Any Dahlia experts ?

I have a lovely Dahlia Clarion, which I nearly killed this last winter. I split the tubers in November with the idea of getting 4 new plants. However, I let them get too damp when I replanted them in April and only one small tuber survived....JUST !
I've just taken a couple of cuttings from the stem of this one survivor and they seem to be doing quite well. My question is; if the cuttings continue to develop, will they develop tubers like the parent plant or will they just develop a smaller root system.

 

Yes they will, even the annual type do, but they are small and not much good.

 

I would agree with Pam. They should make tubers, which as Pam says will be small at first. But in subsequent years I would expect them to grow to a good size.

 

My thoughts are that its a bit late to be taking cuttings and the chances of a good tuber to keep through the winter are not so good.
Dahlia cuttings are normally taken around April which gives the cutting all summer to produce a decent tuber.

 

I agree with Pete, it`s a bit late for taking cuttings. However, you have, so we need to help you grow them on so that they MAKE the all important tuber. Warmth is essential, at present there`s no problem, but you need to keep the cuttings growing over winter. If you don`t have a heated greenhouse you will need to bring the young plants indoors and grow on as houseplants.:gnthb:

 

Tyke - I had to re-read your post, as it hadn't registered with me that you had only just taken the cuttings. As Pete says its a bit late now.

However, you have nothing to lose. Give it a try. Perhaps if you keep it in a pot inside in the autumn it will continue to be in active growth for longer than it would in the cold outside.

Dai - you post beat me to it. I was trying to Google to see if Dahlias would continue to grow over winter in the warmth. I couldn't find an answer - it would be interesting to find out. However I suspect that the whole process of making a tuber predisposes it to going dormant over winter even in the warmth.

 

OK thanks for the replies.

So just to confirm. With the two plants that have grown from cuttings, I leave them in their pots, indoors over winter and don't try to store the tubers in newspaper as I would for the parent plant.

 

Yes Tyke - I would do that. Of course you can do that for any Dahlia anyway - so you can't lose anything by doing it. However if all the leaves drop off even inside the house, as they well might, it means it has gone dormant in the form of a tuber, and then need to give it virtually no water at all. Just enough to keep the compost fractionally moist. It it has water when it is not actively growing the tuber will rot.

 

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Hi Tyke.

One of the ways the dahlia people increase/overwinter their dahlia plants is what is called pot tubers.

Which is simply dahlia cuttings rooted in a three inch pot and kept growing in the same pot until the foilage dies down!

The hope is that it will form a miniture tuber in which the compost is allowed to dry out completely, and then started into growth next spring!

I do not know when they take the cuttings or if you are too late this season, but you could try googling for an answer.

One other thing, after lifting dry out your tubers but do not split them up until next spring, as this may let rot etc in via any wounds and keep them frost free and dry!

Good luck!:thmb:

 

Hi there. I'm certainly no expert, but I'm gonna take a stab in the dark. If you can get them to flower, then my guess is that you'll have a viable tuber. Treat it as any other tuber. Let the frost take the top growth, and store the tuber in a dry, frost free place over winter.

Cheers...freddy.

 

Thanks for all the replies. Just one last question.

Regarding the mature parent plant.As freddy says above, do I let the first frosts make it wither and then dig it up and store the tubers. If so, do I leave the withered stem on over winter so it can be reabsorbed into the tubers or do I cut it off and just store the clean tubers ?

I want to make sure I get it right this time and not loose most of my tubers to rot !

 

The traditional way is to leave Dahlias in the ground until the frost kill off the top growth. Then to dig up the tuber. The reason for doing this is to ensure that the plant has become dormant. I lifted some Salvia patens tubers too early one autumn, and they all stated sprouting again, using up energy that they should have been keeping for the next year. It also allows the foliage to spend as much time as possible making starches and storing them in the tubers.

Then cut off all the top growth, which will be dead and place the tubers upside down so that any water in their hollow stems can drain out. After two or three weeks they will have fully dried and you store them frost free. You can leave the earth on, but some people like to remove the earth to allow them to see if any tubers are damaged or starting to rot. Obviously remove anything that that is not sound.

 

Great, that answers my last question thanks. Last year I dug them up too early and removed the stems, so there must have been a lot of goodness that hadn't managed to get back down into the tubers.
Also I split the tubers into singles before winter, which apparently is a bad idea.
And then finally I planted the tubers too early in spring, before signs of growth and then to cap it all, overwatered them so all but one rotted !
I was very lucky not to loose them all !!

 

When lifting Dahlia tubers, ALWAYS remove as much soil as possible. The reasons are 1/ You need to treat the tubers with sulphur dust to prevent a build up of mould, 2/ To prevent any slugs from over wintering amongst the roots and having a good feed at your expence. Never, ever try storing wet tubers.:gnthb:

 

I know the British way of dahlia storage and the letting of the frost kill the tops before digging.

But just thinking, do dahlias experience frost in habitat, I tending to think its more about a dry season which causes dormancy.
Usually by the time the tops have been frosted the roots are soaked, which actually makes storage more difficult.

Any thoughts.