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Is something wrong with this dahlia?

borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
in Problem solving
I have 4 dahlia "Bishop of Llandaff" in separate pots. Two of them have this greenish discolouration on a few leaves, and two don't.

They're each in 30cm teracotta pots all in the same conditions. The soil is about 2/3 mpc (Jacks Magic) and about 1/3 JI2, with about 10% grit added. I give them a good drink whenever the top inch of soil dries, and I feed with liquid seaweed every 2 weeks.  They're in a sunny spot against a southeast facing wall, standing on pot feet for drainage. They came out of the frost-free greenhouse a month ago, and the nights have not gone below 7 degrees since they've been outside 

Can it be over or under watering, or nutrient deficiency, or cold?  Or just normal and nothing to about?


Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    They are hungry plants , so if they've been in that pot for a while it could be a bit low in nutrients. Give them a liquid feed or get them in the ground asap :)
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Thanks @Buttercupdays. They've been in those big pots for just a month, and they've had 2 or 3 feeds in that time. Maybe I need to up the feeding to once a week then.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They need a tomato food or similar. Seaweed will tend to help foliage not flowering.
    I use slow release food for plants that are heavy flowering in pots, plus tomato food later on in the season.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited June 2022
    I don't think there's anything wrong with them. It's just older leaves that are wearing out.
    The top growth looks good.
    Seaweed extract is excellent stuff, but it's not really a proper full fertilizer - much of seaweed extract is essential micronutrients vital for general health.
    I'd go with @Fairygirl suggestion and use tomato feed every 10-14 days and give seaweed about once a month to top up the micronutrients.
    Don't use both at the same time though, leave a few days between tomato feed and seaweed.


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Thanks all.  I'll give the tomato feed a go
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