Beautiful flowers – dahlias, can be successfully grown not only in a flower garden, but also in pots. To do this, choose varieties that have a small root system. For container growing, border, miniature, pot dahlias are suitable.
The choice of containers for planting
The volume of the pot for planting dahlias depends on the size of the root system. Low-growing varieties have small roots; 5-6 liters are needed to grow one plant. For medium-sized ones, you will need 7 – 10 liters, for tall ones, at least 20 liters.
For landing use:
- clay pots;
- Plastic pots and buckets;
- Wicker baskets and containers;
- Wooden boxes.
Clay and ceramic pots allow air to pass well to the root system, do not overheat, and look very attractive. The disadvantages of such containers are high cost, fragility, and heavy weight. With caution, use containers in which flowers have already grown.
From fungi and harmful microorganisms, pots are treated with disinfectants that do not contain chlorine.
Plastic pots, buckets, and containers look good, are light in weight, and are inexpensive. But the root system of plants growing in such a container often overheats, the roots may not have enough oxygen.
Wicker baskets with flowers look very decorative. They are light, breathable, the roots are protected from overheating. The only drawback of wicker baskets is their fragility.
Wooden boxes are great for planting dahlias. The tree passes air well, the roots do not lack oxygen. The disadvantage of wooden boxes is the low decorative effect. To make the boxes more attractive, they are painted with oil paint, decorated with ornaments and drawings. But, a painted tree stops letting air through, plants develop worse in such boxes.
Terms of planting
Potted dahlias bloom 40 to 50 days after planting. To get a flowering plant early, dahlia pots can be placed in a warm, well-lit room. In a city apartment, a dahlia will grow well on a heated balcony.
If the flowers are planned to be grown immediately in the open air, the germinated tubers are planted when the air temperature is at least 12 degrees at night.
If potted dahlias can be placed indoors before the threat of frost has passed, planting can begin in late March. If the tubers are planted earlier, it is necessary to illuminate the seedlings.
Site Selection
Growing dahlias in pots is convenient because they can be placed anywhere: on the veranda, in the garden between the trees, along the paths. A row of pots can visually divide the site into zones.
Best of all, these flowers will grow in a sunny area, protected from strong winds. Some shade is allowed in the evening.
Ground
One of the most important steps in growing dahlias in pots is soil preparation. The earth should be loose, breathable, contain all the necessary nutrients.
You can buy ready-made earthen mix, or cook it yourself. The finished mixture is chosen with the marking “for flowering plants.”
To grow dahlias, add to the garden soil:
- Sand;
- Humus;
- Complex of microelements;
- rotted manure;
- Perlite.
All components are thoroughly mixed, large stones, lumps of clay and other debris are selected from the soil.
Add organic fertilizers to the soil should be very careful, dahlias in pots do not like an excess of nitrogen in the soil. Dahlias overfed with nitrogen fertilizers do not bloom well, the tubers of such plants hardly endure wintering.
Perlite is added to the soil in order to protect the root system from waterlogging. The granules of this substance quickly absorb excess water.
Landing
Planting dahlias in pots does not take long. Once the containers, tubers, soil and drainage are ready, you can start planting.
A drainage layer is poured at the bottom of the pot, at least 15 cm high. Dahlia roots cannot stand waterlogging, if water remains in the pot after showers or heavy watering, the flowers may die due to lack of oxygen. Make sure the drain holes are not clogged.
The drainage layer is covered with soil, the size of this layer depends on the height of the container. At least 20 cm should remain to the edge. The soil must be moistened and slightly crushed. The tuber is placed sprouts up, sprinkled with soil, without deepening the root collar. The soil must be carefully compacted.
The pot is placed in a bright place protected from the wind. A few days after planting, dahlias are not watered, only the soil is sprayed. Watering begins when absorbent roots form at the tuber.
Care
Caring for potted dahlias is easy. They do not require weeding, protection of roots from pests. They can be moved if there is a threat of frost or a hurricane, and then put back in place.
Dahlias growing in pots require:
- Watering;
- Treatment for sucking insects;
- loosening the earth;
- Application of fertilizers.
Watering is carried out depending on the air temperature. In cool weather, dahlias are watered no more than once a week. In hot weather, the plant may need daily watering.
Potted dahlias are very much harmed by sucking insects such as aphids. It is necessary to treat with insecticides 2 times a month.
The formation of an earthen crust must not be allowed. It interferes with the free flow of oxygen to the root system. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the top layer of soil.
Potted dahlias need a lot of potassium and phosphorus for bright, long flowering. Fertilizers are applied weekly during watering, or foliar application is used.
Growing dahlias will not be difficult, this flower will gratefully accept care and care, responding to them with magnificent flowering.