I've just purchased several .75 pt. Dahlias. (photo file attached). I'm planning on growing them in a (plastic) balcony planter's box. The ID card states that they need moist soil, will grow from 10" to 18" - and - require morning sun o.n.l.y. They will have a direct Southern exposure & their new home is in Northern Illinois.
Can someone give me some tips on succeeding with these flowers? I'd be very greatful.
What beautiful dahlias! Best tip I know is for you to deadhead the flowers as they start to look a little ragged, if you deadhead the plants will soon be bursting with new growth. I live in the South, so it gets very hot and humid here in the summer, I give mine a good watering
once a week and they thrive.
Hi There,
Dahlias are great! Here are some tips that will help you get the most out of your container plants.
They love sun, the more the better. Since you have them in a south facing area you are good to go.
Definitely deadhead spent flowers right away. They are heavy drinkers when fully matured so pay attention, they will let you know if they are thirsty. Lastly I give my Dahlia's a bloom boost every 7-10 days. Use a water soluble fertilizer low in Nitrogen or even better no Nitrogen. Ask your local nursery or garden shop to help you find one. Try to stay away from the Miracle Grow stuff too much nitrogen. Look for a fertilizer that is
0-10-10 or 0-20-20 For my Dahlia's I use a product called Alaska Morbloom. Its made by Lily Miller products.
I live on the east coast and can't find it here so I have to order it online each year. It's inexpensive and I have had wonderful results with it. It comes in liter and gallon sizes. Its concentrated so all you will need is a liter. It will last you a long time. Here are the product specs below from the place I order it from. maybe you can find it locally, otherwise just order online it's way cheap... Good Luck!
my dahlia plants leaves are cocered with a whitw dust or something that looks like that and they dry and the plant looks like its dying what is that and what can i do
sounds like powdery mildew
To control powdery mildew on plants, mix together:
1 tablespoon of baking soda
½ teaspoon of liquid soap
1 gallon of water
Do not store unused mixture. While this recipe has been known to be effective, it can burn the leaves of some plants. It is recommended that you water your infected plants well a couple of days before applying this mixture, and don’t apply it in full sun. Try on a small area first, to test the plant’s response before spraying the entire plant.
Some recipes also recommend applying 1 tablespoon of ultralight horticultural oil to the mixture. The oil coats and smothers the fungi. The soap is added to help the mix spread and cling to the leaf surface. Be sure to apply to lower leaf surfaces as well.
The best way to take care of powdery mildew is by prevention. Be sure to start with healthy plants. One powdery mildew homemade preventer is to simply prune back any dead plant material during the normal pruning time. Do not plant things too close together, to allow ample air circulation around the plants. It is important to not plant in damp shady areas, as that is a prime location for powdery mildew. Another powdery mildew homemade preventer is to avoid using the sprinklers in the evening, so the water doesn’t stand on the leaves too long. The water itself doesn’t cause more mildew, but it allows it to be transported to the other leaves on the plant easier.
Organic removal of powdery mildew
But, when prevention fails, it is a good idea to try organic removal of powdery mildew first. If you have a case of powdery mildew, be sure not to compost the infected plant parts. There are a few options to try when trying a homemade cure for powdery mildew.
One powdery mildew organic remedy is to use dilute solutions of hydrogen peroxide. Spray it on the plants thoroughly about once a week. You can also use a powdery mildew homemade solution of potassium salts. Organic removal of powdery mildew is always preferable to using harsh chemicals on your plants.
Or....
You can also try a solution of 1 part milk to 9 parts water
Some that are too far gone you may just have to cut down. Do not compost any diseased parts.
