What Dahlia is this?

I bought this as a bulb in February but haven't a clue what type of Dahlia it is.

This is my favourite one, so want to know what kind it is? Can i take cuttings etc for other containers next year?

Thanks!

 

Well it's a cactus dahlia, don't know what the colour is called though and yes you can take cuttings.

Val

 

Thanks!

Second question....how do i take a cutting? is it too late?

 

Very nice. Looks very similar to one I bought in the garden centre in Feb too! I can't remember the name, but if you google 'pink cactus dahlia' something might jog your memory.

If you don't succeed with cuttings this summer, dig up the tuber and overwinter frost-free in compost and you will have ample cutting material next spring, or divide the tuber, of course.

 

In addition to that, if the tuber has put on some weight - which I expect it will do! - you ought to be able to cut it up for multiple plants. Each tuber must have a piece of stem attached which has buds [right at the base of the stem, where it meets the tuber].

You could take some now, provided you can grow them on under cover well into the winter - if the tuber is small it must not go dormant, or not for very long.

Take a non-flowering shoot, cut off cleanly below a leaf-pair and long enough to leave 4 - 5 leaf pairs. Remove 2 - 3 leaf pairs from the bottom. If the leaves above that are large cut them in half. Its better if the leaves above are just emerging, and small. Insert base into rooting powder and shake off all excess. Dib a hole around the edge of a pot (containing compost with very free drainage - I use 50:50 Multi Purpose Compost and Perlite) and insert, and firm well by pushing two fingers down on either side of the stem. Must be no air at trapped next to the cutting's stem.

Cover the top of the pot with a plastic bag secured with an elastic band around the pot and put on windowsill out of direct light (North facing, or in the reveal at the very South end of an East or West facing window). Open the bag for a moment every few days. When you have new growth they have rooted, if you are not sure wait until you can see roots at the base of the pot. Leave the bag loosely over the leaves (i.e. open at the base) for a few days to acclimatise the cuttings to less humid air.

 

You might be able to find it here:

http://www.national-dahlia-collection.co.uk/en/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?color=77&category=4

try different colours (although I think that I have got the Category correct ).

 

Thanks guys!