How to grow dwarf dahlia and how it differs from dahlia

When people talk about dahlia, many know it, but dwarf dahlia is a completely different flower, so what are the growing methods for dwarf dahlia? What is the difference between dwarf dahlia and dahlia?

Growing methods for dwarf dahlia:

1. Soil

Potted dwarf dahlia needs a suitable medium. Garden soil, cinders and fine sand can be mixed to make the medium, and some leaf mold can also be added. Place broken tiles at the bottom of the flower pot as a drainage layer, then add the medium, and an appropriate amount of base fertilizer can be added.

2. Light and temperature

The growth of dwarf dahlia requires sufficient light, and daily light is best not less than 6 hours. It must not be shaded excessively, so as to avoid poor growth. In spring, autumn and winter, dwarf dahlia can be given direct light, but in the hot summer, direct light should be avoided as much as possible, and it can be placed in a bright place for care. In terms of temperature, dwarf dahlia likes a cooler environment and is rather afraid of heat. In summer, when temperatures are high and sunlight is strong, it should be properly shaded, or water can be sprayed to cool it down. It is also not frost-resistant, and when the temperature drops below 10°C, it enters dormancy. The suitable growing temperature for dwarf dahlia is between 15°C and 28°C.

3. Water and fertilizer management

Dwarf dahlia does not have high requirements for water and fertilizer. Generally, water more in summer and less in spring and autumn, keep the potting soil neither dry nor wet, avoid water accumulation in the pot, and pay attention to drainage in rainy seasons. When fertilizing, apply sufficient base fertilizer at planting time. During the growing period, apply a thin liquid fertilizer once every 10-15 days, and when flowering, apply some 1%-3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote flowering.

Notes on growing dwarf dahlia

1. Pruning and shaping

During the growing process of dwarf dahlia, pruning can be carried out to control the flower form and promote flowering. During growth, frequent pinching can make dwarf dahlia branch more and make the branches dense. During growth, some dead leaves and diseased leaves can be cut off to promote healthy growth of dwarf dahlia.

2. Propagation methods

Dwarf dahlia is mostly propagated by division and by separating bulbs, and cuttings can also be used for propagation.

3. Pest and disease control

Pests and diseases of dwarf dahlia are not common, but there can be harm from powdery mildew, brown spot, viral disease and moth larvae, which need to be discovered in time and controlled early.

Differences between dwarf dahlia and dahlia:

I. Appearance characteristics

1. Dwarf dahlia. Dwarf dahlia is relatively short, only 20 cm to 60 cm in height. Many flowers can bloom on one main peduncle, and the flower diameter is 5 cm to 7 cm. It has many flower colors, including dark red, purple-red, yellow, white and so on, and the flower shapes are also quite variable. The flowering time of dwarf dahlia is from July to October each year, and the harvest time is from October to November. If environmental conditions are good, it can bloom in all four seasons.

2. Dahlia. The dahlia plant is much taller, usually able to grow to 1.5 m to 2 m, and is also rather stout. Its peduncles are relatively long and usually drooping, with a width between 6 cm and 12 cm. The flower colors are usually white, red and purple. Its flower forms are even more numerous and richer than those of dwarf dahlia. Dahlia blooms from June to September, and is harvested between September and October.

II. Growth characteristics

1. Requirements for light conditions

(1) Dwarf dahlia likes sufficient sunlight and is suitable for growing in a mild and cool climate environment.

(2) Dahlia likes a semi-shaded and cool environment. If the sunlight is too strong, it will seriously affect its flowering, especially when the seedlings are relatively small. Strong light must not be allowed to scorch them, but the daily sunlight duration needs to reach 10 hours to 12 hours.

2. Requirements for temperature conditions

(1) Dwarf dahlia likes a cooler climate and cannot withstand extremely hot environments, so it grows especially slowly in summer. In addition, it cannot tolerate frost. If the temperature does not reach 10°C, it will pause growth. The most suitable temperature is 15°C to 28°C.

(2) Dahlia likes a cool climate, and flowers best in late September, but it is not frost-resistant. After frost, its stems and leaves will immediately wither. It does not have high temperature requirements during the growing period, and can grow from 8°C to 35°C.

3. Requirements for water

(1) When dwarf dahlia is potted, attention must be paid to avoiding water accumulation, otherwise the roots are especially prone to rot. The potting soil should be neither too dry nor too wet. When flowering, water more in summer and less in spring and autumn.

(2) Dahlia is neither drought-resistant nor waterlogging-resistant, and during continuous rainy days the pot needs to be tipped to drain water.

All right, friends, you all understand clearly now, and know the difference between dahlia and dwarf dahlia.

Growing methods and notes for dwarf dahlia

1. Morphological characteristics

2. Growth habits

3. Geographical distribution

Growing methods for dwarf dahlia

Dwarf dahlia is an excellent groundcover plant, also known as dwarf dahlia and xiaolihua, among other names. It is a perennial bulbous herbaceous plant of the genus Dahlia in the Asteraceae family. The plant is low and the flowering period is long, representing hope and longing. It can be used to arrange flower beds, flower borders and other places, and can also be grown in pots for viewing or used as cut flowers. It has extremely high ornamental value. Now let us take a look at the growing methods for dwarf dahlia!

Growth habits of dwarf dahlia

Dwarf dahlia likes sunlight and is suitable for a mild climate. The optimal growing temperature is 10~25°C. It is both afraid of heat and not cold-resistant. At 0°C the tuberous roots freeze. In areas with high summer temperatures and much rain, plant growth stagnates and it enters a semi-dormant state. It is neither drought-resistant nor, even more, waterlogging-resistant. It avoids heavy clay soil, and after waterlogging the tuberous roots rot. It requires loose, fertile and well-drained sandy loam, and should not be planted in low-lying waterlogged places.

Propagation methods for dwarf dahlia

1. Bulb division: The underground parts of dwarf dahlia include bulbs or corms, tubers, tuberous roots and so on. After these bulbs or corms, tubers, tuberous roots and so on grow underground for one year, small bulbs will grow around them. Simply separate these small bulbs and plant them. The operation is simple and management is convenient. Just note that when planting, do not plant the small bulbs too deep. Usually the thickness of the covering soil should not exceed one times the bulb diameter.

2. Division: Dwarf dahlia is best divided in early spring after the soil thaws. Take the mother plant out of the flower pot, shake off excess potting soil, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it open with a sharp knife into two or more plants. Each divided plant must carry a considerable root system, and its leaves should be properly pruned to help it survive.

3. Cuttings: After the terminal buds, axillary buds and basal buds of dwarf dahlia sprout, they can all be rooted by cuttings, and basal bud seedlings have vigorous growth and strong resistance to pests and diseases. Generally in early March, plant the tubers in a plain sand pot, keep it moist, and place it at room temperature above 15°C to force sprouts. When the basal buds grow 2 true leaves, break them off from the tuberous roots, insert them into plain sand to force roots, spray water 2~3 times a day, and they can root in more than 20 days.

Growing methods for dwarf dahlia

1. Potting: The potting soil for dwarf dahlia is prepared from 5 parts garden soil, 3 parts fine sand or furnace slag, and 2 parts piled barnyard manure, and broken tiles should be added at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer. Use a 10 cm pot for small seedlings, water once with dilute cake fertilizer water after the seedlings recover, and repot twice before the seedlings reach 20 cm in height and before flower buds appear, adding new leaf mold each time and filling the edges of the pot.

2. Light: Dwarf dahlia likes sunlight, and sufficient light is beneficial to its growth. Ensure 6~10 hours of light every day. If it is shaded for a long time and light is insufficient, growth will be poor, with few flowers and susceptibility to disease.

3. Temperature: Dwarf dahlia likes coolness and fears heat. In northern China, the temperature is relatively suitable, and it will bloom from summer to autumn. In the Yangtze River basin, summer temperatures are high and it is in a semi-dormant state, so leaf shading must be carried out and water sprayed to cool it down.

4. Watering: Dwarf dahlia has dense branches and leaves and consumes a lot of water. If it lacks water and is exposed to strong light, at best the leaf edges scorch and at worst the leaves fall. If there is too much water, the tuberous roots easily rot, so the potting soil should be neither dry nor wet. During the flowering period, water more in summer and less in spring and autumn. In rainy days, prevent water accumulation by raising the flower pot, and in early autumn before collecting the bulbs, water less or not at all.

5. Fertilizing: Dwarf dahlia likes fertilizer. In addition to sufficient base fertilizer, during the growing period except midsummer, apply 10% cake fertilizer water every 10~15 days, and after flower buds appear apply 1~3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote bright flower colors.

6. Pruning: When cultivating single-stem dwarf dahlia, remove the side buds and keep the main branch. For pot culture, control the height, remove all axillary buds starting from the base, removing them as they grow, and keep only one flower on the terminal bud. When cultivating four-stem dwarf dahlia, when the seedlings are 10~15 cm tall, leave 2 nodes at the base and pinch, so that 4 side branches form. Keep only one terminal bud on each side branch, and 4 flowers can bloom.

7. Trimming: If dwarf dahlia is to bloom on National Day, renewal pruning can be carried out after flowering in early July. First twist and break the branches to be cut, leaving a height of about 20 cm, and cut after they wilt. After cutting, control water appropriately, and pinch according to cultivation requirements. Generally, with careful cultivation for 2 months, it can bloom on National Day.

Pest and disease control for dwarf dahlia

1. Powdery mildew

[Harm] Powdery mildew damages leaves, peduncles and flower buds. At first, nearly circular white powdery spots appear, then expand into mottled white powdery layers, and the leaves twist and wither. The pathogen overwinters in diseased residues and spreads through airflow. The disease is severe from September to October.

[Control] In the early stage of the disease, use 2% antimycin 120 aqueous solution at 100~200 times or 40% sulfur-multi suspension concentrate at 800 times, spray once every 10 days, and spray 2~3 times continuously.

2. Brown spot

[Harm] After the leaves are infected, light yellow small spots first appear, then expand and sink, and finally form nearly circular lesions with a gray-white center and dark brown edges, with concentric rings, 1~5 mm in diameter, and light black mold-like matter is produced on the surface. The pathogen overwinters in diseased leaf residues, and the disease is severe from June to August.

[Control] It can be controlled with 1% Bordeaux mixture or 75% chlorothalonil at 600 times.

3. Viral disease

[Harm] It shows symptoms such as mosaic, chlorosis and dwarfing. The viruses are dwarf dahlia mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, tobacco streak virus and so on, and leafhoppers and aphids transmit the virus.

[Control] For control, virus-free propagation material can be selected and virus-transmitting insects can be controlled.

4. Dwarf dahlia moth

[Harm] The larvae are pale yellow or pale red, occur 2~3 generations per year, and the larval damage period is from June to August.

[Control] Spray 50% fenitrothion at 1000 times. If the insect bores into the stem, inject omethoate at 100~200 times.