Plant your Dahlia in a container in April
Maintenance
How to take care of Dreamy® Dahlias
Dahlias are low maintenance plants
Dahlias are easy to take care of. It does not really matter in what kind of soil you plant them. They can be planted either in the garden or in a pot. Do make sure that excess water can easily drain away. Dahlia’s do not like having wet feet!
Dahlias dislike frost
Dahlia’s do not like frost. They do not withstand it very well. That is why we plant the cuttings only after mid-May (after the so-called Ice Saints day). It takes a while for a Dahlia tuber to ‘wake up’ from its hibernation. How long that takes depends on the temperature and moisture levels (usually it takes between 5-15 days). So you can start by putting a Dahlia tuber in the soil. And then all you need to do is wait…
Our advice
ADVICE:
In April, plant your Dahlia tuber or cutting in a container and keep it inside below your window or in a greenhouse. It’s great to see from up close how the plant is growing. After a short while, your Dahlia will reach approximately 10 cm high. To let this grow into a plant that has a beautiful, broad shape, you can choose to pinch your Dahlia. Very simple: just cut back the tip of the plant and you’re done.
Winter
Dahlias taken from heel cuttings are easier to overwinter than Dahlia taken from tip cuttings. Generally speaking, Dahlia should be stored dry (but don’t let them dry out) with a temperature between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius. Dahlia tubers do not like draught! We keep our Dahlia tubers in an enclosed cold storage with a temperature of 9 degrees. We use well filled trays to protect the tubers from drying out. For consumers, the best place to store your Dahlia tubers is in a frost-free shed, garage or a frost-free greenhouse.
You can also choose to leave it up to nature! I used to have Dahlia ‘Bright Eyes’ in my garden that survived 10 years without any protection. I must say that I usually do not tidy up my garden in winter, but I wait until spring (which is also better for pollinators and other animals in your garden!). Nevertheless, a Dahlia that survives in the same spot for 10 years is quite an achievement. Unfortunately, ‘Bright Eyes’ didn’t make it through the winter of 2018. It’s a pity, but it does give me a good reason to plant a new Dahlia!
Care
Water
Dahlias require a fair amount of water. Especially the large, dark green varieties evaporate a lot of water. When you see soft and limp leaf or a hanging flower, don’t worry. Make sure you immediately water the plant once, and once again later. When you pay attention to this, your Dahlia will return the favor by producing masses of flowers!
Fertilizer
Dahlias appreciate being fed regularly. Not too much, not too little. When you feed your Dahlia, make sure it contains kalium oxide (K2O) – this is important! When you give too much food (especially food that contains NO3), your plant will grow too tall and limp, which is not something you want. We also advise to use gardening or potting soil that already consists basic fertilizer.
