Upon Receipt, keep the plugs moist but not soggy. Our conditions are humid and the cuttings are not acclimated to direct sun.
Hardening Off:
Once you are past the risk of freezing and soil temperatures are averaging 60 degrees, place your cuttings outside in indirect sunlight for 2–3 days to help them adjust to their new environment. Keep the plugs moist but not soggy, as our greenhouse conditions are humid, and the cuttings aren’t acclimated to direct sun.
Planting:
After hardening off, remove the two lowest sets of leaves and bury those nodes below soil level when planting. This helps cuttings develop tubers. Water daily for the first couple of weeks, ensuring soil stays moist but not waterlogged.
Fertilizing:
Fertilize weekly with an all-purpose formula (e.g., 20-20-20) to support growth and tuber development. After 2 months, switch to a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and lower in nitrogen for better blooming and tuber storage.
Care:
When Dahlias reach 10-12", the center tip should be pinched. This will create a bushier plan and yield more blooms. Without pinching, the plant will grow one tall, thick central stalk.
Remove flowers before they fade, and consider removing some buds in the first year to help the plant store energy for next season.
Dahlias are tender perennials, vigorous and fast growing. Dahlia tubers must be lifted for the winter from the ground in zones 7 and lower.
Your Dahlias will bloom from mid-summer until frost. Keep spent blooms trimmed and you'll enjoy repeat blooms all season long.