Dahlia problem.

Hi gardeners. I have bought three new dahlias this year. They are the shaggy headed type. Unfortunately, I have found the leaves on these new plants to have pale yellowing spots on them. They are rather droopy as well. Is there a new dahlia virus attacking plants that we haven’t had much information about this year. Also, what shall I do with them, I have others dahlias in the bed, and is there a spray to cure yellow spotted dahlia leaves please. V.

 

Can you post a picture, not heard of any Dahlia viruses, but might be possible.

 

Thank you @pete

 

I think I've seen leaves like that before on Dahlias, I wonder if its insect attack on the underside of the leaves.

 

Thank you. I’ll get out my spy glass. V

 

The holes in the leafs could be slug and snail damage, now the rains have returned after the hot start to the summer they seem to be going for the Dahlias.

Try a bought or diy garlic spray or go out this time of evening with a torch when they should be coming out in force.

The yellow spots could be insect attack from the underside or other things , have a look here -
13 Common Problems With Dahlia Flowers

If you think its a virus or similar then might be prudent to dig those three up and destroy/bin them.

 

@vbgr - dahlias do get viruses but often there are other signs as well such as stunted growth, wrinkled leaves, yellow leaf veining, etc.

Is the whole plant drooping? If only one stem of the plant is, part of the tuber may have started to rot. Otherwise, consider mildew, dahlia smut and/or feeding with too much nitrogen for the pale spots.

Are other dahlias in the bed similarly affected or just the three new ones? Are these three tubers from the same source? If everything has been treated the same, I would probably assume that these three were infected with a virus and dispose of them to landfill.

 

HI, thanks for all the advice on the reason my dahlias are spotty. I’ve given them a rose clear spray and it seems to have halted the spots. Soon I will dig one up and have a look at the tubers, but the problem isn’t so obvious now. Keep fingers crossed. V