swan Island
and talk to the Gitts who run the place. They are a wealth of knowledge on dahlias and can, I'm sure, answer all of your questions. In addition, I would join the Portland Dahlia Society. There you would have access to many experienced growers who could also assist you.
Good Luck,
DahliaBoy
Where are you in Michigan? I am in mid-Michigan and my dahlia results have been iffy. Some are great, some not so great, some pathetic. I blamed it on the heat, because the best performing ones get more shade than the others. Yours, however, look beautiful. I love bodacious.
Yes, I use hot water. However, I also use a drop of clorox, a tsp of sugar (sometimes some aspirin) and then put the flowers in a cool, dark place to drink water for a few hours or overnight(but I condition all of my cut flowers this way).
Bacteria is the biggest enemy of any cut flower. Change the water every day and if possible, clean the container or put just a drop of the clorox in everytime you add new water. Keep your arrangement out of a hot, sunny location.
Yes, I find all of the above makes a difference.
poochella hmmm got this from a garden center, threw out bag, these flowers are 9 inches.
The red flower? good question, beats me what it is....... although the flowers are medium sized 5 to 6 inches, and the type is Anemone.
misslucinda
Look just like yours! especially the first photo. Very nice. but if the color is represented correctly, then we are just close... My camera is dead on in color.
In my opinion I think you should dig them up. I am in NJ zone 6b, I have tried leaving them in the ground but they never made it. This year I am digging up all 40 and storing them in the basement..they are just too pretty to let die again. Plus, I suggest in the spring you start them in pots indoors. I don't know how the squirrels are by you, but here the lil buggers dig up almost everything in the spring, even if its only just to 'practice dig'.
They drive me insane, anyway..I say start them indoors in the spring then when they have decent amount of growth plant them in the garden.
Good luck,
Daniella
First of all I would like to say that your dogs are beautiful!!! I enjoyed looking at all your flowers too. You certainly have a green thumb. If I were you I would plant the Dahlias and leave them in the ground. But I'm not sure exactly where you are located. I am in zone 8 and they would be fine if left in the ground here on the west coast of Canada.
Thank you for your response. I guess I'll try them in the garden. I am not sure if they are viable anyway. I can't see any 'eyes' on any of them. Not sure if the person who gave them to me knew to look for them. If they don't make it I'll definitely be looking for some in the spring. I've been looking at pictures; I never knew how gorgeous Dahlias were before!!!
I'm glad you like my puppies; they are my joy.
Roxanne
ok. you are new to dahlias; I sugest you do some searches here. you will find great info.
In short, generally either there are no seeds or you wouldn't want them anyway. The plant stores its energy in a tuber underground. Cut off the stalk to 2 inches and carefully dig it up and get all its parts. This is to be replanted next spring. Store the tuber, cleaned off and dried, in an open plastic bag (keep it open slightly) packed in peatmoss, spanish moss or the like. The point is to retain the moisture content of the bulb, without letting it rot. Be sure to store in a cool dark place. Temps around 40-50 F.
Really a pretty color and a nice arrangement.
Thanks Poochella that's a a real compliment coming from you.
Bigcityal--I really hope you are right. What's curious is that I coudn't get any photos from the original vendor. Oh well.