Dahlia: care tips from the expert

Dahlias make for a real splendour of flowers in the garden. But dahlias need to be looked after and cared for properly so they can be enjoyed. Find out all about dahlia care in this article.

Originating from Mexico, dahlias (Dahlia) have long been one of the most popular flowers in gardens and parks. They are especially interesting for amateur gardeners due to their unusual variety of shapes and colours. Although the dahlia can be described as a rather low-maintenance garden plant, there are still some aspects to consider when caring for it. The willingness of the plant to flower, in particular, is influenced by the correct handling. We show how to provide the ideal care for your dahlias.

The right location for dahlias

Dahlias are sun-worshippers among ornamental plants and are therefore best suited to a full-sun location. In addition to the right location, the soil is also important for the growth and health of the colourful flower: Ideally, the soil at the planting site will be rich in nutrients and relatively well-drained. As a rule, compacted clay and loam soils are not very suitable. In this case, sand should be incorporated to improve water drainage. The incorporation of compost, which also loosens the soil structure and provides additional nutrients, has also proven successful.

When choosing a location, pay attention to the following points:

• Full sun site
• Nutrient-rich and permeable soil

Soil and substrate properties for dahlias

Both when planting the tubers outdoors and when growing them indoors, the permeability of the soil is important to prevent rotting in the root zone. A high-quality potting soil such as our peat-free Plantura Organic Flower Compost is ideal. This is used both to improve the soil in the bed and for dahlias in pots.

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How to plant dahlia tubers

Planting dahlia tubers requires a little attention to make planting a success: Before planting, put the tubers in water for a night in advance to compensate for the loss of moisture from overwintering. Then set the tubers at a depth that the top is a few centimetres below the surface of the soil. Depending on the variety, dahlias should be planted in the open ground with a distance of 30-100 cm.

Dahlia care in beds and pots

The care of dahlias requires comparatively little effort and the flowering plants also need very little attention. We show you what you should still look out for.

Watering dahlias

Water your dahlias as needed when the soil begins to dry out. In the heat of midsummer, on the other hand, you can reach for the watering can more often. You should definitely be careful not to flood your flowers with water, as these exotic plants do not tolerate waterlogging well. Also, when watering, be sure to water only the soil under the plant and do not wet the leaves.

Fertilising dahlias

The most sensible method of supplying nutrients to dahlias is to use slow-release fertiliser or compost. Work our Plantura Flower Food into the soil before planting the dahlias and repeat the process again throughout the summer.

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Pruning dahlias

Pruning your dahlia is useful not only to shape the plant into a decorative form, but also to influence growth and flowering. Regularly cut off withered flowers and leaves to stimulate the formation of new shoots. In this way, you get the dahlia to produce more flowers. If you prefer particularly large flowers, it is worth keeping only a few shoots. You can also achieve a stronger branching of the plant by cutting off some shoot tips right at the start.

The following pruning steps are worthwhile for the dahlia:

• Cut off shoot tips: Stronger branching
• Cut off withered flowers: Formation of new shoots and flowers
• Keeping only a few shoots: Larger flowers

Overwintering dahlias successfully

The most effective method of overwintering dahlias is to dig up the tubers in the autumn. Immediately after the first frost, cut the dahlias down to a length of 10 cm and carefully dig up the tubers. In an airy and cool, but frost-free environment, they can remain until next spring, and then be used again.