Yes, but if you think about it, you would be able to split the tuber and get several plants out of one clump. That is a bonus. :)

Most of the time when you get a clump from a supplier some- if not all of the tubers are broken at the neck & have to be cut off because they won't do anything except sit there & rot. If you're lucky you'll get one or 2 that are still attached & will grow. These you can divide. You want to keep the stems down to one per plant.
When you get a nice solid, eyed-up tuber from a dahlia supplier you're going to get a nice plant & be just as far ahead as that clump with the broken necks.

Thanks. It was a surprise when I saw the clump variety as I have always used Swan and a couple of others and it is one tuber.

ThatÂs interesting: IÂve only bought from stores and have always received a clump. Sometimes thereÂs some loose tubers in the bag but most are attached to one dry stem.

WhatÂs the rationale behind wanting just one stem? IÂm not trying to exhibit large flowers, or have a tall plant, but am more interested in having a short and bushy plant. I thought having multiple or branched stems would lead to that.

The more stems you have the less work the plant has to do to try to propagate itself so the fewer blooms & tubers it will put out. One sturdy stem with the branches that come off of it are far better than multipul spindly stems.
Ellie

Ah! So my goal should be one stem, then pinch to induce branching on that?

That is correct. But when the stem has about 3 sets of leaves (they are in pairs), then "stop" the growth to force it to become like a bush. You should get about 6 laterals to grow which will become flowers. If you want long stem (I do for the shows), then you disbud when 3 or 4 buds start to form. You want to keep the center bud.

Dale

www.pugetsounddahlias.org