Dahlias plants are Native to Central
America and Mexico. The plants are actually mid-to-late season flowers that
really come in a vast array of colors and forms. A lot of people see dahlias
plant as cut flowers, dahlias plants make exceptional arrangements and the
plant also deserve recognition as garden plants. Dahlias plants are labeled as
perennials, and the plant is actually too tender to leave out all winter in all
but the warmest climates, where ground temperatures are about twenty degrees
Fahrenheit. Below is the basic information about dahlias plants;
The botanical name: The botanical
name is Dahlia
The common name: The common name is
Dahlia
The plant type: The plant is herbaceous perennial
The mature size: The mature size is
about 1–6 ft. tall and 1–3 ft. wide
The sun exposure: The plant prefer
full sun
The soil type: The plant does well in
moist, well-drained soil
The soil pH: This should be neutral to acidic
The blooming time: The blooming time
late summer, fall
The flower color: The flower colors
are orange, red, yellow, purple, pink, white
Plant hardiness zones: USDA hardiness
zone 7 to 10
Plant native area: Dahlias are native
to Mexico, Central America
Plant toxicity: The plant is toxic to
cats and dogs
Different types of Dahlias
There are different types of Dahlias.
The following are the different types of Dahlias you can plant:
-
Black Satin Dahlia: Black Satin
blooms are deep and they are nearly black. Also the light really gives it an
almost satin sheen.
-
Dahlia Bora Bora: This particular one
is one of the more exotic dahlias. Dahlia Bora Bora is an intensely prolific
bloomer. Dahlia Bora Bora has interesting flowers that burst into a firework
display of color, which can be from reds and yellows to coral and pink.
-
Dahlia 'Juul's Allstar': 'Juul's
Allstar' really stands out as unique to other dahlias. These particular dahlias
are small flowers and they are around four inches. Dahlia 'Juul's Allstar' are
great for small containers that you can easily bring in during the winter.
-
Dahlia 'Clearview Daniel': Dahlia
'Clearview Daniel' has compact petals and bright yellow color, looking like a
beehive.
-
Dahlia 'El Sol': 'El Sol' is actually
a big dahlia that grows to about four feet tall with incredible twelve inch
blooms. Dahlia 'El Sol' has orange and yellow color.
-
Dahlia 'Crazy Legs': They are also
Like 'Bora Bora,' they form a fire burst type blossom with rounded petal ends.
-
Dahlia 'Boogie Nites': 'Boogie Nites'
is another big giant dahlia, bush covered in medium-sized blooms. This
particular type of dahlia is different from others, it comes with deep purple
and reddish colors.
-
Dahlia 'Brittany Rey': Dahlia
'Brittany Rey' comes with shades of purples, yellows, and reds and they blend
on each blossom. They are attracted to bees and butterflies.
-
Dahlia 'Tutti Frutti': 'Tutti Frutti'
is another cactus type and is summer embodied. The plant comes with corals,
pinks, yellows colors and it’s a total showstopper.
-
Dahlia 'Jitterbug': Dahlia
'Jitterbug' comes with dainty pink and salmon flowers and they can reach a
couple of inches in size. This particular dahlia is an early bloomer that will
give you some quick spring color.
How to grow Dahlias
Actually this plant is fairly easy to
grow. Dahlia is also similar to many bulb flowers, they can be grown from
tubers, which can be easily started indoors in early spring and then later
moved outdoors once the danger of frost has passed. Another option is to wait
until the soil has warmed and dried a bit in the spring, and then plant the
dahlias tubers directly outdoors. Just make sure you plant the large tubers six
to eight inches deep, while the smaller varieties you can plant them three to
four inches deep. Make sure they thrive by choosing a very good spot with a lot
of light and regular watering.
Light requirement
For the plant to flower well, the
plant need full sun, preferably at least 6 to 8 hours a day. In hotter climates
(mostly USDA zones eight and up), the dahlia plant will do better with a bit of
shade all through the peak afternoon hours.
Soil requirement
Like I said earlier, the plant likes
a rich, well-draining soil with a lot of organic matter and also a fairly
neutral soil pH of around 6.5. If you want to plant the dahlia tubers ahead of
time in pots, make sure you mix in a bit of garden soil for better moisture
retention, potting soil can easily dry out quickly and it is very important
that the dahlia tubers stay moist until they have sufficient roots.
Water requirement
The plants actually need a ton of
water to thrive, most especially the young plants. On the other hand
over-watering the plant can pose more of a potential issue, as excessive water
can cause the dahlia plant to rot. By peradventure if you only get less than 1
inch of rain in 7 days, try and supplement with additional watering. It is very
important not to allow the soil dry out, because the plants are not
deep-rooted. A dry top layer of the soil can lead to a dry plant.
Temperature and humidity requirement
When it comes to planting and growing
dahlias plant timing is very important. Dahlias plants struggle to establish in
cold soil. Make sure you wait until your final spring frost has passed and the
ground temperatures have reached about sixty degrees Fahrenheit. This plant
also likes humidity when being stored as tubers, although they require no
additional humidity in their environment if they are grown throughout the
spring and summer outdoors.
Fertilizer requirement
This plant really benefit greatly
from being treated with fertilizer. The more food the dahlia plant gets the
larger roots they will grow and also the bigger the plant flowers will become.
If you want to choose fertilizer make sure you look for the one with a low
nitrogen ratio. The dahlia plants should not be fertilize after August.
Pest and disease control
Dahlia plants are also affected by
pest and diseases. The following are the pest and disease that attack dahlia
plants;
-
Stem rot of dahlia: This normally
happens when the dahlia plants are grown in a heavy, poorly drained, wet soil.
How to manage and control it: Make
sure you look for a white ring in the soil around the stem.
-
Dahlia Mosaic Virus: What you will
see is dwarf plants and distorts leaves.
How to manage and control it: Make
sure you destroy the plant because there is actually no cure.
-
Dahlia Botrytis: This particular
disease is very bad and it causes the buds to rot and also covers the plant
with powdery gray mold.
How to manage and control it: Make
sure you remove any affected part and destroy it.
- Insects on dahlia: There are
several insect pests that find dahlias delicious. The following are the insect
pests that attack dahlia;
- Leafhoppers
- Aphids
- Mites
- Thrips
These tiny insects suck sap the
plant, thereby causing the health of the plant to diminish.
How to manage and control it: To
minimize the presence of the insects, horticultural soaps and blasts of water
will really help.
-
Slugs, snails and cutworms on dahlia:
These particular pests produce topical damage that is visually obvious and it
also reduces the dahlia plant health and attractiveness.
How to manage and control it: You can
start by hunting at night with a flashlight and also use the “squish” method of
pest control for cutworms. For the slugs and snails they can be controlled with
diatomaceous earth or slug baits.
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