A humble clod of earth from the countryside blooms red all over the world, with flowers bigger than a face

This Van Gogh float can be called the most breathtaking of all the floats. Step closer and it is densely packed, even the lines on the face are incredibly lifelike, so much so that people with trypophobia would not dare to look!

The news said this Van Gogh float was mainly built with dahlias. A float this big must have at least tens of thousands of flowers.

It must be said that the Dutch, a people world-famous for their flowers, really do love dahlias: vivid colors, huge flower heads, and a long blooming period. When Huahua was little, the only dahlias seen were the ones Grandpa planted along the fence of the vegetable garden. Who knew they could be this stylish!

There are so many dahlia varieties that there is always one to catch your eye

Because they are so hugely popular, dahlias now number 30,000 varieties. There are not only large red multi-petaled ones, but also light-colored single-petaled ones. According to statistics there are already nearly 30,000 varieties. Dahlia lovers will probably be dazzled.

Red series:

Hongfei, a very true bright red, with large blooms and a relatively tall plant.

Fushou, with full, plump blooms and white petal tips.

Purple series:

Liren, a fairly common dahlia variety with good disease resistance and relatively vivid colors.

Vancouver, a new variety with relatively fine, dense petals and strong ornamental value.

Yellow series:

Zhaoying, with a touch of red at the leaf tips, a very distinctive variety.

Xinhuang, with a large flower head and white at the leaf tips, a little cute.

Dahlia cuttings and division, no problem to do either

Dahlias are not only beautiful but also have a long blooming period, flowering in both spring and autumn, and each bloom lasts one to two months. If your heart is moved, besides going to the flower market to buy, buy, buy, you can also follow Huahua and learn cuttings and division!

Cuttings:

1. Cut current-year dahlia branches, each segment 8-15 cm long, with just one pair of leaves for necessary photosynthesis.

2. Dahlia stems are relatively brittle, so it is best to root cuttings in moist sandy soil (water the sandy soil before inserting). First use scissors to poke a hole, then insert the branch 2-3 cm deep.

3. After inserting the cuttings, be sure to place them in a shaded spot, away from sunlight, and mist them once every 1-2 days. After about 1 week, the branches stand upright, which means they are rooting, and they can be placed in a spot with slightly better light.

4. After 15-20 days, they can be potted on or transplanted into flower pots. Be careful not to damage the roots. There is no need to remove the sandy soil on the roots, just bury them directly in the new potting soil, press firm and water thoroughly, place in a cool spot to settle in, and after one week normal care can resume.

Division:

1. Division can be done now. Dahlia rhizomes look like sweet potatoes. After flowering, first withhold water, prune off the stems, dig out the roots, and tear off a few small "sweet potatoes."

2. After tearing them off, put all the tuberous roots together in a ventilated place to dry, then after 2-3 days bury them in a pile of dry sand. In winter cover with plastic film or straw to overwinter easily, and gardeners in the north can absolutely grow them.

3. The following spring, dig out the buried tuberous roots and replant them.

With seedlings there is no worry about growth, the blooms are bigger than the pot

1. Soil

We have a fairly long history of growing dahlias. This flower is very easy to grow. Ordinary garden soil mixed with some sand is great, or use leaf mold. In short, any soil with good drainage and good aeration will do.

2. Light and watering

Dahlias like a bright, indirect-light environment. The location should have good light, but they cannot be exposed to harsh sun. Keep more than 6 hours of bright light each day to encourage flowering. There is no need to water too much either; water when dry and water thoroughly when you do.

3. Fertilizing

Dahlias can bloom in both spring and autumn. Remember to add some fertilizer before and after the blooming period so there are more and bigger flowers. You can add chicken manure fertilizer, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer, nutrient solution and the like, and you can also water with fermented rice-washing water or soybean dregs water. Once a month, stop in summer and winter.