How To Grow Dahlias For Cut Flowers: Varieties To Plant and Care

Growing dahlias in your garden is a great way to fill your home with beautiful, colorful flowers. You can cut them and arrange them in bouquets or vases to brighten up any room in the house. Dahlias are known for their large, colorful blooms with different sizes, shapes, and colors.

Dahlias make great cut flowers, and they fill a very important gap in the cut flower market. You’ll find many colors, from white to deep purple, and varieties of dahlias, from dinner-plate-sized blooms to smaller ones that are under four inches.

In this article, you’ll learn how to plant and grow dahlias for cut flowers, how to stake them, and keep the tubers out of direct sunlight. Hopefully, these tips will help you grow beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers.

Growth Conditions for Dahlias

Dahlias grow best in sandy soil that drains well. You can amend your soil with sulfur to improve the pH. Dahlias also benefit from slightly acidic soil. Make sure that the soil is not too dry or soggy; too much water will cause the roots to rot and tubers to die. Dahlias like a pH of 6.5-7.0.

Dahlias thrive in full sun to thrive and produce full blooms. Dahlias need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. They will tolerate low-light conditions. Plant dahlias in a spot that receives early morning sun and afternoon shade. If the area you plan to plant them does not receive this amount of light, you might want to change the location.

You can plant dahlias during the spring or summer. The soil temperature should be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Dahlias will struggle in soil that is too cold. Make sure to plant dahlias tubers 4-6 inches deep, eye-facing up. Cover the tuber with soil after planting.

Dahlias don’t need a lot of water, so summer rainfall should be enough. To help your dahlias grow, you can use organic fertilizers such as Dr. Earth Flower Girl fertilizer, which is slow-release and contains micronutrients.

Dahlias are susceptible to a number of diseases. While they rarely cause death, some may weaken the plant by reducing the number of sugars it produces in its leaves. A few diseases are also harmful to dahlias, including powdery mildew and spider mites. Neem oil can be applied to plants to kill off these pests. Neem oil is available at most major garden centers, big box stores, and farm stores.

Growing Dahlias From Tubers

To propagate dahlias from tubers, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Start Indoor:

Start by planting dahlias tuber indoors several weeks before the last frost date. Dahlia tubers should be placed in a pot of soil with two inches of soil. Then, water them regularly until new growth breaks through. Dahlias can be transplanted outdoors as late as mid-June in most regions of the country.

Step 2: Transplant Dahlias Seedlings

Dig a 6- 8 inches deep hole, and make sure it’s wide enough to plant your tuber. Place the seedlings in the dig holes and then add some slow-release fertilizer to have a good mix.

Step 3: Water Dahlias

As soon as you fill-up the hole, water the newly planted dahlia seeds to aid nutrient absorption and activation of the soil organisms. Soon, the dahlia will develop new roots and produce replacement stems. Be sure not to overwater them as this can lead to tuber rot.

Planting Dahlias From Seed

Dahlias can be grown from seeds and the best time to plant dahlias seed is in the spring. Before planting dahlias from seed, it’s essential to know the estimated date of the last frost. You can find out this date by doing a simple Google search for “last frost in your city”.

Dahlia seeds thrive well in sandy loam soil with a pH between 6 – 7. You can use good potting soil mixed with sand or composted manure. You can sow dahlia seeds directly in the soil and in a container of about 10-15 inches.

Dig out a hole of about 1 inch deep to plant dahlia seed and cover immediately after planting. Firm soil helps the seedlings emerge more quickly and keeps them firmly in place as they begin to grow. Water your seeds regularly. Dahlias need regular watering in order to produce big, beautiful flowers. Soggy soil can cause the tubers to rot.

Plant the smaller dahlia varieties 9-12 inches apart and the larger ones 2-3 feet apart. After about 14 days, your dahlia seedlings will have sprouted. At this stage, keep them evenly moist and watch them grow. Dahlias will grow half their final height. Taller varieties may reach six feet in height

While tubers produce identical plants, planting dahlias from seed can create a new variety of flowers. Dahlias grown from seed will produce unique blooms each time you start your new garden.

Staking Dahlia Plant

You need to stake your Dahlias after they have reached 3 feet in height to make them sturdy. Staking will help support the heavy flower heads and keep them upright in windy conditions. You can also use twine to support the dahlia stems as they grow. The stakes should be hidden by the leaves.

When to Cut dahlias

Cut dahlias when they’re about 12 inches tall and have 4 leaves per stem. Cut dahlias with a sharp knife or pinch the stems off the bottom. Make sure to place the flower away from warm appliances and sunny windows. Place the flowers in a vase that is cool enough to prevent the leaves from decaying and shortening the vase life of your flower.

The average dahlia should last for 4 – 7 days as a cut flower, though some varieties can go as long as 10 days or more. If you’re going to use your dahlia as an accent in a bouquet or other arrangement, try to keep it at the base of the stem and out of direct sunlight. You can wrap it in tissue paper and store it in the refrigerator if you want to keep the cut dahlias for a longer period.

Storing Dahlia Tubers

Dahlia tubers need to be stored cool and dry during the winter. You can store them in sawdust, shredded paper, or peat moss, which are slightly damp, but not soggy. Too much moisture can cause them to rot. Dahlias are expensive perennials, so don’t risk losing them to frost.

You must clean dahlia tubers before storing them; wash them thoroughly to remove excess soil. Remove any fungus or algae that may be present. Keep Dahlia tubers away from direct sunlight for several days to allow moisture to escape. Do not puncture them, as this will cause them to rot.

Check them every couple of weeks. If they are shriveled or mushy, discard them or relocate them to a more humid location. If they have mold, remove it with a brush. If the tuber is in good shape, it can be planted. You can also pot them up in pots for spring planting.

Best Dahlias For Cut Flowers

Here are our favorite dahlias to grow for cut flowers:

1. Chimacum Troy

The Chimacum Troy is a beautiful dahlia that grows up to 6″ across. It has a classic, elegant shape with a golden center and dark-green edges, making it an ideal choice for weddings or other special occasions. It also comes in several other colors, including white and orange.

2. Cornel Bronze

The Cornel Bronze is another elegant dahlia that grows up to 6″ across. Its creamy-white petals are accented with dark green stripes, resulting in a truly stunning flower. This variety has been popular for years, but it’s still available year after year because of its versatility and durability.

3. Diva

The Diva is another long-lasting option, this one is perfect for weddings and other special events. The Diva grows up to 6-8″ tall and has pretty pink petals with darker green centers. It’s one of the most popular varieties of dahlia out there right now, so get yours today.

4. Jowey Winnie

Jowey Winnie is a dahlia with a unique petal shape, and it’s the perfect choice if you want to add some color to your flower arrangement while maintaining its shape. It’s also available in white, which makes it a great choice for adding pops of color to an arrangement. You can use Jowey Winnie as an accent or focal point for your arrangement.

5. Natalie G

Natalie G is another great option for cutting flowers because it has a unique shape and color. The petals are soft and rounded, giving it a natural look that pairs well with any other cut flower type. If you’re looking for something bright, Natalie G will do the trick.

How To Care For Dahlia

1. Hardening: When dahlia seedlings have emerged, you can move them to smaller pots and “harden off” them for the outdoors. When the weather warms up, dahlias are ready for transplanting. After hardening, they will grow and bloom.

2. Trim Dahlias: As the dahlia plant emerges, take cuttings at least a couple of inches long from the base. You can trim off the lower leaves so the cuttings don’t rot in the pot. The center growth bud can be pruned with garden snips or scissors to encourage branching and a bush with more flowers. For indoor arrangements, cut the sides of the cuttings off, if necessary.

3. Fertilize Dahlias Regularly: Dahlias need regular feeding. Fertilize dahlias with a low-nitrogen liquid fertilizer such as a 10-20-20 formula. Fertilize your Dahlias about a month after you plant them and then every three to four weeks during the summer until early autumn. Be sure not to overfeed them because too much nitrogen will result in leggy stems and small blooms.

4. Watering: Dahlias need regular watering to survive, especially in hot and dry periods. Water dahlia at the base and avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal infections.

5. Pinching and Deadheading: Blooming of dahlia plants can be encouraged by pinching and deadheading. Pinching simply means removing the growing tips of young dahlia plants to encourage branching and increase bloom while deadheading means removing spent flowers. These two practices promote the blooming and colorful growth of dahlias.

6. Apply Mulch: Mulch your dahlias to keep weeds out and retain moisture. You can mulch dahlia with wood chips, compost, or plastic films.

7. Stake your Dahlia: Staking dahlias gives support and prevents the falling or bending of the plant as a result of the weight of the flowers. Stake with stakes, cages, or trellises to support the dahlia plant.

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