3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
oliver75 - I don't have any answer for you, as I, too, am a complete novice with dahlias. But I have some brown on a bud now and then, as well as some leaves getting brown (quite a bit). I'm replying to your post because I can see that nobody has come forth with any help for you. I thought I'd mention the forum called "Pests and Diseases" on the general list of the garden forums. I posted a question there and got a couple of good answers, so you might give that a try.
Not being able to capture bright or dark purples is one of the greatest frustrations of photographing dahlias. Someone said to adjust the white balance on your camera, if able, but I have yet to find any adjustment that does the flower justice.
It does look parched there, but despite it all, you've got a nice flower for your efforts.
Sometimes as gardeners, we just have to cut our losses. I had several tubers which I planted this spring, and they just did not come up. I purchased a new one, planted it, and it still has not come, but a large week has come up in the same pot.
Some I planted in my hedge were supposed to be 4 foot dahlias but turned out to be barely 1 foot. They look strange next to their 4 foot sisters. LOL They will be planted next year at the front of the house, along with my other midget size dahlias. I also got another new one which my wife HATES, so it will become compost this fall. The soil makes a difference in the colour of the bloom to some extent.
Ah well, the joys of gardening.
If you're having hot summer days, it sounds like a perfectly reasonable and normal dahlia to me. The key is that it rebounds, formed buds and they're almost open. I wouldn't worry too much. Just keep it watered once or twice weekly, fertilize as you see fit and enjoy. When they wilt and stay wilted, that's a real problem.
Someone else asked about this a month or so ago. Yes. JB's eat just about everything--in my garden at least. However, they do not seem to really destroy the dahlia folliage to the extent they have decimated my hardy hybiscus folliage.
Do the rose trick. Every morning or afternoon take your pan of soapy water and knock the JB's into it. Or if your not the timid type, squish the little devils with your fingers.
2 weeks is getting pretty old for a bloom, so that may account for the brown spots. Sometimes rain will spot petals too.
If you see ants on your dahlias, you might want to check along the stems for aphids. Easily washed away with a squirt of water, or even removed by hand squeegying.
I haven't had Bishops Children but have grown Bishop of Llandaff and Bishop of York in part sun/shade nd they were about 4-5 ft tall and just fabulous. No wonder Llandaff is one of the most popular dahlias of all time.
here are 2 seed companies that have it - just have to google
Dianes http://www.dianeseeds.com/Index.html
Thomson Morgan
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/us/en/product/7035/1
heres's Llandaff and York grown in containers on the deck
I've moved full grown, blooming dahlia plants before with lots of success. They'll droop for awhile, but generally come back with no problem. I'd shelter them from the sun for a few days. I have some holes in my garden where dahlias didn't come up or didn't look good after they did so I move some from my "reserve" garden to fill those spaces. One year my step-sister decided to get married very quickly. We had a long driveway and my Mother wanted dahlias lining the driveway. She moved plants from where they couldn't be seen to the driveway and they looked beautiful by the time the wedding happened. I, personally, wouldn't cut them back at this stage.
How much you water depends totally on the weather and your soil. Are you having any rain at all? The optimum way to water is with a soaker hose or "t-tape" (which is what I use). It's better not to get the water on the leaves -- helps prevent diseases. If you have only a few, using the hose directly on the plant would be good. I'd just let it run at the base of the plant gently for a while. They don't need water daily.
Teresa
Overall, I don't think one dahlia variety is hardier than another (I'm sure there are exceptions). In your part of the country, I wouldn't chance leaving them in the ground. I agree with Steve on how some (many) catalogs stretch the truth as to hardiness. Does it mention that dahlias do not like wet feet? Here in the Pacific Northwest, more dahlias are lost in the winter to that than to freezing.
Teresa
This is the first time I have checked this Forum. Re: whitefly. It must have a host plant to reproduce. Do a search for "whitefly hosts" and carefully reads the lists of plant names that will appear. You are growing one or more of them in your yard and if they are removed your whitefly problem should end.
Sometimes I order from VB just for the amusement factor, though this time I really wanted to add Karma Sangria. Mine has the sturdy stems that seem to belong to my Karma Naomi, Karma Fuchiana and Karma Ventura. WOnder if they got our tubers from the trial fields? I love my new Karma Ventura though! My siser says the flowers look like silk flowers when they close up at evening. Sure wish there was a better source for the karmas where we could get them in small numbers!
Your Sangria imposter is lovely! COuld it be one of the other Karma's? I highly doubt if we will see my big bronze on the market ever!
Hi Pooch - Looks like you are startng to collect my colors now - that one looks like Matchmaker maybe - I had to toss mine - sick.
I like Sangria a lot.
Here is a link that might be useful: