3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
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.
Thank you! I am so relieved, as I hate to remove stems that seem to be growing so enthusiastically. Just want to say - thanks to you and others here, I was able to make 4 plants out of one much desired dahlia that I bought this year (a big clump which was showing several eyes). And I felt so proud I divided correctly!
Thanks again,
Anna
I've used Shultz Moisture Plus Watering Crystals, they used to sell it at Wal-Mart and Soil Moist, which is sold at Pike here in Atlanta GA. I use the crystals for my Window boxes and it keeps my plants alive. Other than that , they would surely die, because my boxes are up high and the heat is relentless. You only need a tiny bit for each plant or else you will have a ton of jelly like beads all over the place that will eventually surface.
Yipeee!!!
My dahlias are now planted. Just came home from wintering in Florida. Checked my tubers and they wintered just fine. Most eyed up nicely. Bought 14 new varities for this season. I have way more than I need and will probably give many away and make someone else a Dahlia lover.. So excited for this season...
Sue
That is breathtaking! And you're in zone 2? I am amazed - when did they go in the ground? I started mine mid-April, but many are still in pots - mostly due to lack of time, etc etc.
Gorgeous pictures!
Anna
Beautiful Hawaii! I have zone 2 envy. LOL!