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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