3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
I think that the problem with your tubers growing tubers and roots but no stem is that they didn't have an eye on them. Tubers will continue to grow but they will never sprout a stem if they don't have a piece of old stem with an eye on it. Sorry. Perhaps someone could experiment and find a way to graft a sprout of stem into the eyeless tuber.
I got my beetle traps last night. Mine are made by "Safer" the company that makes all the natural pesticides. But, I think there is another brand out there too. They cost around $5.00 (Although I got mine for 20% off) The replacement bags are about the same price as the trap itself. It comes with the bait, which is good for the season usually. But, they sell the bait separately too, so you can replace it if needed. Definitely worth the cost of the trap, it is amazing how many beetles they catch. Read the package to find out how many you need, depending on the size of your garden. I use 2, one in the front yard and one in the back. They really do help a lot.
JB bait will last the whole season if it doesn't get rained on and while coasting the net, I came across an article to change the trap so you don't have to buy replacement bags. Thank you to the person who made these modifications.
You cut the bag at the point where it begins to narrow. Next purchase a hose clamp , a piece of sink tail piece, and an empty peter pan peanutbutter jar . Cut a 1 1/2 hole in in the top of the jar lid and put the tail piece in the hole and trim it so there's just enough to put the bag over it and clamp the end of the bag down with the hose clamp. Each day all you have to do is unscrew the jar and empty and replace it back on the trap.
JB's will stop going to the trap if there are to many bodies in the trap. I guess the smell overrides the smell of the bait. My traps are 3/4's full everyday. It really cuts down of the cost of replacements.
Thank You again to the person who came up with this idea because it really works and has saved alot of my flowers and veggies and of course my wallet.
Jroot, thanks for the information.... I was impatient though..... so I ripped out all of the dahlias from my front bed and I put in some Easy Wave petunias and purple Super Bells instead. They make the bed look much prettier already.... but never fear! I transplanted all of the dahlias into containers. Now I hope they will survive this shock.....
This (below) is straight from the wonderful Corralitos Gardens website. I can't imagine not cutting dahlias except on the short garden types. The sight of an aging bloom makes me think "compost pile" and the weight of wet old blooms would lend the plant to breakage of stalks- followed by fewer branches that would give you more flowers.
I say: cut them with wreckless abandon; or controlled abandon at least. :)
Cutting Blooms
Dahlia plants that have blooms removed regularly will produce more blooms than those that have blooms left on the plants. When cutting blooms don't be afraid to take a fairly long section of stem. Plants cut back fairly hard will produce stronger regrowth from further down the stalk than if just the bloom is cut. Dahlias blooms are borne in clusters of three. Some growers choose to remove the two side buds to promote the size of the terminal bud. This is purely personal. You may choose to disbud some plants and leave others to grow naturally. Show dahlias are always disbudded.
If you are not regularly cutting blooms from your plants be sure to at least remove the spent, withered blooms on a regular basis. This is called "dead-heading" and is strongly recommended to reduce disease and unsightly debris on the foliage. Dahlias that are not regularly "dead-headed" may stop blooming entirely, very early in the season.
Thanks very much, Poochella - I guess deadheading in general is a good thing to do - but I'm happy to hear I can cut blooms to bring indoors, thereby encouraging even more to develop.
Anna_lisa - I am happy to meet you - I will send you an email for sure. I am very new to dahlias, but am addicted in just a short while. Talk to you soon - and thanks.
Anna
Put a tuber or potroot on the bench, when it sprouts and is an inch or so high, cut off, dip in rootone and put in soil or oasis, put a cover on it and wait for 11-21 days. By that time, it will be rooted and can be put in a pot to grow on until ready to go outside. This is a very simplified explanation. Here is where you can find the steps in detail.
Teresa
Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado Dahlia Society
Could be little black aphids. They like to congregate on stalks. Squirt them off with a spray of water either from a hose (don't destroy your stems/stalks) or squirt bottle- simple as that. Which reminds me, I have a crop of them that need attention right now.
Here is a link that might be useful: 
I once had such a congregation on one of my lupins - I was so disgusted I cut the stalk off - but it had already bloomed anyway. I did not know at the time that aphids came in different colors - even red I think. Yes, apparently just spraying them off with a blast of water does the trick.
Anna
Welcome Jen, 'somewhat obsessed' is a fine quality when it comes to dahlias.
Your plant sounds healthy and all I can think to offer is that there are plenty of dahlias that have smaller blooms, and perhaps weaker stems that would tend to face the ground. I had a small-flowered pink drooper whose many flowers would splay all over despite healthy foliage. It was just the nature of that particular variety. It looked like a mum after a rainstorm much of the time.
There are a few darker/reddish foliage (bronze foliage is the term, I think) dahlias. See what color the bloom is and then perhaps someone can name it for you.
Here is a link that might be useful: Could it be Bishop of Llandaff?
When my brugs do that, I give them a shot of 1 tbl epsom salts mixed with a gallon of water. The next week do it again. By then the leaves usually come back.
Do you have spider mites? I noticed this morning that one of my dahlias has spider mites on it. I sprayed it, and gave it the epsom salt treatment, and now wait for it to reguvenate.
You also mentioned that you'd had a lot of rain. This can cause the leaves to yellow. Hopefully the rains will leave you, and come and visit us. We haven't had rain for such a long time......the grass is brown and crisp to walk on. My watering bill is ridiculously high.
Jroot, is it the magnesium in epsom salts that works magic on the dahlia yellowing?
If you just water your gardens, it will surely rain. Based on recent experience. 3.5 inches of rain in just several days. Maybe you could just pretend to water and fool the rain gods.
Geez, now I can only see the first 2 of 4 photos too. When I looked before I could see all four.
I can't get them to show up, even after trying reposting. My personal recommendation for photos: go with Photobucket! Those were stored at Webshots and not nearly as reliable or user friendly.
I can't recall what the 3rd one was like, but numbe 4 was near total magenta with only scant white and was taken very late in October.
Oh good on the rebounding. I definitely have certain varieties that look like they're at death's doorstep in midday sun. I gave them an umbrella during the hottest part of the day and that spares them from the wild wilting.
Yours might benefit from a little shading, but if they rebound, I'd not worry.
The Michigan Dahlia Assoc. literature says DO NOT use Miracle grow types fertilizers. Avoid Compost,Fish fertilizers and high nitrogen water soluables as they promote weak stems,small blooms or no blooms at all. Use high percentage potassium and phospherous such as 5-10-10 or 10-20-20
Hi, I use a variety of foods...ALL organic...NO MIRACLE GRO on anything...Try Whitney Farms all purpose, Dr. Earth, E.B. Stone, MaxSea...I pick at least 2 bucket fulls of blooms every day, and only 1/3 are in bloom at present! I also use a fertilizer called "Oragnic Advantage" which has humic acid in it...OOHHH and I also use compost tea.
Boo hoo, Kelvin Floodlight is one of the many yellows I lost to rot. Gorgeous flower Jroot. I bet you can hardly wait to get out and see who's blooming each day.
We have heat and sun forecast for the week, so I am ever hopeful the dahlias will be kickstarted into action. Buds are forming daily.
Keep those photos coming- I for one enjoy them all.
Kelvin Floodlight was one of my very first dahlia's and is still growing in my garden, just a huge burst of sunshine! Thanks for the photos
Willow