How to grow potted dahlias? Regular pruning, fertilizing and water control are key

Dahlia flowers are large and beautiful, with a wide range of colors, suitable for home pot cultivation or landscaping planting. Dahlias grow best in loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil and are afraid of waterlogging. Today let's take a look at how to grow potted dahlias~

Choosing potting soil

For potted dahlias, it is best to choose sandy soil rich in humus and with good drainage. A soil mix recipe can be: 2/5 garden soil, 2/5 leaf mold, 1/5 sandy soil and organic fertilizer mixed together. Soil that is rather clayey or already compacted is best not used, as it easily waterlogs and causes root rot.

Watering method

Dahlias like water but are also afraid of waterlogging; they fear both flooding and drought. The dahlia's roots have fleshy tubers, so excessive watering easily rots the roots, but with lush branches and leaves and high evaporation, they also need a fairly large water supply. Therefore, follow the principle of "don't water until dry, and water thoroughly when you do." Generally, during the growing period at the seedling stage, the water requirement is limited; on sunny days, watering once a day to keep the soil moist is enough. Too dry or too wet is neither good nor suitable.

Fertilizer supply

Dahlias like fertilizer. Starting from the seedling stage, generally apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every one to two weeks, and apply once more 6-10 days after buds appear. When the buds begin to show color, fertilization should stop, and it is also not advisable to fertilize when the temperature is high.

The amount of fertilizer used depends on the plant's growth. Pale, thin leaves indicate a lack of fertilizer; conversely, if too much fertilizer is used, the leaf edges scorch or the leaf tips turn yellow. Thick, green leaves are the best sign that topdressing is just right.

Pinching and pruning

Regular pruning allows for better management of dahlias and benefits their growth. There are two pruning methods for dahlias. Generally, the single-stem shaping method is used, and for medium-sized varieties the four-stem shaping method is used.

Single-stem shaping method: keep the terminal bud, remove all side buds, concentrate the nutrients, dwarf the plant, and make it form a large-flowered single-stem dahlia.

Four-stem shaping method: pinch out the growing tip of the seedling, keep the two basal nodes, and let it form 3-4 side branches, each retaining its terminal bud, which can promote it to form a potted dahlia with four stems and four flowers.

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