3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

For the first time this year I decided to plant two tubers about the size of an average potato and they both developed substantial tuber growth. I don't really want a bunch of the same dahlias so dividing them seems pointless except if doing so will benefit their growth next season.

1: Should I divide them now or will they store better if I keep them whole until spring.

2: Will they put on this same growth next season and become too crowded if I don't at least cut them in half?

They are both 8 inches in diameter.

Boy I thought out of the dark and rainy night came JROOT. But alass no.

ziyakr: Some dahlias will only bloom for a couple of months so it is possible your dahlia will SOON be done. But by 'done', I mean no new buds, leaves yellowing and drooping, looking very fatigued, etc. Your original note said you had BUDS still, so that does not sound like it is done (though it may be NEAR to be done).

I suspect lack of water caused your problems but definitely you may only have a few weeks to go to the end of its life span anyway. I also know that growing other plants within the same containers as a dahlia ALSO tends to cause a lack of proper water in the dahlia, combined with your saying it drains well makes me almost positive lack of water is your problem.

I would NOT cut it back! I have never cut mine back nor have I ever read that doing so was beneficial in any manner. In fact, after the plant is truly done, you should let it sit for weeks because just like tulips and daffy's, this is when the plants get energy to bloom next year. Maybe others can chime in if they have done so but the only pruning I do is when you pinch the first bud to promote more growth and bushier dahlias. One of the problems with cutting a large stem back is that they are hollow and water could conceivably get in the stem and ride down all the way to the tuber and start a rotting process. Perhaps if you are careful when watering that would not be an issue but I don't cut mine back after flowering - I just let nature takes its course and get renewed for the next year.

Good luck.

I wanted to thank you again, David. I think you were right about watering, generally. The plant survived 3 more weeks of blistering summer with minimal damage at higher watering levels. It's only just this week opened a new flower, and I wanted to try and put up a picture (the flower is smaller than earlier, about 2.5 inches across but still lovely and I'm thrilled to see it). I am going to try again to overwinter the tuber, but next year it will be in it's own moveable container. That way I can keep a better eye on moisture levels, and slide it into part shade if need be during heatwaves.

MANY grower sites I have visited will tell you that a lot of bi-colors will pull one way or the other on a whim. Check out "Rebeccas World" dahlia - it may pull all crimson and little white or all white and no crimson and of course it is supposed to be half and half.

Have had the same thing happen to me on several dahlias in my yard. Next year I am going to try Court Jester from Hollyhill. It is said it will also pull more white or red depending upon ???? There is no rhyme nor reason to whether it goes all one color or the other - they just do.

I have several Purple Splash in my garden. Most of produce all variegated flowers like they are supposed to be, but one plant has lots of flowers that are completely or heavily purple colored. It's very interesting.

GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful daughter and beautiful dahlias. Mine just got hit by frost last night. Early for CO so am disappointed. I hae always wondered if some dahlais do better in some climates than others? Do you sell your tubers? I wonder where Poochella is? I see that this is an 08 site. Haven't seen any posts from many of the people tht have commented here.

I got a few dug yesterday. It's been a really strange fall. We had frosts a few weeks back, but it didn't kill all the dahlias. I've been waiting for a more killing frost...that occurred last night. We've had so much rain that it makes digging the ones that had died very difficult...the soil is just too heavy, so no matter how I dig them, they're easily broken.

We are a little behind you, but they are predicting a drop to 25 by the end of the week. That should be the end of the season for us. I am not looking forward to all of the digging and sorting for storage, but weirdly enough your picture is making me look forward to winter.

Great! Really like the lines in the last one.

Mandolls.......thanx for showing us your beautiful dahlias and arrangements.......they are really fun to make into arrangements. In September when mine are blooming heavily,
I make up some arrangements to take to friends and nursing homes...
carol

Akita does have pretty flowers but I am kinda disappointed in the plant. The stems are weak and most of the time the flowers are hanging down. I have had a few nice blooms that are facing upwards though.

I was out in the yard trying to find something to add to the bouquet. Most of my other non-dahlia plants are done blooming. I saw the flower spikes on the basil and figured that might work along with grass seed heads. I like it!

Linda

Akita does need a lot of support, and stems are quite short. But it can throw some marvelous blooms.

Nice combo!

Realistic pictures--not so close up that we get no idea of the size.

Teddahlia or others, can you explain your last sentance...."growing dahlias in pots that are not buried in the garden is a whole different matter." I was thinking of leaving some of mine in pots above ground as well as sinking pots per Barbara. What are your thoughts about leaving the pot above the ground?

Pots in the ground is more like dahlias in the ground than dahlias in pots above the ground. Growing dahlias in pots above the ground is very difficult especially in warm climates. They get way too warm and need extreme amounts of water. If you use extremely large pots and make sure they do not get too hot in the sun, they do OK. It is easy to grow dahlias to full sized plants in the above ground pots and they look good for one flush of blooms. After that, they look worse and worse. Pots in the ground are much cooler and the plants have access to water and fertilizer through the weep holes in the pots. Having said all that, low growing dahlias with small flowers do pretty well in pots. Another huge advantage of growing submerged pots is maintenance: you can miss watering them for a day or two or three. Try that with an above ground pot!

Sixteen months since the original question. I planted in the ground this summer, 100+ temps, sever drought, and starving deer.Absolutely no blooms, lost 4 completely. I've potted for the winter, thinking of ordering pots that are 24" across tops, 19" tall, and leaving on my deck, where they can be protected, on my self watering system. Wish me luck for next year.