3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias
Wow, you're right!
I lifted the plant and the center tuber was a rotten mush! I removed as much as I could and then (with considerable trepidation, I might add) applied some Lysol before replanting it with some additional sand.
Then I also followed flowerfarmer and spaced it farther away from the other one and now both face south with one no longer overshadowing the other.
I had to stake the poor thing. The plant has two stalks - if one dies I'll still be happy. (I'm not even sure if you're supposed to let two stalks grow from one bunch of tubers)
Thanks for your advice - I'll report back if I see improvement.
C.
Good for you Chris ont! Have no trepidation about lysol, other than inhaling it yourself. I think Flowerfarmer's advice was right on too: more space and better sun between plants would be beneficial, but if you've got a soggy tuber going bad, it's best to get rid of it.
Hope you go on to have many blooms from your plants.
To much water will cause this problem. make sure the water is only applied to the soil and not on the leaves and buds themselves. Deadhead all the buds and and let the soil dry out and they should rebloom for you. I have dahlia's in large pots and I only water when the soil is dry below 3 inches or when the dahlia's themselves start to wilt. Good luck!
Willow
Hey GrannyMarsh,
Thanks for responding, Yes there was an eye when I planted it , Even the stem from last year , I was told it was a 2 year old tuber .
Anyway I went out today to see and lo and behold it is starting to come up !! Yea ! I probably won't see flowers till August or later that is if the earwigs don't eat it all !
Hi Carol,
Some varieties just have shorter stems than others. What dahlia is it? Or how tall is it destined to be according to the tag?
If you have a border dahlia it will behave more like a mum, lots of blooms on short sprays of stems and I don't think there's anything you can do.
If all goes well they'll get to be 2.5-3 ft tall. Looks like lots of bright colored flowers from the link. Give them a try!
Here is a link that might be useful: Bishops Children
Phyl
Hopefully your tubers won't turn to mush. I thought that had happened to mine too, but after reading alot about Dahlia's on the net it seems ground temps are important as well. All the tubers (about 10) have finally sprouted. I think next year I will give them a head start by planting in containers. I had done that in the past with alot of success.
Joe
I had three dahlia bulbs that were not showing any growth, while the rest of them were. I carefully dug up the bulbs to look at them. I had planted one upside down because the eye was not visible when I planted it, so it was taking the long way around the bulb to get through the soil. The other two were growing, but very slowly. I removed much of the dirt so they could get more sun, and I will mound the dirt back around them when they have grown a few inches above the soil.
What kind of dahlias are they? If they're large plants intending on going on to be 3-5' tall then you'd be better off putting them in a large multigallon pot or in the garden with some support.
If they are short bedding dahlias, a slightly larger pot or container with other plants should work.
The tagalong side buds in a bouquet help sell the flowers at market. Customers love that. Is that what you were asking Pooch? We don't necessarily want huge blossoms that may be desirable in your garden. And, we get more blossoms per plant. One that comes to mind that we do pinch is Almand Joy. Otherwise, it will get a short but huge blossom right there down in the middle of the plant. Drives me crazy.
Gosh something is curling up my wild ginger leaves, tight as a cigar. I unfurled one victim and sure enough there was a gross little whitish caterpillar inside. Ick.
Dahlias got a huge welcome dose of 80 degrees and pure sun, more in store for tomorrow. Believe me after 50-60 (barely) degrees and tons of rain, this is a most welcome change.
Laura are you going to be influenced by the Nor'easter I've heard predicted for the NE? Stay afloat and protect your dahlias.
Pooch
Hi Poochella,
By the time I read this the Nor easter was gone, but thanks! My Dahlias did just fine through it since they were in their pots on the front porch. I just planted them outside yesterday. Everyone wish me good luck since things are getting eaten in my other garden!
I borrowed a book from my library called, Bugs, Slugs and other Thugs and I think it might be cutworms damaging my other plants. I hope they don't find my Dahlias! I might make some collars to fit around them later today.
Happy Gardening,
Laura
Oops--late night math is error ridden! Make that bloom time 11-12 weeks!
Valerie
You disbud & top to get larger blooms & longer stems. Some BB & B's can get hundreds of blooms in a season even with disbudding. If you are growing for show & want big AA & A's then you only let 4-6 blooms come per plant.