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Small dahlia flowers
brenda.wickens
Posts: 6
I bought a beautiful lemon coloured single flowering dahlia and have got it in a pot.
The flowers were about three inches across, but since they have finished and I have removed the dead heads, the newly opening buds are only about half the size and look quite insipid. They seem to have a more noticeable pink tinged edge and reverse. What am I doing wrong. Thank you.
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Posts
Is the pot big enough for the dahlia - with flowers of 3 inches it sounds like a big one? Dahlias grow well in containers but they need regular feeding to produce their best blooms.
Thank you Ladybird4.
I am new to dahlias. Yes I think so. I have only had it a week. Think I would lose it overnight if I planted it out.
You won't lose it if you plant it out as long as you have the room in your garden. Alternatively if you think the pot may be a bit small, then you can safely pot it on into a larger container. Feed it well and keep it watered and it will be fine.
Thank you. I have a space. I will give it a try and plant it out.
My dad used to grow rows of these, all varieties, as a child there were vases full of them in the house and when I saw this one, it reminded me. He isn't around to ask anymore.
A little tip if you would like to cut some for indoors, you must pick the dahlias when the blooms are just completely open as they will not open from buds in water.
For planting out, dig a hole a little larger than the pot but only as deep as the soil in the pot. The soil in the pot will then be level with the soil you backfill the hole with. Water in and feed in a few days. I just use tomato food for mine.
In addition to all Ladybird's good advice, many plants will produce smaller flowers in their second flush (when the first, main lot have finished) so it may well just be that too.
It will be better in the ground though, so if you can get it planted out it will probably do better. In most areas, Dahlias need to come in for the winter too, so be prepared for that if you're in a cold , wet part of the country.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have been reading older posts about dahlias, I am still unsure as to whether they need to be fed. Mine are showing flower buds, so should I start feeding them, or just leave them alone? They are planted in the ground.
Thanks.
I don't feed those in the borders as I usually spread manure the previous autumn. If your soil is fertile, there's no need. If you want to feed them then a tomato feed would be the one to go for.
I also have Arabian Night in a big pot that I do feed with tomorite weekly
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Thanks Pete8...........I googled Arabian Night, nice!
I have shallow poor soil in some beds. The dahlias are fed, when planted out the get some blood fish and bone. once growing I feed them say once a fortnight with a balanced fertiliser until the end of June when they are usually in flowe. After that I feed them with tomato fertiliser which feeds the flowers and the tubers but doesn't produce excessive leaf growt. Plus just a reminder to dead head to keep flower production going.