* Wait until after frosts to plant the tubers in the garden. An easy way to remember is to plant them in the ground two weeks either side of Melbourne Cup day. You can pot them on/up at any time. Botanical: Dahlia x hybrida
- Plant Type
- Tuber
- Size (HxW)
- ‘Dahlegria’: 45-60cm x 25-40cm. ‘Happy Days’: 20-40cm x 20-40cm. ‘Mystic: 50-80cm x 40-60cm. Grandalia 35-45cm x 45-55cm.
- Depth & Spacing
- Plat at the same depth as in the pot, be gentle with the tubers as you move them. A 20-30cm pot would be ideal and give a nice, full display.
- Soil
- Humus rich, moist, well drained soil is ideal. Improve poor soils with some well rotted manure/compost prior to planting – Dahlias are hungry plants. Choose a good quality potting mix in containers.
- Aspect
- Full sun to semi shade
- Climate
- Cool to Sub Tropical
- Frost
- Half hardy
- Water
- Keep moist in active growth. Pay particular attention if you are growing them in pots water regularly especially in hot weather, potting mix is perfectly drained so dries out quickly.
- Fertiliser
- Dahlias grow quickly and flower abundantly so are heavy feeders, we recommend applying a well balanced fertiliser prior to planting. If they are left in the ground each year, top dress in winter and summer. A tomato fertiliser is a good choice.
- Flowering Time
- Summer to autumn (December to April as a rough guide) though they often flower longer and this can be dependent on climates. Potted Dahlias tend to flower earlier.
- After Flower Care
- Remove spent flowers to encourage further flowering. If your ground freezes, or the soil remains damp during their dormancy we recommend you lift them every year. Store tubers during winter in a dry airy position. Plant again anytime from June to November (unless your ground freezes). Tubers left in soggy ground may rot. If you are growing them in pots, simply place the pot under an eve/shed and bring them out again as they shoot.
- Notes
- When the plants have finished flowering, cease watering, to allow the tubers to mature.
- Pots
- Dwarf Dahlias are suited to a 20-30cm pot. In pots Dahlias need a little more attention, once they are up and growing, ideally ensure you keep up the water and add liquid fertiliser every other week to keep them blooming to their best. Pots dry out easily and heat up which may limit growth, keep them out of the hot afternoon sun to limit this.
