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Leggy dahlias

gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
in Plants
Hi everyone, just a quick question about my very leggy dahlias. Do I need to pinch these out or just leave them? They’re clearly
looking for the light hence they’re height but unsure how to treat them as of now. Many thanks! How on earth do I fix the sideways picture?
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  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Pinch the tops out of the tallest and use them as cuttings,looki like you have them indoors,they are too fat from the light and growth is because they are too warm. Can you put them somewhere cooler, NOT outside,
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Bloody phone too far from the light NOT too fat,only had a smartphone since last month,no idea how to get pictures up the other way,and sometimes site tells me the picture is too big, it does say on here how to reduce but I don't speak "techno"
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Sorry to sound stupid but where abouts on the stem should I pinch out at? How many pairs of leaves should be left? Haha yes I know it’s too hot indoors, however my greenhouse is also reaching 33 degrees in the daytime! 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Ah, Brighton,I'm in a village just outside Eastbourne,my north facing conservatory Has got to 33c when it's been 16c outside.pinch about 6 inches off, just above the leaves, you can do that with more than one stem.I thought the picture looked like the plants in were indoors,not in a green house
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    Ah Eastbourne is a nice place, I haven’t been to the new shopping centre yet though. The dahlias are currently inside the house but mentioned the greenhouse due to its excessive heat as well so not sure where else I can put them where they’ll be cooler. I’ve noticed that some of the leaves are curling, I’m assuming it’s due to the dry air inside? 

    I could water them a bit I guess but I’d be concerned that they’d retain too much moisture inside? Another thing is that as they’ve only got one stem at the moment should I still pinch out? Sorry for the questions I’ve just never grown dahlias before! 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    How tall are they, give me height in "old"money, I learnt stuff on here and I've been gardening 60 years (OMG) MINE are in the green house alway have been, overwinter,now potted up, I watered them today. If you are able, time wise I would put them outside today,then the green house, you can always cover them with bubble wrap,I've had to put shading up on the green house I pinned it on the outside, damping down the floor in the morning
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Not enough light. Pinching them out, unless you then give them far more light, will not solve the problem.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    I put they need to be nearer the light in my first post
  • gardenman91gardenman91 Posts: 429
    I’ll put them in the greenhouse when I get back this afternoon, thanks for the advice guys :smile:
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I would pinch the tall one to where I’ve drawn the line, or does anyone think it should go down to the next pair? 
    With the smaller one at the front, if you very gently pull the top pair of leaves apart you will see a Bud in there, just nip that bud out. 
    Leave the tiny ones a bit longer though. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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