How to grow dahlia? Planting methods and key technical points
SummarySoil: choose loose, well-drained soil for planting. Water at the right time: the soil should not be too dry or too wet; on sunny days water every day, and in summer when water demand is high, increase the amount of watering, but do not let water accumulate. Light: no less than 6 hours of light per day. Growing temperature: suitable at around 10-25°C, not below 5°C, and not above 35°C. Propagation method: can be propagated by cuttings. Pest and disease control: mainly control the dahlia stem borer moth and gray mold.
I. Introduction to Dahlia
Dahlia is also called dahlia, a plant of the Asteraceae family and the genus Dahlia, with upright stems, relatively many branches, a plant height of about 1.5-2m, thick and sturdy; it is a perennial herb with super-large club-shaped tuberous roots.
Dahlia is native to Mexico and is the national flower of that country. People regard the dahlia as a symbol of magnificence and elegance. At present, many countries grow it. This flower has an extremely large number of varieties and is one of the flower varieties with the most varieties in the world, probably already exceeding about 30,000.
II. Cultivation Methods
1. Soil requirements
Dahlia should be planted in loose soil with good drainage. If the soil drainage is poor, it easily leads to water accumulation, thereby affecting the normal growth of the plant, and even causing root rot and death.
2. Water at the right time
The planting soil should not be too dry or too wet; keeping the soil at a certain humidity is enough. Generally, water every day on sunny days. During the growing period and in summer high temperatures, the plant's water demand is relatively large, so the amount of watering should be increased in time, but it should not be excessive, otherwise water accumulation will cause root rot.
3. Light
Dahlia needs sufficient light during growth, with no less than 6 hours of light per day, so that the plant can grow quickly. If the plant is kept in a dark place or a place without light for a long time, it will lead to poor development.
4. Growing temperature
The suitable growing temperature for dahlia is around 10-25°C. Too high or too low a temperature will affect the growth of the plant. The lowest temperature should not be lower than 5°C, and the highest temperature should not exceed 35°C.
III. Propagation Methods
Cuttage propagation: among the young shoots growing from the divided roots, only one needs to be retained; the other shoots can be cut for propagation once they grow to about 3cm. When the emerging seedlings grow to about 5cm tall, one strong seedling can be selected to let it grow, and all the others can be used for cuttings. During cutting, the temperature should be kept at about 20°C, and the soil should be kept at a certain humidity; they will take root in about 15 days.
IV. Pest and Disease Control
1. Dahlia stem borer moth: the larvae mainly damage the leaves, flowers, and stems of the plant. If the damage is severe, it can cause the plant to die. A 100-fold dilution of 50% fenitrothion can be used for control, and manual capture is also possible.
2. Gray mold: this disease often appears in the rainy season and often occurs on leaves and tender shoots. If the disease is found, first cut off the diseased parts, and at the same time spray an 800-1000-fold dilution of 50% zineb for control.