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Dahlia Help Please

MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
in Problem solving
Hi all,

I overwintered my two Cafe Au Lait Dahlias, and started them off in pots a few weeks ago along with some new tubers I'd purchased. They're in a room together and I brought a timed heater in to help get them going as it's been so cold here. I was also misting them with water. They've shot up but are really leggy, and I can't see them supporting their dinner plate size blooms. I did pinch out the tips, but not sure that made any difference. Is there anything I can do? Hoping to move them to a cold frame soon to harden them off. 

Theirs been a greenfly attack too, so I wonder if that is why the leaves are droopy. 🙁


Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I think the legginess is because they're not getting enough light. They should strengthen up when they get outside. You might need to stake them if the flowers are too heavy for the stems.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Way too dark for them, they need full sun.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    @JennyJ and @punkdoc thanks! Gosh! I thought they had just enough and that's why they were growing. Goes to show how much I have to learn! We're making a cold frame for them so hopefully I can get them out of there soon. I'll try and find a brighter spot for them in the meantime. 
  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    I’m in NE England, not the warmest spot. My potted up dahlias have now been outdoors full time for 3 weeks. A couple went a bit pale on colder nights but are regreening now.
    Pop yours outdoors through the day and back in when it’s dark. Do that for a few days, see how they do then leave them outdoors until they are garden planted in borders or large pots.
    Id stake them now as they look a bit femmer. What I’d do but I’m not suggesting you do, they’re your plants...is to nip those overgrown top shots out. 

  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I would chop them back by about half, and get them into as much sunlight as possible.  I normally give mine a Chelsea Chop at this time of year anyway.  They'll bounce back, with more dense and compact growth, although you'll delay the flowering a bit.

    Just picked up a Cafe au Lait today, at our allotment plant swap.  It's one of my favourites, and we lost the one we had last year.  
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    @Bilje and @KeenOnGreen I read your posts and felt inspired! I headed off to chop back the dahlias, but when I got to them I couldn't do it! I really need to toughen up!   :s They weren't at my house as I didn't have room for them all, but I've brought them home now and have been putting them outside every day to harden them off. They're both looking much better. I forgot to bring in a few other dahlias and they've gone a bit droopy, hoping they'll bounce back as I'd like to plant everything out this weekend. 

    I wish I was brave enough to cut them back as I expect they would benefit and become bushier. 


  • BiljeBilje Posts: 811
    HI MsCatFly, glad to be of help, hope all’s well with your plants. Ah bravery in gardening is hard to achieve, I still can’t part with bits of plants, if I think it will propagate I’ll give it a go...I’m not brave enough to throw bits away. Now I’ve the problem of too many spare plants in pots.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I would certainly cut them in half and get them outside asap.
  • MsCatFlyMsCatFly Posts: 68
    Bilje said:
    HI MsCatFly, glad to be of help, hope all’s well with your plants. Ah bravery in gardening is hard to achieve, I still can’t part with bits of plants, if I think it will propagate I’ll give it a go...I’m not brave enough to throw bits away. Now I’ve the problem of too many spare plants in pots.
    Me too! I can't thow anything away! I have too many spare plants which I'm going to have to start giving away. 
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