Dahlias are beautiful flowers to have in your garden. In hot climates, they attract pollinators and thrive. Dahlias are beautiful cut flowers, and they’re easy to care for. You should plant tubers now if you haven’t done so yet.
Dahlias are best grown in warm climates but can also be grown in colder climates as an annual. You can choose between various dahlias, including ball dahlias and cactus types.
This article will discuss the basic needs of dahlias, both during and outside the growing season. We’ll also cover how to plant dahlias.
Dahlia Flowers: All You Need to Know
Dahlias are found in Mexico and Central America. These flowering herbaceous plants grow from tuberous root systems. Are dahlias considered perennials?
It depends on where you plant them. Perennials are found in areas with similar climates or close to where they were originally native. Dahlias are annuals if you live in a cooler temperature.
Dahlias can have long, woody stems or shorter, herbaceous ones. This depends on the age of the plant. The dahlia is a member of the aster family and has a composite rayed flower structure around a central disk, usually yellow or orange. Dahlias bloom from midsummer to fall, die in winter, and emerge in spring.
Indigenous peoples in Central America and the United States cultivate dahlias. In the early 1500s, Spanish conquistadors in Mexico discovered dahlias.
In the late 1700s, French colonists became enchanted by the beautiful flower forms found at the exact location. The flowers were taken back to Europe, and the first flower cultivation began in Spain during the 1800s.
Different European scientists classified the species of plants and named the genus Anders Dahl, a student Carl Linnaeus.
Dahlia rosea, with its dark pink flowers and Dahlia coccinea, became the most popular species in Europe. In 1915, the American Dahlia Society in New York was founded and dedicated to this beautiful plant.
Dahlias are available at most local nurseries. Most Dahlia tubers are single cultivars, so you can easily choose dark red flowers if that is what you desire. You can find both dark and light blends. Combining both lets you expect to see petals in light and dark colors.
Planting Dahlias
Planting dahlias is easy as long as you know when to do it. Planting dahlia tubers in containers a month or so before the last frost is the trick. This will prepare them for transplanting from mid-spring until mid-June.
Prepare the planting area and dahlia pots with rich soil that drains well but can still hold moisture. Containers should have a minimum of 5 gallons and a diameter of 12 inches.
Plant your dahlias indoors in a 4 to 5 inches wide hole. Plant the dahlia tubers with the eye facing up and at a distance of 12 to 18 inches apart.
Give your dahlias a sprinkle of water and cover them with soil. Dahlias will grow in a few weeks, and you can then transplant them into your garden. It would help if you waited until the danger of frost is past in spring to plant your tubers. Cold soil can cause them to die.
You can also plant your dahlias in the ground but must maintain the same planting depth. This is 4-5 inches, with the eye pointing upwards and 12-18 inches between each.
The Power Planter drill can be an excellent tool for preparing planting holes quickly and breaking up surrounding soil.
Dahlia Flower Care
Let’s talk about caring for dahlias as they grow. You can then enjoy them as cut flowers – although they do not have a very long vase life – or appreciate their beauty in your garden.
The sun and temperature
Dahlias require at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth. Dahlias will benefit from partial shade during the hot afternoon sun in areas with sweltering summers.
Temperatures between 68degF and 72degF are ideal. If temperatures are higher than this, the plants may become less vital and bloom more quickly.
Give afternoon shade to plants in hot weather. Plant them near obstacles or cover them with a shade cloth if you want them to bloom less often in hot weather.
Dahlias will die off in cold weather, but if you have enough mulch around them, they should be able to survive. Dahlias can be annuals in areas with very cold winters and hard frost. In USDA zones 8-10, most are perennials and hardy.
Water and Humidity
Dahlias require at least an inch of water each week. When you plant dahlias in your garden for the first time, water them every week for 2 inches until they become established. Watering these plants consistently is important since they prefer moist soil and temperate weather.
The best way to water dahlias is with drip irrigation or absorber hoses. The slow drip of water doesn’t overwhelm tubers below ground. They can rot in excess moisture if they sit there for too long. Increase watering when the large flowers in your garden bloom.
Dahlias will need more water during times of drought. They won’t require extra in heavy rains. Water in the morning, before the sun dries the soil and evaporates the moisture. Planting them in an area with high humidity is also a good idea.
