Dahlia cultivation methods and precautions

Dahlia is famous for its bright colors and long flowering period. It is known as the "flower of a thousand faces". Under suitable temperature conditions, dahlia can have a very long flowering period. Even in autumn and winter, if the indoor temperature is suitable or it is planted in a greenhouse with plenty of sunlight, it can continue to bloom. Let’s learn about the cultivation methods and precautions of dahlias.

1. Avoid stagnant water

Dahlia is a perennial plant whose tubers are similar to sweet potatoes and cannot be soaked in the soil for a long time. An overly humid environment can easily lead to root rot. Therefore, whether it is potted or planted in the ground, it is necessary to avoid prolonged rain and ensure good drainage to prevent the soil from being waterlogged and wet for a long time.

2. Avoid frost

Dahlias prefer a warm and sunny growing environment. Low temperatures can easily cause their branches to be frozen or their leaves to turn yellow and wither, thus affecting their flowering. Therefore, before the temperature drops, potted dahlias should be moved to a warm shed, greenhouse or a warm and sunny place at home to maintain their continued flowering and bud germination. Under low temperature conditions, dahlias are not only difficult to bloom, but are also susceptible to frost damage.

3. Protect the bulbs

When temperatures drop in fall and winter, dahlia branches may die back. At this time, you can appropriately cut off some branches. If you wish, you can also dig the bulbs (tubers) out of the soil, store them in sandy soil, and plant them again next year. Of course, it is also possible not to dig out the bulbs. But be careful not to expose the bulbs directly to the soil to avoid frostbite or freeze damage, which will affect their germination next year. In addition, watering should be done in moderation to prevent the soil from being continuously dry, otherwise the bulbs will shrive; it should not be too moist to prevent the bulbs from rotting. As long as the bulbs survive the cold winter successfully, when the temperature rises in the spring of the following year, they will sprout new buds again, gradually grow lush branches and leaves, produce many flower buds again, and bloom beautiful flowers.

4. Fertilization

During the growing period of dahlia, apply decomposed thin organic fertilizer about every 20 days, and mix it with a small amount of urea and 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate mixed fertilizer liquid to promote the lush growth of the plant's stems and leaves and make it upright. When flower buds appear on dahlias, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote the development of flowers. Fertilization should be suspended during high temperatures in summer, and normal fertilization frequency can be resumed after the temperature drops in autumn.

5. Lighting

Dahlias like light and are not shade-tolerant, so they should be placed in a sunny place for maintenance. Except for avoiding strong direct sunlight in summer, the plant can be exposed to more sunlight in other seasons. It needs to receive at least 6 hours of sunlight a day to ensure that the plant grows healthily and the flowers are large and colorful. If kept in a dark environment for a long time, the growth of the plant will be inhibited, it will grow weak, and the flowers will be smaller and dull in color.

6. Soil

Dahlias grow best in loose sandy loam that is rich in humus and well-drained. It is recommended to use slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. You can mix 5 parts of garden soil, 2 parts of humus soil, 2 parts of sand and 1 part of base fertilizer to meet the plant's needs for soil fertility and air permeability.

7. Notes

The potting soil for dahlias needs to be replaced every 1-2 years to prevent the soil from becoming compacted and sticky, which will cause root waterlogging and affect the normal growth of the plant. You can loosen the soil frequently to keep it active and promote root respiration and nutrient absorption.

The best growth temperature for dahlias is between 20-25℃. When the temperature is high in summer, they need to be moved to a cool and ventilated place in time, and water should be sprayed around the plants frequently to lower the temperature and increase the air humidity, helping the dahlias to survive the hot summer and maintain normal growth and flowering.

In short, spring and autumn are the peak growth periods for dahlias, and you only need to water them every 3-4 days. The temperature is high in summer and water evaporates quickly, so it is necessary to water the plants once in the morning and once in the evening every day to meet the plants' water needs. Dahlias enter a dormant period in winter. At this time, you can reduce the frequency of watering, watering every 10-15 days and keeping the soil in the pot slightly dry will help the plants survive the winter safely.