Perennial dahlias

Dahlias are very beautiful flowers. Year after year, perennial varieties delight their owner with inflorescences, from which it is difficult to take your eyes off. However, these types of dahlias will require additional care to prepare the plant for the winter period.

Characteristics of perennial varieties

Perennial varieties of dahlias are in demand among flower growers, since they have a number of advantages:

-Large variety of species and varieties. Thus, there are currently about 15,000 varieties.

-Varieties differ from each other, both in the color of the buds and in the shape of the flowers themselves. The petals can be forked, elongated, or even twisted.

-Dahlias bloom for a very long period, from June to late autumn.

-Undemanding and unpretentious.

-If you follow the simple rules of cultivation, dahlias can grow in one place for several years.

Flower parts

A dahlia consists of several main parts. This is an inflorescence. Its size can be either 3 cm or 30 cm in diameter. The inflorescence consists of marginal petals, which have a very wide variety of colors and shades, and internal, usually yellow, petals.

The stem of the plant can reach a length of one and a half meters. Low-growing varieties do not exceed 20 cm in height. Despite the fact that the stem looks outwardly quite powerful, there is emptiness inside it, so it is better to tie up too long plants.

Dahlia roots are large tubers or their second name is root cones.

The heart of the dahlia is represented by the root collar. It is here that the buds are formed, which are necessary for the growth and development of the plant, and it is also the link between the stem and root tubers. If the root collar is damaged, the plant will die.

Plant development periods

As a rule, this culture is propagated by tubers. Those flowers that have been grown from seeds or by cuttings during the year form a fairly powerful new root. It will be possible to land it on the site for the next season.

Before the dahlia dormant winter period, the tubers should be carefully dug out of the soil so as not to damage the root collar and stored in a cool dark place. When spring comes, new shoots sprout from the vegetative buds of the root collar. And when the ground warms up enough from frost, dahlias are again planted on the site. Further, the tubers are strengthened with new roots in the ground, the stem grows back, and lush beautiful flowers are formed, which persist throughout the season, until late autumn. After the onset of the first frost, the aerial part of the dahlias must be cut off, and the tubers are carefully dug out again.

Rules for successful cultivation of dahlias

Although these plants are considered undemanding to care for, it is still necessary to take care of them so that the root system is stronger, and the flowering is lush and abundant.

First of all, it should be remembered that dahlias are very heat-loving plants. Do not rush to plant them on the site if frosts can still return or the soil is not warmed up enough.

In order for dahlias to bloom and develop well, they should be planted in open sunny places, where the sun's rays stay for at least 7 hours.

It is necessary to monitor the moisture level of the soil where the dahlias grow, since both the lack of moisture and its excess will negatively affect the growth of the plant.

Like virtually all plants, dahlias thrive on sandy, light soil that is rich in nutrients and cannot tolerate clay soil.

If you grow several dahlia bushes on the site, then you must maintain a sufficient distance between the seedlings so that the plant is not cramped in the future.

It is necessary to prepare well and correctly for the winter period, since dahlias left to winter in the ground will simply die. It is imperative to dig up the tubers of the plant and store them in a dark, cool place throughout the winter.

If you plant this culture in a poorly lit place, then you should not expect abundant and high-quality flowering of the bush, since the tubers will be very weakened. In addition, such plants are unlikely to overwinter successfully.

If you do not observe moderation of watering, then the dahlia will not bloom and develop well. So, an excess of moisture can cause root diseases, and a lack of moisture will lead to a deterioration in the growth and flowering of the plant.

Do not feed dahlias too abundantly, as this only contributes to the growth of the green mass of the plant. While the flowers will remain small and inconspicuous. This rule especially applies to nitrogen-containing fertilizers.

If you choose a place for planting that is open to drafts, then the long, but hollow stem can be broken by bad weather conditions.

If you do not keep the distance between the bushes when planting several crops, then during the growth of leaves and stems, the plants will feel extremely uncomfortable.

How perennial cultures of dahlias are propagated

Perennial varieties of dahlia are propagated by seeds, cuttings and tubers.

Seed breeding method

Dahlia seeds you can sow in special containers and grow seedlings, it is also allowed to sow them directly to a permanent place of growth. However, this method of propagation is rarely used, since there is a risk of losing the external qualities of the parent plant variety.

Cutting method

If you follow all the rules for the cuttings propagation method, then there is a high probability that the dahlia bush will grow healthy and beautiful.

To this end, the tubers are awakened earlier and begin to germinate them in the sand, starting in the middle of winter, constantly moistening the sand with water. By the middle or by the end of spring, a fairly large stalk will appear from the root collar, about 10 cm long.It is necessary to separate the sprout from the tubers and then place it in wet sand and cover with a film or a plastic bottle. While the cutting is taking root, it should be watered and ventilated. After the roots of the plant grow, it can already be transplanted to a permanent place on the site. It should be noted that growing cuttings in small jars contributes to better growth and strengthening of the plant's root system than growing in large containers. After you separate the sprout from the tuber, new sprouts will appear from it, which are also suitable for breeding dahlias. However, subsequent shoots will no longer be as strong as the first cutting.

Tuber propagation

Root tubers need to start germinating around mid-spring. You should carefully examine them for the presence of disease and remove the damaged parts by treating the sections with activated carbon. The tubers themselves are recommended to be kept for some time in a light pink manganese solution to disinfect them. Next, the tubers must be placed in sand or sawdust to a depth of about 6 cm. During the germination of the tubers, the container with the roots must be placed in a sunny place, where the air temperature will be kept at 20 degrees. After the appearance of the shoots, the tubers should be divided, leaving about three or four eyes on each part.This method of reproduction is popular with gardeners, as it allows not only to preserve all the characteristics of the variety, but also to avoid thickening of adult plants.

Pre-boarding procedures

Before growing dahlias, you should prepare the material It is recommended to plant only strong and healthy dahlia bushes. If you grow planting material yourself, then you need to provide it with the necessary dormancy stage. If you prefer to purchase tubers or cuttings in the store, then you should carefully examine the purchase so that there are no sick and dry shoots on the stems and tubers, and the presence of new vegetative buds is also desirable.

In addition, you should carefully approach the choice of the place where the dahlia will grow.

You should choose an open, sunny place where the rays illuminate the space for at least 6 or 7 hours. There should be no drafts or stagnant water on it. If the place is swampy, then a good drainage layer must be created. Since dahlia is a bright and spectacular flower, you should choose a place for it where flowering bushes will fit perfectly.

The soil for planting should be prepared in advance. Dahlia will grow poorly in a swampy place, so it is optimal to use sandy, loose and loamy soils.

The site for future dahlias is well dug up and a sufficient amount of compost is added. If the soil is acidic, then wood ash or lime powder will come to the rescue. If the soil is alkaline, then sour peat can be added.

Landing rules

It is necessary to plant dahlias when the soil warms up enough after winter, and the probability of return frosts will be reduced to zero. Then you will need to dig in the roots to a depth of about 10 cm into specially prepared holes. The optimal month for planting is May. The distance between the holes should remain the same as the future plant bush will grow. As a rule, for low plants the distance remains about half a meter, and for tall varieties about 1 meter.

It is recommended to add additional sand and fertilizers to each hole. If you are planting high varieties of dahlias, then you must immediately put a support peg in advance.

The planting material after it is planted in the hole should be filled up and watered with warm water. However, it is necessary to ensure that the root collar is not buried very deeply - no more than 2 cm from the surface.

Dahlia care rules

Dahlias should be watered based on the temperature regime and the composition of the soil. The main thing is to control the moderate moisture of the earth. If you water the dahlias more often than necessary, then you can cause rotting of the root system. To prevent this trouble, it is better to take care of a good drainage layer. It is better to water in the morning or in the evening, and in the fall it is recommended to stop watering the plants altogether.

After watering, a dense crust usually appears on the ground, which prevents oxygen from freely penetrating to the roots. To avoid this, it is necessary to loosen the soil at the roots in a timely manner.

It is recommended to lay a layer of mulch around the plant to better maintain soil moisture and to slow down the growth of weeds under the bush. In addition, mulching promotes ventilation of the roots. Peat, sawdust or straw are perfect mulches.

High-quality care for dahlias also includes plant feeding.

After about 10 days, as you planted the dahlia, you should feed the plant. And so on, fertilizers are applied 2 times a month, periodically changing mineral and organic complexes. It is better not to add nitrogen-containing preparations, since they stimulate the growth of green mass, and at the end of summer their use is completely prohibited. In autumn, it is optimal to feed the plants with potassium-phosphorus preparations.It is also rational to use ordinary wood ash, since it not only nourishes the plants, but also prevents the appearance of pests and diseases. It is best to feed the plants after watering, as the moisture will protect the plants from burns.

Pruning bushes

By forming a bush, you can control its growth by changing the timing and quality of the plant's flowering. If you remove the lateral processes of the dahlias, then the flowering will be more lush and abundant. Pinching can also be carried out. This is the breaking off of the main flower in order for the rest of the flowers to grow larger. Pinching the bush also has a positive effect. After the first inflorescences appear, you can cut off some of the shoots in order to also stimulate the development and formation of inflorescences. In addition, it is necessary to remove faded buds in time and also tie up tall plants.

Protection from pests and diseases.

The main pests of dahlias are insects such as aphids, slugs and two-tails. By feeding on greens, they harm the entire plant.

To protect plants from these pests, dahlias must be treated with soap or garlic solution. If the culture was attacked by slugs, then you can use a decoction of wormwood or a decoction of celandine. You can scatter dry ash around the plant. And if insects have already attacked the bush, then insecticides are indispensable.

If you water the plant more than it needs it, then there is a risk of diseases such as gray rot and fusarium. When the first signs are found illness, and this will be a change in color and premature fall of foliage, it is necessary to remove all diseased parts of the plant and carry out treatment with fungicides, and also exclude watering altogether.

A disease such as Black Leg is also common. When it occurs, the stem turns black and may die. If you see these signs of the disease, then it is necessary to process the land with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Storage rules for planting material

In order for dahlias to please with flowering next year, it is necessary to properly organize winter rest for them. So, you should stop watering at the beginning of autumn, because the tubers do not need moisture in winter. After the sub-zero temperature has been established, you need to cut off the aerial part of the shoot, leaving no more than 10 cm of the stem, peel and dry the tubers, and then place them in the sand in a cool place.

Types of perennial dahlias

A wide variety of perennial crops are divided into 10 species.

Simple dahlias .Non-double flowers. The stem reaches approximately 60 cm in height. The flowers are medium in size, about 10 cm in diameter, with a pronounced flat center and several rows of petals, the shade of which can be either orange or pink.

Anemone ... These are tall plants that reach about a meter in length, also having a tubular core and several rows of petals. Here the color palette is wider, there are also doubled colors.

Collar... The stem of these plants can grow up to 120 cm, flowers are about 10 cm in average size. The middle consists of tubular petals, around which are rows of folded petals. The basis is made up of large petals. In addition, the rows are colored differently, which looks very nice. There is a combination of cream and red, and there are golden-scarlet duets.

Peony... They are also tall varieties of dahlias, which are distinguished by large inflorescences and bright crimson petals around.

Decorative... The stem of these crops reaches one and a half meters in height. Terry inflorescences, which have a different diameter of flowers. The middle consists of tubular petals, and around are large oval petals. This type includes varieties - Huge purple and Large sunny dahlias.

Spherical... These are tall varieties of crops that reach 120 cm in height.The flowers are large enough, can reach 15 cm in diameter, resemble the shape of an ellipse. The lower row of petals is twisted. This type includes varieties such as Lemon and Alye.

Pompom... From the side, the flowers of the plant are similar to pompons, as they are small in size, no more than 7 cm in diameter. The petals in the form of thin tubes resemble a ball.

Cactus... These are tall varieties of dahlias, featuring a wide variety of flower diameters. They can be either 8 cm or 25 cm. The shape of the petals resembles a cactus, as they are rolled into narrow tubes. The inflorescence can be light pink or bright orange.

Semi-cactus... These are similar plant species, only the petals twisted in half distinguish it from the Cactus.

Mixed... These are the varieties that have a unique appearance. There are those that resemble an orchid, and there are chrysanthemum dahlias.

Scope of perennials

The described crops are great for decorating any suburban area, as they have a huge variety of colors, shapes and heights of plants. That is why dahlias are so actively used to create a landscape. Tall varieties are planted near fences or along the walls of the house, low varieties of dahlias look great in flower beds and on borders. These crops are planted as separate plants, but they look even better in all kinds of color compositions.