How to Grow and Dahlia Flower Plants
Perennial
Originally from Mexico, Dahlias are a family of flowering plants with wide
variety.....there's a Dahlia for everyone! They grow in size from one to
five feet. And, flower heads range from small pompons, to several inches
diameter.
Flowers include single bloom, double bloom and more. If color is what you
are looking for, Dahlias are your answer. These attractive plants produce
loads of brilliant blooms in rainbows of orange, salmon, bronze, apricot,
yellow, crimson, scarlet and lavender. Sorry, there are no no blues.
Dahlia blooms can grow very, very big. Some varieties are known as "Dinner
Plate Dahlias". Can you guess why!?
Now for the best news.... Dahlias are easy to grow. So make sure to include
some in your flowerbeds. After they bloom and adorn your yard, they will
keep your vases. Blooms from late summer to fall.
Propagation:
Dahlia can be grown from seed. Start Dahlia seeds indoors six to eight weeks
before the last frost in your area. We recommend planting them in separate
pots, allowing ample room for root growth. This will make transplanting easier.
Established Dahlia plants are frequently propagated by separation of their
tubular roots. This can be very useful as you are assured of the color of
the new plants. Dig a hole 6-10 inches deep. Mix in plenty of manure and
compost. Bury the roots with the crowns 3" below the surface.
Propagation by cuttings is also possible, but somewhat uncommon.
How to Grow Dahlia Plants:
Dahlia plants are very easy to grow. They prefer full sun. They are big feeders.
Make sure the soil is rich and fertile. Add plenty of compost and apply mulch.
Low nitrogen fertilizer should be applied regularly all season. Keep the
soil moist but drained, at all times.
Space smaller varieties 16" apart. The largest varieties should be spaced
2 feet apart to allow ample room for growth. After the plants have grown
about a foot, pinch back the stems to promote a bushier growth.
Dahlia plants will grow quickly, and will bloom in mid-late summer. Stem
tips will develop multiple buds, usually three. To grow bigger blooms disbud
the two side buds, leaving the middle, terminal bud.
Dahlias will succumb to a hard frost. Dig up the tubers, and place them in
a bed of dry sand. Store them in your cellar over the winter and replant
them in the spring. You can mark the tubers with the flower color if desired.
Insect and Disease:
Lots of insects love Dahlias. Slugs and sucking insects, most notably red
spiders and mites, can be a real problem. Make sure to put down slug pellets
or other slug protection on a routine basis. Use insecticides or insecticidal
soaps.
Disease problems can also occur. If you spot it, treat early with a fungicide.
More Information:
How
to Grow Dahlia Plants
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