Anyway, dahlias are native to Mexico so I don't see why they wouldn't grow in Florida. Certainly the climate in south Fl is warmer than north central Fl, but I would assume dahlias should do well in S Fl.

I would find a more secure way to stake your dahlias to prevent breakage. I grew in 2011, and we had 2 hurricanes blow through, and one of them dumped around 12-14 inches of very heavy rain over a period of almost 2 days, and both included lots of wind. I managed to stake them well enough to prevent all but a few lateral branches from breaking. I spoke with a grower at a dahlia festival yesterday who recommended using tomato fencing that you buy at garden centers with 6 inch square holes and about 5 feet tall. Buy it in rolls and wrap it loosely around the plants and drive a long metal stake or 2 just inside or just outside the fencing to stabilize it. This grower said he uses re bar as stakes because it's cheap, durable and last forever, plus you can just leave them in the ground year around.

In south Florida you shouldn't have to worry about digging up and storing the tubers over winter like you would here in the mid Atlantic.

Therein lies your answer... We're all enjoying the blooms! Glad you spoke up, and helped him out.