Petit Mignon Dalias in hanging baskets - Too crowded???

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tathib Eunice, LA Aug 02, 2010

I put 2 petit mignon dalia bulbs/tubers in each of my four 14 or 16 inch hanging baskets. In the middle, I put a caladium bulb. Well, being a novice, I didn't know how big the dalias were going to get. I thought they'd be small plants/flowers but they grew really tall. I noticed that their leaves are kind of droopy sometimes. It has been extremely hot lately, with the heat index being over 100 most of the day. I did also notice that the autowatering system spinner wasn't spinning, but I've been doing that by hand.

My question is... are they overcrowded? Should I attempt to dig them up and put them in the ground so they'd have more room. Are they just not getting watered enough? I'd hate to loose them before I get to see their blooms.

What is odd is that the expensive Tahitian Dalia from American Meadows hasn't taken off at all: http://www.americanmeadows.com/SpringFlowerBulbs/Dahlias/TahitiSunrise.aspx and they were planted first. It is in the ground

These petite mignon dalias are quite tall in the hanging basket. http://www.dutchgardens.com/detail.asp?pid=6342 Can post pictures later if you need to see.

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Aug 02, 2010

You might try digging up the dahlias and be very careful of the tubers. They will have grown considerably since you originally planted them. Give them a sunny spot in the garden, in good soil and with slug bait (if you have slug problems), and they should do fine. You may have to stake them. They droop when they have insufficient water.

While I realize the ad says they can be grown in hanging baskets I do think at 15 to 20" tall they just might be too tall and the basket can't retain the water as soil could.

No idea on why the one from American Meadows didn't make it. Write to them and tell them so they can replace it for you next year.

You might want to duplicate this post and put it on the Dahlia forum where more people who know dahlias well can help you.

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