How and when to plant dahlia bulbs

Dahlias come in many colors, including purple, bright red, pink, mixed colors, etc. The flowers are bright and beautiful. Dahlias can be planted by seeds or by bulbs. Here I will introduce the planting method and time of dahlia bulbs. Let’s take a look.

1. Planting time

The best time to plant dahlia bulbs is usually in spring, specifically between March and May, with April to May in late spring and early summer being the most suitable. The climate during this period warms up, the soil temperature stabilizes at 15-20 degrees Celsius, and the rainfall is moderate, which is very conducive to the growth and germination of dahlia bulbs. If the planting time is too early or too late, it may affect the survival rate and subsequent growth of the bulbs.

2. Check the bulbs

Check the condition of the bulbs before planting. The buds on the dahlia bulbs must be complete and the root tubers must be strong and thick.

3. Clean the root system

Clean off the dead roots and rotten leaves on the root system. If there are too many tubers, you can cut off the excess tubers with a blade and keep the lateral roots and adventitious buds.

4. Disinfection of bulbs

Place the dahlia bulbs in a 1000-fold carbendazim solution prepared in advance for sterilization and disinfection. After soaking for 30 minutes, take them out and dry them.

5. Put it in the pot

Choose a flower pot with a depth of more than 20 cm and fill it with soil. After filling the soil to a depth of 10 cm, plant the dahlia bulbs. Note that the roots of the bulbs are at the bottom and the stems are at the top. Continue filling the pot with soil until there is 3-5cm of soil left from the rim of the pot.

6. Watering

Dahlias prefer a humid environment, but cannot tolerate waterlogging. After planting, water the dahlias once to allow sufficient contact between the soil and the root tubers, which is conducive to rooting. When watering, the soil should be kept slightly moist to avoid waterlogging.

7. Fertilization

During the growing period, proper fertilization can promote the growth and flowering of dahlias. You can use organic fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers .

8. Lighting

Dahlia likes light and is not shade-tolerant, so it needs to be placed in a sunny place for daily care. In addition to avoiding excessive exposure to the sun in summer, the plant can be exposed to more sunlight in other seasons. It needs to receive more than 6 hours of sunlight a day to ensure that the plant grows healthily and has large and colorful flowers.

9. Trim support

As the plant grows, it may need to be supported to prevent it from falling over, and pruned to encourage branching and flowering. Prune dead leaves and flowers regularly to encourage new growth. Pinching can control the height and shape of the plant to keep it beautiful. Dahlias have longer stems and may need support to prevent them from falling over. You can use bamboo poles or trellises for support.

10. Wintering treatment

In cold areas, dahlia bulbs need to be dug out before frost and stored in a dry, ventilated environment for planting again next spring.

The above is an introduction to the planting method and time of dahlia bulbs. When planting dahlias, turn the flowerpot over once every 10 days to allow the other side to receive light. This can prevent one side from growing too vigorously and maintain a good plant shape.