Decimated dahlias

Mander · June 2022

I attempted to grow these dahlias in a large planter but they have been almost totally eaten. Is there anything I can do to rescue them? I had just left them, waiting to see if they'd sprout more leaves but it's been a few weeks and nothing. Do I need to try repotting or feeding them?

punkdoc · June 2022

Sorry, but I think it is too late to save them.

Fire · June 2022

I would say, put down some slug pellets, do night hunts and pray a leaf might resprout.

Fairygirl · June 2022

I wouldn't hold out much hope for those.

If you don't get them through the initial mollusc rampaging, it's very difficult to get them to thrive afterwards.
What size were they when you planted them out? I always wait until they're at least around 7 to 8 inches, and bushy, and also until the night time temps are in decent single figs at least before having them outside.

Bilje · June 2022

Mander said:

I attempted to grow these dahlias in a large planter but they have been almost totally eaten. Is there anything I can do to rescue them? I had just left them, waiting to see if they'd sprout more leaves but it's been a few weeks and nothing. Do I need to try repotting or feeding them?

Oh Mander I feel for you I don’t live far from you and some of my dahlias are in the same plight. Others just feet away are doing ok. To make matters worse for me is the affected dahlias are new ones, Creme de Cassis…I originally bought that variety two ago and the supplier sent the wrong variety. So bought again this year and all I’ve got are skeletons. Mine were about 8 inches tall when they were planted.

Posy · June 2022

I think they could recover, in time. You MUST get rid of the slugs or they've had it. And a few pellets won't be enough. Get out every night and destroy the blighters until you can't find a single one!

Mander · June 2022

These were bare root type from Home Bargains IIRC. I plonked them in a large pot and they were doing ok until the snail or slug rampage. For now I'll just keep watering and put down some pellets, but I don't think I'll bother buying dahlias again! They always get chomped.

Arthur1 · June 2022

I've given up on dahlias. They are so beautiful but it is heartbreaking to see the slug and snail damage.
If your dahlias still have viable buds (these are at the base of every leaf) then they will regrow from those buds. But the slugs may have eaten all buds.

Fairygirl · June 2022

I don't think its a good idea to put a load of them in a big container either. Ultimately - there're unlikely to be enough room, unless they're all dwarf varieties.
Grow them on slowly, and well protected -from both the weather and slugs, before planting in their permanent sites. A load of small/young plants together is just a lovely free restaurant for slugs. I have to keep mine in the house, or double layer protected in the little greenhouse if it's earlier in the year.
They can be a waste of time when you have loads of slugs. It's why I stopped growing them in the past. Without using slug pellets, it's extremely difficult. I'd never do anything else, including sleeping, if I had to go out at night to dispatch slugs and snails

Mander · June 2022

I was hoping to grow them up a bit before planting them out somewhere. They sat forgotten in a bag for many weeks after I bought them so I had assumed they were dead, but was hoping they would be a bit easier to nurture in a pot. However at this rate I don't need to worry about them growing out of their space, alas.

Fairygirl · June 2022

They'd have needed potting individually, protected, then grown on until hearty enough to go in their final spot.

Decimated dahlias

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