How to propagate dahlias? A full breakdown of the common propagation methods
1. Root division propagation
In spring, March to April, take out the root tubers, cut off the attached sprouts together with them, and plant them separately.
2. Cuttings propagation
From June to August, when the side shoots grow to 15 to 20 cm, cut and plant them right away while removing the side shoots.
Seed propagation: Harvest the seeds in autumn and sow them in February to March of the following year. Now you know the propagation methods of dahlias, right? There are so many propagation methods, and it seems dahlias really are full of vitality! Well, that is all for the introduction to dahlias. Dahlias have a long blooming period, are easy to grow, and have bright, striking flowers, making them very suitable for planting in home courtyards. Are you tempted? What are you waiting for? Hurry home and give it a try!
How to grow dahlias
Before talking about how to grow dahlias, I need to tell flower lovers first that dahlias are more difficult to grow in pots than in the ground and are relatively harder to care for, so if you are growing dahlias in pots, you need to be extra attentive when learning how to care for them.
To make it easier for flower lovers to understand how to grow dahlias, this article will explain dahlia cultivation according to different steps, so that flower lovers can master as much knowledge as possible about growing dahlias.
1. Care environment
Whether potted or planted in the ground, they need to be cared for in a sunny environment and in a spot sheltered from the wind, because the stems of dahlias are relatively weak and break easily, unable to withstand strong winds. In summer, when the sunlight is especially harsh, they should be slightly shaded. If they are kept in a low-light environment for a long time, the root system will weaken, the leaves will be thin, the stems will be slender, the flowers will be small and pale, and they may even fail to bloom.
2. Soil selection
Because dahlias like moisture but fear waterlogging, and like fertilizer but fear excess, the soil should be chosen to be fertile, loose, and breathable (in fact, most flowers and plants require fertile, loose, and breathable soil).
3. Planting
Dahlias are tuberous plants with huge root tubers. What flower lovers usually buy are root tubers. Planting is actually very simple. What needs to be said here to flower lovers is the soil covering. Generally, covering with about 3 cm of soil is enough. Water less at first and keep it slightly dry, then gradually water more after sprouts appear.
4. Watering
Although dahlias like moisture, they fear waterlogging and also fear drought. Too much watering easily causes root rot, but their leaves are large and their growth is lush, so they also need more water. If they wilt from lack of water and cannot be replenished in time, under sunlight the leaf edges will scorch in mild cases, and in severe cases the basal leaves will fall off. Therefore, soil drainage is very important, and watering also needs to be done flexibly according to soil moisture.
5. Fertilizing
Once dahlias start blooming, they will keep blooming continuously, with the flowers getting smaller and smaller. In the later stage, they need a large amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, but dahlias also fear fertilizer that is too concentrated. Therefore, fertilizing should follow the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently, applying light fertilizer once every week.
6. Winter care measures for dahlias
(1) Stop watering: Immediately stop watering after the dahlias finish blooming, forcing the stems to turn yellow and dry as they enter dormancy.
(2) Thorough pruning: When the dahlia stems are completely yellow and dry, cut off all stems more than 6 cm above the ground. Prepare to store them indoors.
(3) Storage conditions: The storage room temperature must be kept at 15°C, and the storage room must be kept dry. Absolutely do not water during storage.
(4) Storage for overwintering: Also note that when digging up the root tubers, try not to damage them. If they are potted, it is best not to remove them from the pot. Wait until the potting soil is very dry and the outdoor temperature drops to 3°C, then move them indoors, pile them up, and overwinter them.
If the winter temperature in your city is not suitable for dahlia growth, cut off the water, and after the leaves wither, dig up the root tubers and plant them again the following spring.
Propagation methods of dahlias
Dahlia, also called dahlia, belongs to the class Dicotyledoneae and the family Asteraceae. Because it is easy to grow and survive, it is cultivated all over the world, and new hybrid varieties keep appearing. Its stems are upright, much branched, and thick. When the petals are in full bloom, they split in a swirling pattern. The tallest can reach 2 m in height. This flower, native to Mexico, is the national flower of Mexico. It is loved by people all over the world and regarded as a symbol of wealth and gorgeousness. Dahlias now have several thousand varieties, covering basically every color you can think of. Many flower shapes resemble peonies, yet they have a somewhat different quality from peonies. They also have strong environmental adaptability, are relatively easy to grow, and have a long blooming period, so they are often planted as ornamental plants in courtyards or homes.
Dahlias are suitable for planting in flower beds, pots, and courtyards. Small dahlias can be used as indoor evergreen plants. They are relatively easy to keep alive. If you want to grow dahlias, you first need to understand their habits.
Although dahlias do not have high requirements for their living environment and are easy to keep alive, if you want them to produce beautiful dahlias, you still need to reasonably adjust their growing environment. Dahlias are semi-light plants, and sunlight exposure should not be too strong. The exposure time should be about 8 hours, and seedlings should not be exposed to light. Temperature requirements are not strict. They can grow below 35°C and above 10°C, but the period of most abundant blooming is the cool autumn. A temperature of around 20°C is most suitable. Dahlias like moisture relatively much, but they cannot be too waterlogged. Potted plants need regular watering, but there must be no standing water. The best planting soil is loose, sandy soil, which dahlias love most.
Dahlia propagation methods are generally divided into cuttings and seed propagation. Generally, seed propagation is sown before March, with seeds collected in autumn, and the suitable temperature is around 18°C. The specific sowing needs to be adjusted according to the region and climate. During the seedling growth stage, moisture must be controlled, because moisture control can control the height of dahlias after they become mature plants. Regularly remove standing water from the pot. In summer, it is not suitable to spray a large amount of water. It is best to lower the surrounding temperature, otherwise it will cause dahlias to wilt or die from too much water. After the plants mature and grow flower buds, fertilize them. After flowering, they need support, using tools to prop up the flower stems.
Notes on growing dahlias:
1. Dahlias like coolness and fear heat, so when the temperature is above 30°C, cooling measures should be taken for growth, but note that they must not be placed in deep shade.
2. Dahlias like moisture, but there must not be too much standing water or insufficient water supply. Just keep the soil moist.
How to cultivate a single dahlia plant with multiple colors: Multi-colored dahlias are generally cultivated by grafting. The rootstock used is generally a root tuber without buds as the rootstock, then scions of different dahlia varieties, which need to have buds, are grafted, and then cultivated.
What to do if dahlias do not bloom: If they do not bloom, you can provide a certain amount of photosynthesis, give them light, and apply fertilizer appropriately, especially the base fertilizer before planting. Finally, control temperature and moisture.
How to change the height of dahlias: Specific varieties require different methods. The basic steps are still controlling fertilizer and water, and carrying out root cutting measures at the appropriate time. Also, when the dahlia stems grow to about 7 or 8 cm, pinch off the growing tips to promote the growth of side shoots, and then prune appropriately.