3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Here's a big list of diseases that can affect dahlias. I would guess crown gall. (Google for images of this)
Here is a link that might be useful: UC Davis dahlia disease list
thanks to both of you. unfortunately, it's not just the bottom leaves and it seems limited to just one variety that i bought this year, so i'm pretty sure it's a bug or a fungus. i bought 2 kinds...one just a figaro mix, which are fine and "sunburst" which are beautiful, but yellowing on all the leaves. i'm going to try bayer's 3 in one rose and flower which is supposed to aid blooming (no real problem here), and control bugs and fungus. wish me luck. they will either be better when i get back from vacation or they will be near death........
It seems you put other plants at risk by keeping a gall infected plant. Here's a great article, though it does not offer much hope for any kind of treatment. Like questionable food in the fridge: "if in doubt, throw it out" might be good advice. Or, keep it isolated in a pot and discard it, if it makes it through the season.
Here is a link that might be useful: crown gall article
Shrivelled isn't ideal, but it's not the death knell either. Go ahead and plant them. Don't let them sit out in the air much longer. I looked at your photos and see a few candidate spots where eyes might be on several of the tubers. Look on the collar of the tuber for a small raised bump- perhaps pale yellow, pink, or very pale green, and plant that side up.
Or, if you want to make sure they have eyes, you can put the clumps in a gallon bag with barely moist potting soil, top of bag open. Keep them warm and light and within days those bumps should become visible. You don't need to bury them, just a few handsful of soil with a couple tbsp of water mushed around to give them a little moisture. Works like a charm here.
Good luck!
I am happy to report that my dahlias survived. I planted them soon after this post. Awhile back two popped up that i planted in a corner of the yard so wouldnt be disturbed.
As well, one came up where I originally dug them up, must have missed one. They are all about 8 inches high.
I am thrilled. So, I have one to share if anyone in OC wants one.
Thanks for all the help.
Hi
To my eye the picture does not seem to support the diagnosis of powdery mildew. Mildew is unmistakable in
appearance. The leaves will seem to have been sprayed
with a white powder. Just a few leaves or the whole
plant if bad case. Appears to me from the picture to
be mites or aphids. I would spray with a combo insect-
icide/fungicide to be on the safe side. Plants appear
to be cramped for living space which invites disease etc.
Hope this helps.
I am so excited having just picked 4 blooms from Dahlias started in pots then transplanted to my garden in May. I beleive these are all Orchid types if that is what the single ones with the rolled and pointed petals are. I saw a Display of these at Pt Defiance parks' dalia garden last year and just had to buy every one of them I culd find! I am in love with them even with their first bloom on small plants and can not wait until they get up to size and blooming at eye level or above like the ones at the park! I think 2 of these first ones were Northfield Sparkler and Amy's Star.
It could be a flea beetle if it looks like BB's have been shot though the leaves. They are little black beetles that jump like fleas and are usually found on the underside of the leaves. Sevin will control them and just about any other bug that eat on your dahlias. It will kill the bees too so you don't want to use it on blooms.
I can tell how excited you are Christina & you've a right to be. Generally if I have harmed a tuber in any way, it's a gonner. That's o.k., lesson learned, pay attention! Hope you'll enjoy all your pretty flowers when they start blooming and don't forget we love to see pictures.
I've got a couple that are shrivelling as well. Fortunately, I have a few others that I can replace the "sick" plant with. They are mixed in with many others that are getting the same treatment, and loving it, so who knows why these two are shrivelling. In my garden, only the tough survive. The others become compost.
For some reason, not all dahlias produce viable seed. I've saved seed from different varieties, had excellent germination from some batches and absolutely nothing from others. I've also had really lousy germination from commercially bought seeds (0-5%).
My recent experience with Ferry-Morse's Unwin dwarf seed: of 72 seeds sown, fifty have germinated. Still have more in the packet for further seeding. The first four seeds showed germinating roots in thirty-five hours! They were sown three per peat pellet; situated near a southerly facing door. Temps have been optimum, I reckon. Purchased the packet at Lowe's this spring.
Well done. I should try to set some up here. I have the timer, and the main hose line, but need the time to install the system.
Glad to hear it is working well. Maybe some pictures some day???
I will see what I can do - I don't have a digital camera, but my brother does. The next time he visits, I'll ask him if he can take a few pictures and save them to my computer. Then, of course, I'll have to figure out how to get them onto the GardenWeb! But I may as well give it a try....