Re: dahlias
- Subject: Re: dahlias
- From: "Marge Talt" m*@hort.net
- Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002 03:01:08 -0400
Hmmm...well, dahlias want rich soil, sun and water - plus good
drainage. If it was a healthy plant to start with and you gave it
sun and water, I am wondering whether the soil didn't drain well?
Given that it's not performing, I'd go ahead and dig it up and see
what shape the rhizomes are in ...if black and icky, could easily be
poor drainage...and they will not store for you.
If firm and healthy (a sort of light tan color), do not separate from
the main stem - they will not bloom if they have no bit of main stem
attached to the rhizome. Cut back the stem to a few inches.
Now, the storing part is what I always found tricky. Supposedly, you
can pack them in vermiculite or dry peat and store in a cool but
above freezing spot, like an unheated basement. But, IMO, you need
to check them frequently because they often desiccate and you need to
sprinkle them with water if they look like they're drying up. You
have to watch this, because too much moisture and they mold and rot.
In early spring, I always used to pot mine up before it was time to
plant them outside, just to get them growing. You can use the first
growth as cuttings, which will root in damp sand and bloom for you
the season you take them - amazing, but true.
Plant out after all danger of frost is past and the ground has warmed
up...cold ground and they just sit there or rot.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Rachel Agajanian-McDowell <rachelfaye98@yahoo.com>
>
> i was wondering if you would be so kind as to give me
> some advice on raising dahlias. i bought a beautiful
> orangey plant this summer and put it in the ground, in
> full sun with plenty of water. At first it looked
> fine and I snipped off dying flowers regularly, but a
> month or 2 later it is all yellow/brown and not
> blooming. I did try putting ironite on it, did that
> just make it worse? what is the secret to these
> plants and also- how do i store bulbs- if i dig them
> up now? Should i put this plant in a separate pot?
> also i have some amarylis bulbs I dug out of an
> arangement/present i got last summer...what should i
> do with these?
> please help!!
>
> =====
> Thanks,
>
> Rachel Agajanian-McDowell
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