Dahlias: planting and care. Dahlias: growing and care at home Is it possible to grow dahlias as a houseplant

Distinctive characteristics of the plant, tips for growing dahlias at home, propagation steps, pest and disease control, possible difficulties, facts to note, varieties.

The content of the article:

Dahlia (Dahlia) belongs to the genus of representatives of the flora belonging to the family Asteraceae (Asteraceae) or as it is also called Asteraceae (Compositae). This association is quite large, as it includes multiple dicotyledonous plants from almost 33,000 varieties. But the dahlia genus contains, according to various sources, from 35 to 42 species of large or undersized specimens with a long life cycle. Also, similar samples of the green world have large flower heads, often spherical outlines. In plants growing wild in the American territories, the inflorescence head contains flowers of two types. Along the edge of the entire inflorescence are non-fertile buds (as, for example, in a sunflower) with a tongue-shaped shape, the color of the petals in them is whitish; in the middle of the inflorescence (on the disk) there is the formation of small yellow flowers with tubular outlines. It is thanks to these middle flowers that the dahlia fruits will then ripen.

The plant bears its scientific name in honor of the botanist from Sweden Anders (Andreas) Dahl (1751–1789), therefore, following the transliteration from Latin, the dahlia is sometimes called “dahlia”, and in Russia the current name is given because of the botanist Johann Gottlieb, who was popular in those days (Johanna Gottlieba) Georgi (1729-1802), who was called in the Russian state Ivan Ivanovich Georgi. He became famous for his works in the field of chemistry, medicine, ethnography, was a traveler and professor of mineralogy, academician of the Imperial Academy of Sciences and Arts.

However, in the gardens of our latitudes, similar asters, with inflorescences of this form, are very rare. We often have the whole set of Dahlia, which have a wide variety of colors of petals and terry varieties, are classified as garden plants, in which all tubular flowers growing on disks were turned into non-fertile ones with a reed contour during breeding work. Because of them, the inflorescence became more dense, acquiring an almost spherical shape. Despite the most diversely colored species, dahlias with variegated colors are bred.

In the wild, these representatives of the Compositae can be found mainly in the mountainous areas falling on the lands of Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia. One of these varieties that grows in natural conditions in America - Dahlia imperialis can reach a height of 6 meters, it forms the same two-type flowers as described earlier: those located along the edges are snow-white and barren, the number their large, central - yellow color, fertile. The leaf plates of the plant are distinguished by a complex shape.

In our gardens, and throughout the European part, the most popular variety is Dahlia changeable (Dahlia variabilis) and its multiple forms. Growing in the wild, the plant is famous for reed (marginal) flowers of various shades, having median flowers of bright yellow color and tubular shape. This species was the base for the breeding of multiple modern forms by breeders, which delight with their flowering at the end of summer or on autumn days.

Dahlia leaf plates usually sit on the stem in pairs. The shape of the leaves is pinnate, and occasionally even twice or thrice pinnate, but in rare cases they have a simple outline. The length of the leaf plate varies between 10–40 cm. The surface of the leaves has a different degree of pubescence. Foliage is dyed green or purple.

The stems of this perennial plant are hollow inside and their height parameters can reach 2.5 meters. They are straight, branched, their surface can be smooth or rough. The roots of Dahlia are thickened, tuberous, fleshy, with the same root processes. Every year, with the advent of cold weather, the entire part located above the soil surface dies off up to the root neck.

Inflorescences, as already mentioned, are basket-shaped. Its wrapper is in the form of a cup, and it consists of 2-3 rows of green color of leaves, fused at the base. The flowers are reed-shaped along the edge, in the middle part they are small and tubular. The color of the petals in the extreme flowers is the most diverse, and the central ones are cast in a golden yellow or reddish-brown tone. When pollinated, the fruit ripens in the form of an achene. At the same time, 1 gram can contain up to 140 seeds, which are used for reproduction up to 3 years.

Recommendations for home growing flowers, planting and care

1. It is necessary to choose a variety of "dahlia" which will be suitable for pot growing. It is better to use dwarf or undersized varieties. However, if there is a fairly large capacity, then in principle any of the dahlia varieties can be grown.
2. The choice of capacity for planting. For starters, a pot may come up, the depth of which will be about 30.5 cm, the diameter should be the same. If the variety has larger parameters (up to 90 cm or more), then an even larger flowerpot will be required. You should also select a container made of heavy material (ceramics or clay) so that it does not turn over under the weight of an overgrown plant.
3. Preparing the pot for planting. Holes must be drilled in the bottom through which excess moisture will flow when watering. If a pot with ready-made holes is purchased, you need to inspect them - if they are small or there is only one hole, then in any case you will need to drill a couple of additional holes. The pot will need to be washed, as a dirty container can become a source of subsequent disease or the presence of pest eggs. It is recommended to wash with soapy water, and then rinse it thoroughly under running water. After that, you can scald the container with boiling water and wipe dry.
4. Selection of soil mixture for planting dahlias. The substrate should be soil and coarse-grained. If the usual soil mixture for potted crops is used, then the dahlia buds will develop poorly, since the composition is rather porous. You can make a substrate for a plant from potting and garden soil, or by mixing potting soil and compost. Often, in the absence of such components, chopped bark, peat and various minerals are used.
5. Location of the dahlia pot. The plant needs up to 6-8 hours of bright sun. The window sill of the south, east or west window will do, but for indoor cultivation you will need lights. It is the latter condition that is necessary to stimulate growth. If the tubers are only planted in pots, then the lamp is installed above the container at a height of about 15 cm from the edge. As the stem grows, such lighting rises, maintaining the same distance from the flower.
6. Watering "dahlia". When the height of the stem rises above the edge of the flowerpot, then abundant watering is recommended - 2-3 times a week. But if the room is dry and hot, then humidification is carried out daily. However, bays are prohibited.
7. fertilizers for dahlias, they are applied from early summer to September. This will ensure lush growth and flowering. The frequency of feeding is once every 14 days. Preparations with a low nitrogen content are used. It is better to "underfeed" the plant than to apply too much fertilizer. Often, nutrient preparations are mixed into the substrate during planting. Such fertilizers are obtained on the basis of fish residues or algae and contain additional trace elements. Also, bone meal is mixed into the soil. In specialized stores, you can buy a polymer mixture instead of bone meal and dressings. It is only important not to violate the dosage indicated on the label. In the case when, when adding a fertilizer mixture or bone meal to the soil, the filters covering the drainage holes can be displaced, then the substrate should be removed from the container, mixed with additional preparations. The filters are placed back into the pot and the soil is sprinkled on top very carefully.
8. Planting dahlias. It is necessary to plant the tubers before the roots grow too long, because they tend to get tangled and when they are tried to straighten out when planting, they are easily damaged. While such a plant will grow new roots, its growth and flowering process will be delayed too much and this period will be very short during the season.

1. At the bottom of the new pot, 1-2 biodegradable coffee maker filters are placed over the holes. This will help absorb moisture and prevent root rot. A drainage layer of expanded clay or medium-sized pebbles will also “work”, however, it will take up a little space that is necessary for the root system. Filters are a kind of "shield" from the penetration of insects into the pot through the holes.
2. The pot is filled with a substrate by 1/3 of the total volume, it is not necessary to compact it. If the capacity is more than 30.5 cm deep, then the soil layer will have to be increased.
3. The planting depth of dahlia roots should be 15 cm, from the edge of the flowerpot to the surface of the substrate it is maintained up to 2.5 cm. Also, about 0.6 mm should remain between the root tip and the wall of the pot.
4. If during planting it is found that an “eye” has formed on the root, then it is placed in such a way that it is in the central part of the pot and “looks” up. The germination of the stem will start from this place.
5. The soil is moistened, but it should not be wet and the planted tuber is covered with it. At first, they do not bury it, but only sprinkle it with a little substrate. This is done in order to be able to keep an eye on its growth.
6. It is not recommended to sprinkle the eyes with soil, they are left on the surface and only slightly spray the visible part of the dahlia tuber with slightly warmed water to moisten.
7. As the stem grows, you will need to add soil to the pot. This is done carefully so as not to damage the fragile stem. The upper leaf plates are never sprinkled with substrate. Such sprinkling of earth is stopped when 2.5 cm does not remain between its surface and the edge of the flowerpot.
8. It is recommended to install a support in the container and then tie the grown stem to it so that it does not break off. In height, it is selected about 120 cm and it is better that it be made of metal. They try to rest its base against the bottom, and then carefully sprinkle the support with a substrate or / and use a wire previously threaded into the holes. They are drilled on the sides of the flowerpot.

Methods for propagating dahlias at home

1. The division of an overgrown tuber, which is then planted in prepared pots with a substrate, but covered in such a way that the root neck remains above the soil surface.
2. Cuttings - parts of the stems are planted in pots with a peat-sand moistened substrate and greenhouse conditions are created by covering the blanks with a transparent film. With constant ventilation and periodic moistening of the soil, such cuttings take root.
3. When using seeds, you can enjoy the flowering of only annual specimens.

Diseases, pests and other difficulties in caring for dahlias

In the middle of summer, it is recommended to remove the leaves at the bottom of the stem so that they do not provoke powdery mildew. Often, white or dry rot is manifested by yellowing of the leaf plate. To fight, treat the dahlia with a soapy solution with repetitions a week later until the cure.

With poor ventilation of the room, brown color spots appear on the leaves, which are provoked by a fungal disease - leaf spot. To fight, you will have to remove all the affected parts of the plant and transplant.

Among the pests of the plant, spider mites, aphids, thrips can be distinguished, and when growing "dahlia" in a pot in the open air, leaf beetles, bedbugs, earwigs and slugs become a problem for it. If the plant that is in the room is noticed:

• foliage punctures along the edge, a thin cobweb, then a spider mite was damaged;
• aphids look like small bugs of green color, which crawl in large numbers along the leaves and stem, leaving behind a sugary and sticky coating (pad);
• during the “attack” of thrips, it was noticed that yellow spots form on the leaves, which over time begin to occupy more and more space, and a hole appears in this place.

Facts on a note about dahlias, photo

The Latin name for this wonderful flower was given by the Spanish botanist Antonio Cavanilles, who at that time (in 1791) served as director of the botanical garden in Madrid. So the scientist decided to perpetuate the name of Anders Dahl, one of the "apostles" of Carl Linnaeus, the classifier of all flora and fauna. The plant has had another, Russian-language name since 1803 thanks to Karl Vildenov, who also has the opportunity to leave for the people the memory of the St. Petersburg academician and botanist, geographer and ethnographer - Johann Georgi. Interestingly, the plant is often referred to as the masculine "dahlia".

There are many legends that describe the version of the appearance of the dahlia. In one of them, the plant appeared in the place where the last fire of people once went out, after the merciless cover of the ice age receded.

Description of dahlia varieties for growing at home

• collar;
• needle;
• spherical;
• pompoms;
• nymphaeal;
• anemone;
• peony.

Dahlia is a beautiful flower from the Astrov family. It is very beautiful, can decorate the garden for a long period and please the eye. Huge fragrant buds enchant with their luxury. They decorate borders, form a flower bed, dahlias look elegant even one by one in a pot. The color range of these flowers is wide and varied. There are over 30 species of this flower and over 10,000 varieties.

Interesting! In European countries, this chic flower is called dahlia, named after the Swedish botanist Andrea Dahl.

Rules for the care of dahlias

In order for dahlias to decorate the garden for as long as possible, the plant needs to be given attention. A few simple steps will extend the life of the flower:

• Pasynkovanie. Timely removal of shoots and shoots that appeared on the stems allows the plant to give most of the nutrients and moisture to the growth and development of the central bud. The more shoots grows on a bush, the slower it develops. The optimal number of stems on one bush is from 2 to 4. To obtain a luxurious bud, this procedure must be repeated throughout the entire flowering period.
• Watering. Dahlia needs regular irrigation. The soil must be moist. To do this, watering is carried out every 2-3 days. It is important not to overdo it with the amount of water. Due to high humidity, the roots of the plant can rot. If you properly moisten the soil under dahlias, they can live from spring to autumn.
• Application of fertilizers. At the same time as watering, competent gardeners apply fertilizer. This is very convenient, because all the necessary fertilizers can be dissolved in water and watered and fertilized with this solution at the same time. Compost, ash, superphosphate or nitrogen fertilizers are used as fertilizer. At certain stages of growth, dahlia needs different fertilizers.

These rules apply to both indoor dahlias and outdoor dahlias. Everything about dahlias, planting and caring for them is simple and accessible even for a novice gardener.

dahlias

Landing Rules

Dahlia is an unpretentious flower. It can bloom even in the shade, with a minimum amount of sunlight. However, the plant may suffer from a lack of light, therefore, in order to prolong the life of a flower, comfortable conditions are created for it.

The site for planting dahlias is selected sunny, on the south side. Dahlia loves light partial shade, so the area on the north side can be shaded with a hedge, wall or fence.

Planting dahlias in the ground

The plant needs protection from the wind, but it needs an influx of fresh air. Therefore, there should be enough free space around the plant.

Important! Planting dahlias in the valley is prohibited.

Dahlia is not capricious to the quality of the soil. Both sandy and chernozem soil is suitable for cultivation. Naturally, on fertile soil, plant growth is better.

To enrich the soil, before planting the plant, fertilizers are applied to it. In the spring, manure, humus or compost mass is introduced into the soil. Maintain neutral soil acidity. If necessary, wood ash, slaked lime or peat are added.

Immediately before planting, the soil is loosened. To prevent diseases and the appearance of insects, the soil is treated with insecticidal agents.

Loosen the soil before planting

A hole is being prepared for planting a dahlia. The size of the hole depends on the size of the tuber of the plant. The approximate depth is 25-30 cm, and the diameter is from 30 to 40 cm. The distance between the holes is 50-60 cm. Fertilizer is immersed in the hole, water is poured, and then the plant is placed.

The plant is placed strictly vertically, sprinkled with earth and watered. The root space is mulched with grass, sawdust or spruce branches.

Landing in open ground

Planting a dahlia in open ground depends on weather conditions. The climate is different in different regions, so there is no clear time for disembarkation. Dahlias are planted in warm soil. If planted early, dahlia roots can freeze in the cold ground. When disembarking, it is necessary that the ambient temperature is at the level of 15-18 degrees Celsius. It is important that there are no night frosts. Dahlia blooms 70-80 days after the plant is planted.

Planting a dahlia

Landing at home

To plant dahlia in a pot, you need to choose a variety with an undeveloped root system. For growing dahlias at home, special undersized and miniature varieties have been bred. It is important to choose a suitable pot or box in which the dahlia will grow and develop comfortably. The container can be made of any material: plastic, wood, clay, porcelain.

Landing at home

In order for the water not to stagnate in the pot, it is necessary to make holes at the bottom. Drainage holes protect the roots from decay and facilitate the access of oxygen to them.

Responsibly approach the choice of soil for planting. The soil should be coarse-grained and loose. This will facilitate the access of oxygen to the roots of the plant. Peat, sand and humus are mixed with the soil. You can buy a ready-made mixture of soil for flowers in a specialized store.

Secret! Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pot, which retains moisture and blocks the drainage holes from pests entering them.

When planting, the roots of the plant straighten. The tuber is located with eyes up, for convenient stem growth.

Dahlias in pots bloom 40-50 days after planting in the ground.

Planting in pots

If you plan to grow flowers indoors, then you can plant dahlia tubers as early as March or April. If the pot is planned to be exposed to the open air, then planting is carried out no earlier than May.

Dahlias in pots

Caring for dahlias in different periods

Perennial dahlias are not picky and do not require special care. It's easy to take care of them. It is enough to keep the soil moist, to cover the plant from winds and drafts, to hill and loosen the soil under the flower, to remove weeds, to tie up the grown stems. Regular pinching is carried out - removal of lateral shoots.

Important! It is not necessary to pinch annual dahlias.

In the spring, during planting, the plant needs to be fed with nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizers. They stimulate flower growth and bud formation.

In summer, the plant is fed to maintain green mass and treated for pests and diseases. To do this, use mineral and organic fertilizers, such as ammonium nitrate and bird droppings.

Fertilizer for dahlias

To maintain the proper development of the bush, pruning is carried out. From 3 to 5 shoots are left on the stem, removing the rest. The procedure is carried out weekly. Tall dahlias also have leaves from the roots to the middle of the stem. Thus, the plant retains strength for flowering buds.

In autumn, dahlias begin to prepare for wintering. The stems of the plant are cut off. A shortened plant should be no more than 10 cm in height. The cut is covered with a film or foil to prevent the ingress of moisture that provokes rot, and do not open for 3-4 days. A few days later, the plant is dug up. This is done carefully, avoiding damage to the tubers. The tuber is carefully cleaned from the ground and washed. It is better to wash with a solution of potassium permanganate, it disinfects the tubers, preventing pathogenic diseases.

Important! Dig tubers out of the ground before frost.

Store processed tubers in a cardboard box, wooden box or other spacious container. Tubers are covered with sawdust, sand or ash to prevent drying out. The containers are removed for the winter in a cellar or other room, the temperature of which does not fall below 0 degrees and does not rise above +10. The humidity of the room is maintained at 50-60%.

The structure of the dahlia stem is such that it is hollow inside, so the stem often breaks under the weight of the bud or from a strong gust of wind. In order for the stem to remain even longer, a garter is made. Wooden or metal pegs are used as a support. The plant is tied to a peg with an elastic material, such as nylon, so as not to damage the stem.

The stem often breaks under the weight of the bud or from a strong gust of wind.

Common pests on dahlias are slugs, aphids, mites, and caterpillars. An effective remedy in the fight against them is a decoction of wormwood. Pest control can also be done with chemicals.

To increase the number of inflorescences, dahlias are pruned. Remove all side shoots and extra buds. Remove the lower leaves from the trunk. Faded buds also need to be removed.

Dahlias in the Moscow region, in the Urals and in Siberia

In different regions of the country, dahlias grow in different ways.

In the southern and central parts of Russia, the flower is more susceptible to warm winds and lack of moisture. Therefore, the flowering time of the bud in Moscow and the Moscow region is much shorter. Watering has to be done more often.

In the more southern parts of Russia (Krasnodar Territory, Voronezh Region), a site in a lowland is chosen for planting dahlias and surrounded by a shaft to stagnate water in it.

Spring frosts are frequent in the Urals, so dahlias are planted in the ground in late May - early June.

The most difficult region for growing dahlias is Siberia. Choose a sunny growing site. Landing is carried out in mid-June. When planting, the lower leaves are immersed in the ground to accelerate the appearance of buds on the plant trunk. The plant is left with no more than two trunks, otherwise it will not bloom. Already in August, the plant begins to prepare for wintering.

By following the simple rules of care, the garden can be turned into a colorful greenhouse. Dahlias look spectacular in any landscape.

dahlias- perennial tuberous plants of the Compositae family, common in the mountainous regions of Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. The stems of dahlias are straight, hollow, branched, in nature they reach 250 cm in height. The leaves are pinnate or entire, arranged oppositely, reaching a length of 10-40 cm. The flowers differ in the middle (tubular) and marginal (reed), collected in large basket inflorescences. Flowers can be of various shades, varieties with variegated flowers (two- or three-color) are often found. Flowers are double and non-double. After flowering, the ground part of the plants dies off.

The genus of dahlias unites about 24 species, only miniature dahlias are grown indoors, the height of which is not more than 50 cm. In pot culture, dahlias are used mainly for forcing.

Caring for indoor dahlias

Dahlias prefer bright places, with a lack of light, their stems will stretch strongly. In good weather, they can be taken out to the balcony or garden, on cool nights they need to be brought indoors. The optimum temperature for keeping dahlias is 15-17 ° C. Dahlias need an influx of fresh air.

Plants should be watered moderately, not allowing the earthen clod to dry out. Once every 10-12 days, dahlias are fed with a half dose of complex mineral fertilizer ("Uniflor-buton").

In order for the flowering to be long and plentiful, it is necessary to cut off the faded inflorescences, preventing the seeds from ripening, as this takes a lot of strength from the plant.

Pests

In hot rooms with dry air, dahlias can lie in wait and. To destroy them, the plant must be regularly sprayed with an infusion of garlic, onion peel, dandelion or tobacco. You can apply (agravertin,).

Diseases

The most common diseases on dahlias are powdery mildew, viral mosaic and bacterial cancer. With powdery mildew disease, white spots appear on the leaves, the disease also appears on the shoots, which are bent and stop growing, and soon dry out. As a result of infection with a viral mosaic, the leaves turn yellow along the veins, and light green spots can also be seen on them. The decorativeness of plants is reduced, the internodes are shortened, the pedicel also becomes short, the brightness of the color of the flowers may suffer from the disease. It is impossible to save the affected plants, they must be destroyed. Bacterial cancer can be found on tubers, the buds on the root neck change, and then growths up to 12 cm in size appear on them. Affected tubers are burned.

As a prevention of fungal diseases, as well as for early flowering, you can remove all the leaves from the lower part of the stems; this procedure should be carried out no more than 1 time per week.

reproduction

Dahlias are propagated by seeds, cuttings and division of tubers.

Propagation by seeds is used mainly for non-double varieties of dahlias. Seeds are sown in spring in a container with peat and sand (3: 1), seedlings in separate pots, when they form 2 true leaves.

The tops of the stems are cut off on the cuttings, which are placed in a jar of water for rooting or planted in a mixture of peat and sand (1: 1) or perlite. Rooting requires a temperature of 20-25 ° C. To make roots appear faster, cuttings can be treated with a rooting agent, for example, before planting.

The tubers are divided before planting, cut with a knife into 2-3 parts. Each part should have a piece of the root neck with 2-3 eyes. The incision sites are treated with crushed coal with sulfur (1:1). When planting, the root neck is deepened by 3-5 cm. Tubers are planted in May-June.

Distillation

In room conditions, flowering dahlias can be grown specifically for certain festive dates, for example, for the May holidays. To do this, in January-February, small tubers are germinated at a temperature of 16-18 ° C in a bright room, in late February or early March they are planted in containers with garden soil. Small pots (about 14 cm high) are suitable, in which the tubers are deepened by 2 cm. After emergence, the plants are kept at a temperature of 15 ° C, in a bright place, additionally illuminated with fluorescent lamps so that the stems do not stretch. Of several shoots, the strongest should be left; after the appearance of the fourth pair of leaves, pinch the tops.

Then the temperature in the room is lowered to 12-15 ° C, if possible, the plants can be transferred to the garden or to the greenhouse, protecting them from frost. By the beginning of May, dahlias should bloom.

Description of dahlia.

Dahlias: growing and caring for them is what worries many gardeners and summer residents. Flowers are quite beautiful and relatively unpretentious. But in the absence of basic skills and some special knowledge, it is impossible to achieve the desired result. It is possible to grow flowers in open ground and at home.

There are several classes of this type of flowers, which are divided into several varieties.

Table 1. Classification of dahlias.

These are the main classes of colors. However, their number is gradually increasing due to crossing with new varieties.

Briefly about growing dahlias

Table 2. Step-by-step instructions for growing dahlias.

Cultivation and care in the open field

Most often, dahlias are grown in the country, so planting takes place in open soil. It is necessary to complete the preparatory stage so that the earth is fully suitable for the flowers.

Prices for dahlia seeds

dahlia seeds

Soil preparation and site

Important. You can not plant dahlias where asters or other plants that may be affected by fungal diseases have previously grown.

Before planting, you need to dig a hole 30 - 35 cm. Water is poured into it, fertilizers are applied and a dahlia tuber is placed. It is important that the distance between the holes is at least 50 cm.

A dahlia tuber is planted in a hole 30 - 35 cm

When to plant

Dahlias are sensitive to weather conditions, so it is not recommended to plant them early. So that the tubers do not die, you need to wait until the weather is established and there are no frosts. Even slight frosts can kill flowers. Thus, the ideal time for planting is mid-late May.

Planting dahlias

It is necessary that the hole be 3 times wider so that after placing the tuber there is still 7-10 cm of free space. If the stem is high enough, then you can immediately install a peg. Before you bury the hole, you need to water the tuber abundantly and fill in the ashes (no more than 5 cm).

Features of care

Outdoor flowers require special care:

• systematic watering so that water irrigates the soil to a depth of 30 cm;
• top dressing every 2-3 weeks (slurry until buds appear at a rate of 1:10 in relation to water, after buds appear, potassium or superphosphate fertilizers are used);
• the use of a garter and support, since the flowers are rather fragile, and their stem is hollow;
• giving the bush the desired shape (in order to get healthy and beautiful buds, it is necessary to leave no more than 3 inflorescences on the flower).

When affected by various diseases, the leaves begin to turn yellow. To exclude infection of other flowers, the diseased dahlia is removed from the summer cottage along with the tuber.

For the winter, the roots must be dug up and stored in sawdust. Perhaps the placement of tubers in a box.

Growing dahlias from seeds

It is possible to grow flowers from seeds, but you need to be patient, as it takes much longer than from tubers. Usually the seeds are used by breeders to produce new varieties of dahlias. There are two ways to grow seeds:

• in open ground;
• in greenhouse conditions.

The second method is recommended, since here the percentage of seed germination will be much higher. It is required to plant them in specially prepared boxes with earth. She must be fertilized. The seeds are covered with sand or loose soil to a depth of 0.5 cm, when 2-3 petals are formed, it is necessary to transplant dahlias into open ground at the rate of 5-7 cm between seedlings. You can read more about growing dahlias from seeds at.

Features of care

There are several fundamental differences in growing dahlias from seeds:

• the soil before planting in open ground does not need to be fertilized;
• top dressing of dahlias is not carried out in the process of their growth.

Such a hike allows you to get the strongest and healthiest shoots. Those whose decorative qualities do not meet the requirements of gardeners are removed from the site.

Growing from tubers

There are two ways to grow dahlias from tubers. Regardless of the method chosen, flowering can be achieved in the first year.

Growing from a portion of tubers

These flowers reproduce by dividing the tubers. Therefore, they can be cut by hand. To do this, you need to take a tuber and divide it in such a way that each part has 2 - 3 eyes. The knife must be sharp and clean so that it can quickly divide the tuber without unnecessary damage. Its purity will reduce the risk of diseases in the plant.

Sprinkle the incision site with activated charcoal or wood ash. After that, the roots can be placed in sawdust or planted in the ground, depending on the time of year and the air temperature outside.

Cuttings are another way to grow dahlias from tubers. It is considered more efficient. In this case, in January, the roots must be placed in sawdust for their germination. When the sprouts reach 7 cm, they must be carefully broken off or cut off. Best of all, the sprouts are preserved if they are cut with part of the rhizome. From them you can get the strongest and healthiest flowers.

Important. A new sprout will soon appear at the cut site. It can also be used to breed rare varieties of dahlias. However, experts do not recommend cutting more than 2 to 3 layers for rooting. This is due to the fact that each new generation is weaker than the first.

Activated carbon prices

Activated carbon

Growing at home

Sometimes dahlias are grown at home. There are several important nuances that you need to remember when choosing this flower as your home.

Pot selection

It is best to use wooden or ceramic products for growing dahlias. In them, the roots will not lack oxygen, and many models are quite attractive and original.

You need to choose a large capacity. So, small dahlias can grow well and fairly quickly in containers of 6 - 8 liters. But if the stem height exceeds 100 cm, then it is better to use pots over 10 liters. Holes must be drilled from the bottom side, as these flowers do not tolerate an excess of moisture. So they can be protected from it.

Soil selection

The earth can be bought in a specialized store or prepared independently. It should be coarse-grained and well loosened to provide the roots with sufficient air. It is recommended to add peat, humus or sand for fertilizer there. Experts also advise using perlite to remove excess moisture from the soil. It is sold in granules.

Landing features

It is necessary to spread the dahlia tuber up. The root is best placed in the center, as the root system grows quite quickly. When the tuber falls asleep, the eye is left. As the shoot appears, you need to add earth. However, this is done in small quantities and carefully so as not to damage the stem.

Important. Place the pot in a warm place with enough light. Shading is only possible in the evening.

Since flowers do not tolerate transplanting, they need to be planted immediately where they will grow. The frequency of watering depends on the humidity in the room. As a rule, watering is carried out up to 3 times a week. But at high indoor temperatures and the rapid drying of the earth, you need to water daily.

To ensure that the level of oxygen supply to the root does not decrease during growth, it is necessary to periodically remove the lower leaves.

When to plant

Regardless of whether you plan to plant flowers at home or outside, it is recommended to follow a specific schedule. In the south of Russia, dahlias are planted already at the end of March, as the soil warms up enough and the sun is high. But in other regions, planting begins in mid-May. If the dahlia grows in an apartment, then it can be planted as early as mid-April.

It is best to use germinated tubers for strong and healthy flowers. It will also reduce labor costs. Seeds are best used only to obtain a unique variety of dahlias.

autumn care

Dahlias die at a temperature of +1 degrees, so any frost is fatal for them. But growing in an apartment where the air temperature is approximately the same is not the basis for their year-round maintenance.

In autumn, flowers must be prepared for winter. At the same time, they must be dug out carefully so as not to damage the tubers. This is done as follows:

• the stems are cut so that their height is about 10 cm, and wrapped in foil to prevent rot;
• after 2 - 3 days, dahlias must be dug at a distance of 30 cm from the flower itself;
• a pitchfork is brought under the tuber, pulled out of the ground and cleaned of it;
• the root system is dried for 1-2 days and placed in boxes with sawdust.

In this state, the tubers should survive the winter.

As such, caring for dahlias is relatively easy compared to many other flowers. Therefore, they are popular with many gardeners. If you have any questions, you can find the answers in the video.

Video - Reproduction of dahlias by cuttings

Dahlias are popular flowering garden plants from the Compositae family, on rather tall stems, with bright flowers of various colors from pink to bright red.

These flowers are also grown indoors, using special pot varieties that reach only 30 cm in height. It is only important to follow the rules of care.

Growing dahlias

Location and lighting

These flowers are photophilous, but in the summer, during the hottest hours, they shade it from the sun. It is best to place the pot on an east or west window.

The room in which the plant is located should be well ventilated; in summer it can be taken out to the balcony or garden, protecting it from drafts and wind.

Temperature

Dahlia - not too thermophilic. In summer, the temperature should not exceed + 18 ° C, in winter it is lowered to + 12-15 ° C.

Watering and humidity

Abundant watering is required throughout the year, in winter they slightly reduce the amount of water, but still do not allow the soil to dry out. For irrigation, water is defended for 1-2 days.

It does not require high humidity, it is enough to periodically spray the leaves with water at room temperature. If the air is too dry, pests may appear on the plant, and the leaves also turn yellow.

Fertilizer

Top dressing is required a few days after transplantation, this is done in late spring and summer with an interval of 10 days.

The best fertilizer is a mixture of mullein infusion (1 part to 10 parts of water) with the addition of superphosphate and nitrogen fertilizers (they are taken per 10 liters of water 20 g).

Periodic top dressing with superphosphate mixed with wood ash is also suitable (for 10 l - 50 g of the product).

The use of fertilizers has a beneficial effect on flowering - large and bright flowers are formed. Since September, feeding is not carried out.

Transplant and reproduction

Transplantation is practically not carried out, since at the end of flowering the ground part of the plant usually dies off.

Dahlia reproduces by seeds that are formed on flowers. They are collected, dried a little and planted in the soil in the spring (a mixture of peat and sand in a ratio of 3: 1), when 2 true leaves grow on the seedlings, they are planted in separate pots.

The second way of reproduction is with the help of cuttings. To do this, the tops of the stems are cut off, placed in a container with water or a mixture of peat and sand. For rooting maintain a temperature of + 20-25 ° C.

When replanting the plant with tubers, they are cut into several parts so that a piece of the root collar with eyes remains on each. Tubers are planted in the ground in May-June.

Pests and their control

Dahlias are threatened by pests such as aphids and spider mites. To get rid of them, plants are sprayed with an infusion of onion peel, garlic, dandelion or tobacco. In case of severe damage, special insecticides are used.