Dahlia "Dark Desire"

I saw this new vairety during the winter and just had to have it, so after hunting round I sent off for it and it arrived today.

I was expecting a dry tuber, though not realy sure how it would come. Anyway it has come in a small pot with three well grown (though forced looking) shoots.

One of these shoots had been knocked off, I did read somewhere you could take cuttings from Dahlias, do I do it in the normal way, anyone andy tips advice please?

The bit broken off looks lika a "Heal" cutting.

 

Yes you can take cuttings of the new shoots from dahlia tubers - but I wouldn't do it to these. Let the plant grow on in garden or container - and then look to propogate next spring when they shoot again after winter storage.

If its in a small pot, there may not be much of tuber - and taking cuttings now may risk both the original and the new.

 

You could have a go with the bit thats broken off though Waco, perhaps a bit of bottom heat would be best.

 

Thanks Pete, its the broken off bit I am talking about. I am tempted to cut the growth from the original plant right down pot on and not to even think about planting out this season.

the poor thing has not even been dead headed where it has flowered and goodness knows how they have forced it to get it into flower on such a leggy plant.

Fran - I am sure there is very little tuber, this is why I am so amazed at growth from it.

 

You mean its been in flower already. :eek:
That dont seem right, I think your right, I'd cut it down to a good joint and get it to bush out in a pot.
It still may be possible to plant out a bit later than usual I reckon.

 

Its been in flower already - like Pete I am slightly gobsmacked. Next time can you include this information - a whole different picture now.

I'm with Pete - cut it back to one or two leaf joints above the base.

 

Yes Fran I was gobsmacked too! Infact I am not even sure it is what it says it is though it has come with a lable copyright thing.

the other two remaining leggy shoots also have flower buds in them so I have nipped these out. The mother plant now looks remarkabley well after the journey, but I have very little hope for the cuttings - it was a lot to expect, but keep your fingers crossed anyway!

 

If this is what you have it looks a beauty! Crocus UK: Dahlia 'Dark Desire'

I wouldn't have thought it should be in bloom yet though - must have been well forced. I think I'd take off any flower buds, keep it in a warm light place untill it can go outside then let it leaf up this year and feed the tuber, lift it again in autumn and store it ready for next year.

It's probably a new variety and part of the mad dash for cash to get get returns so they are forced unaturally. We on the other hand are much more patient - aren't we? :D

[ 23. April 2006, 12:31 PM: Message edited by: frogesque ]

 

Yes thats the one - I just could not resist it!

I love Bishop L, but he is getting a bit common, so have decided to try a few new ones. Last year "Deco Rose" was spectacular, a really class act. Also encouraged that Martin is digging me a bed just for cut flowers to bring int the house and as I seem to get loads of extra tubers then thay can all go into new bed.

 

Therre was a good demonstration of how to take dahlia cuttings on one of the recent tv programmes. You could probably have rooted the original piece as it's preferable to take a heel with a bit of the tube.

Agree with you about B of L. but still use it.

 

This is what I have attempted to do, but i think the plant was very poor and dried out from travelling, so I don't have much hope for it.

I never normally think about dahlia cuttings as I seem to get so many tubers.
Thanks all for help.

 

Update - well it looked dead as a dodo a couple of days ago, but when you looked at it close not only were leaves forming but also flowers - on the cuttings!!!

So I cut of dead leaves, took out flowers amd I may be in with a slight chance 40/50 optomistic.

The re potted mother plant is going mad, really strong and healthey. I did read up about spec on it and it does say "a successional profusion of small flowers" so I may be let it go ahead and see what happens.

certainly a very strange dahlia - trust me to end up with one!