3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I am so glad to see the live plant. I planted Mystery Day in June from tuber that was on sale, and only saw a picture online when I ordered. It is about 2 feet high now but no blooms yet. I can hardly wait now that I see how it really looks. Beautiful, Thanks for sharing.
How exciting! I've been growing Mystery Day indoors since June 25th. Yours look just like the picture that came with the tuber! Mine are also about 2 feet high but very puny.
I don't want to plant it outside yet because it's so darn hot here! I put it outside for a couple of hours every day to try and get it used to it. I planned on planting it when it gets a little cooler.
Here's a picture of mine:
By dgarrand, shot with PDRM5 at 2007-08-05
It looks pretty sickly doesn't it?
Thanks for sharing yours!
Dee
Hey Anita--
In my experience, yes a tuber does reach its mature height in year one----but it/they are slower to get there. Of course, I've not taken a tape measure to my plants and there may be variations of a few inches or so but nothing noticible to the eye.
In my opinion, clumps are simply unpredictable. Some of mine are shorter than the others of the same name---have more sprouts climbing on the ground before I notice and can stake them, and simply have less flowers.
Good luck,
Patricia
Sounds like Trips. I had a problem with them for a while, but it seems like the Pirate Bugs are getting them under control now.
I have used Spinosad on the buds as they are just starting to open and it seems to help. I don't like to use it on the flowers when they are fully open, becuase it is toxic to bees. The product I use is made by Green Light. Hope this helps.
This is my 2nd year growing dahlias and those relentless ants attack my plants too! I donot have any aphids so I'm not sure why the ants are there. I do know that they are everywhere from the base of the stalk to the leaves on top of the plant. They swarmed one of my newly sprouted dahlia plants a few months ago when it was only 1 inch tall. I've tried several types of insecticides for all sorts of bugs on my dahlias and Sevin seems to be the most potent. The downside is...I heard it kills good bugs too.
I am also new to dahlias this year, and have several large tubers in the ground as well as smaller ones in containers. At the beginning of the summer, I had a horrible ant problem as well. They were eating the leaves leaving gross little white egg looking things on the stems. Anyway, I bought a can of insect powder called Selvin and dusted it over the dahlias. The ants returned several weeks later and I dusted again. Now, about two months later, I haven't had any more problems and the plants are doing very well!!!
Why not try to root it? You probably would have better results if you give the cutting some protection from the hot sun for a while ( in a pot), and then you could transplant it when the roots have formed. Many of us do stem cuttings in the spring. You should also get more tubers in the fall.
DB Fantastic!
I guess you must be close to my home, being that you belong to Dahlia societies in NY and CT.
I am from East Hartford, Ct. Since I do not have your contact info, (you mentioned helping me out with your fine Varieties)and I tried to find an e-mail address or something to contact you in spring........... perhaps there is another way, (hint)
How would you like to have a complete stranger visit?
Love to see the garden in person. ( I know this is bold, rash and uncalled for and please forgive my inproriety) :)
Please Keep the pictures comming
Thanks, Ox
I have mine growing quite close (6" - 9 "), and they don't rot. I am wondering if your bed is getting adequate drainage. Mine are slightly raised so I know they get the drainage they need. On the other hand, I have to water every day. Another thought might be the soil make-up. Is there too much clay, and not enough organics?
Wow alyrics, you're planting Thomas Edison in a pot? How big is the pot(diameter wise)? I have a friend who wants to grow T.E. in a pot also but we don't know how big of a pot it has to be. Also, please let me know if it's thriving well in the pot. Any info would be most helpful...
Tracy
linht......yes, my Zorros are darker....the flash may have gone off when I took the photo causing them to look lighter. I've cut one off the bush and put it in a vase
It measures 10 inches across, just like the other two.
I'm only growing 3 up at a time to get them large.
DB
They're lovely! I order from Breck's also and I question their description on bloom widths because my Kelvin Floodlight is always about 10 - 12 inches but the catalog says it's about 9 inches. And Garden Wonder is suppose to be 6 inches but mine are always around 4 - 5 inches. Oh well, at least they bloom I guess.
This time of year you probably need a liquid. Since the demise of Diazinon you may have to use something containing Methoxychlor if you can find it there. Just mix according to directions and pour some around the base of the plant. Steve in Baltimore County.