3,226 Garden Web Discussions | Dahlias

Dont blame you Poochella, I wouldnt have purchased it, but the BF picked it up cheap for his parents patio, then brought it back here in the Fall. Still, they are a great color - I have been floating them in bowls of water, just to have some of them inside. And since I tend to cut almost all of my Dahlias and bring them in, its nice to have something in that bed that is always full of blooms.

And yeah - I should have realized that you new what you were talking about re: the "orchid". sorry

Great shot of your dahlias. The dark background really makes them "pop" out at us.

Thanks for sharing.

"So what about plants marketed as "container dahlias"? Are these more likely to be successful because of heat tolerance or do they get that name solely based on size? "

Yes, smaller plants have smaller root systems. It may be a function of both heat and water with larger varieties in pots. They require an awful lot of water in a pot. Probably because warmer soil allows more evaporation. A partially buried pot seems to work really well; even smaller pots can be used.

I got a Neon Splendor from SI this year, it is in a clay pot and is spectacular!

I also bought Fire Magic (though they apparently delivered Dark Magic instead), it is in the ground and growing slowly, albeit with 2-3 beautiful blooms so far.

I have found advice from SI to be right on. They admit (as do most growers) that it is harder to grow dahlias in containers than the ground and I have found that to be true as well. One of my PAST mistakes though was underwatering. I had read so much about not watering dahlias after planting and having lost several that rotted anyway, that I held water back sparingly. I re-read their catalog this summer and it actually says you can't overwater dahlias (I'd heard that about roses years ago) once they start sprouting and blooming. So now I soak mine to the bottom every 3-4 days instead of the light 'washing' I used to give them every 2 days and they are loving it!

As for what soil I used in the containers? Lord only knows. Parts potting soil, part planting mix and part sand (I live in the dunes of S.F). The sand keeps them draining easily, the potting mix seems to be light enough for them to push through and the planting mix seems to keep it all together.

But other containers of mine are ALL planting mix or all planting soil (exactly what you are NOT supposed to put in pots) and they all are ablaze in blooms this year! In my opinion, the soil won't matter much once you start feeding them the right stuff (little to no nitrogen) and include blooming fertilizer that strengthens the stems and allows for blooms to do their thing!

I was going to ask the same question about Poochella and Plantlady. How are you folks doing this year? I miss your pics, Poochella, but I'm glad to see you popped up in this post!

Jesper--I have never heard of any of the three dahlias you show here but I'm certainly going to look them up. I love the G. H. Lammerse--that looks like great waterlily form! Thanks for posting pics!

Annabeth

I think that all the people we have help us all the time are in their busy season. I hope Viking will be back and Russ, unless they are the same person. Haven't seen Plantlady around for awhile. Maybe there is another site everyone likes more?

Pinelands Princess is wonderful!

Nice blooms thanks for sharing..

Izhar

Here it is today. Now, if only I knew what it was...passionate or midnight dancer I'm thinking. Though I'm leaning toward passionate.

I am with you nh, Just got my first bloom this week from a Lorio Diablo my favorite. Have had wind and sun all summer. No rain. Of course I thought dahlias liked that so I was surprised when they weren't blooming in June????

Please post what you find out about international D.Imperialis shipping, or if they even offer seeds.

We got off to a slow start here a cold, wet spring. But things are growing nicely now, with buds and branches forming daily. I don't have many new ones this year.

I found a source for the seeds but they are out of stock right now..

Here is a link that might be useful: Chiltern Seeds

@pvdahlia - thanks for chiming in, i want as much advice, info, suggestions, and recommendations! i do stay away from MG and only use tomato food. i've gone ahead and planted it, and i'm keeping my fingers crossed!

thanks again :)

Ladybugsmom did you plant just the plant, or the whole pot?

I've transplanted 3 foot plants from the garden to another spot in another bed, but never out of a pot, so I'm curious what you decided to do and how it went.

Check your fertilizer! The wrong fertilizer or insufficient fertilizer is notorious for causing weak, skinny stems. Dahlias need a fertilizer that has a relatively low nitrogen and high potassium and phosporus content (exactly the opposite of what you get when you reach for Miracle Gro!). Unfortunately I found out the hard way last year. Fertilizers meant for bulbs or even for vegetables that have a low first number and higer second and third numbers are better options. Good luck!

ok, i did it!! i've got her in the ground!! i put her in on tuesday (took me that long to get up the nerve!), and as of today she's doing well. and dear hubby got me what i think to be a miniature one, so i've got them planted next to each other. they get late morning to late afternoon sun, and my big girl (the one i've been fretting over) is starting to bloom! i'm excited.

i've been giving her tomato fertilizer and she really seems to like it. so i'm keeping my fingers crossed!

thanks again everyone!

Same here. Also more rotted tubers than usual even in hot dry soil??? I feel sorry for them in this heat.

I have several potted Dahlias on my deck. I began to notice that all of sudden a few of them severly wilted in the sun. (I keep everything well watered) So these I moved into the shade of my off-set umbrella. Not much improvment. Then I began to notice they looked like they're dying, off color leaves, totally wilting in sections, but still flowering. Now all but one has this illness. I have sprayed with Agway orchard spray, which has never failed to cure any sickness, but still it keeps progressing. I hate to get rid of them. Help!!

Buying named tubers is not my thing, since I don't have the proper space and sunlight. Too staid for me as well. I rather experiment with what is in the seed mix. Yes, starting with Unwins is 'lower rent', but I now have blooming for the third year: three semi-double whites, and single purple/white/yellow-green, double apricot, large rosy single, and a single yellow, a single scarlet. If I had the space, I'd plant collected seeds, and evaluate the results. I'm a propagator; it's my safe s**. Enjoy a Sudoku puzzle on the shaded porch, watching the bumble bees, butterflies, and flies, flit and fly!! Gotta love the gardening, eh? Happy growing, ya'll!

Bishop's Children, Sutton's dwarf redskin and Dwarf minstrel can be your options.

Hi Forsythia!
Could your first picture be Amorous?

That is what I was thinking, too, busy-girl. I hope that it is. Thank you.
Forsythia

Tricia, As I posted above ,earlier in the week I was killing a hundred or so each night. I have seen diminishing numbers for the last five nights. Last night in twenty minutes of "hunting" I only found one. Most of the damage to my dahlias was done before I found this culprit. A couple of plants have probably 25-35% of the leaves eaten off. Not being a dahlia expert, I don't know how much damage a plant can sustain. They are still growing and the new growth is looking good. A neighbor told me that Milky Spore might work if everyone in the area would use it,otherwise you'll just get someone else's beetles. Good luck hunting. unc

Unc, Good luck hunting to you too! One bonus was last night I saw several tiny tree frogs sitting in some of the dahlia flowers.Let's hope that this generation of beetles is almost done. Tricia