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There are many both annual and perennial varieties of dahlias. It is clear how to grow the first ones – one-year-olds reproduce by seeds, it remains only to sow them in the ground. But with perennial varieties of dahlias, everything is much more complicated, but the flowers themselves are larger, more interesting and brighter.
How to propagate dahlias, what methods of propagation of these varieties exist, what to do to increase the number of plants while maintaining their decorative effect and quality – this is what this article is about.
Why do dahlias need reproduction
Dahlias reproduce in two ways: cuttings and division of tubers. Dividing the bushes is necessary not only in order to get more flowers in the next season.
The division of tubers performs several tasks at once:
- the number of plants increases;
- the bush heals, because after cutting the rhizome, a protective reaction is activated – the plant intensively fights viruses and infections;
- the plant is rejuvenated, all regenerative processes are accelerated;
- inflorescences retain their size, color and number on the bushes, the height of the plants does not decrease.
At the same time, if we neglect the division of tubers, dahlia bushes will lose more and more of their decorative effect every year: they will become lower, with fewer flowers, which, in turn, will become smaller and discolor.
How does a dahlia reproduce
Perennial varieties are propagated either by cuttings or tuber division. But it is quite possible to combine these two methods, which will help to get several flowers at once from one healthy and strong dahlia – from three or more.
The number of divisions depends on the number of buds per rhizome. The buds are located in the upper part of the tuber, most often, they are located around the stem of the dahlia. It is quite difficult to see these kidneys in their infancy; some beginners cannot do this task.
In this case, you can use one of the following methods:
- Divide dahlias in spring, not autumn. During this period, the kidneys will begin to germinate, become more visible.
- A few days before digging up the bush, cut off the stem of the dahlia, this will also contribute to the growth of the kidneys.
Dahlia cuttings, in principle, do not perform other functions other than flower reproduction. This method is also very effective – from each rhizome you can get as many cuttings as there are buds on it.
How to properly divide dahlia tubers
Dahlia rhizomes can be divided both in autumn and in spring. Most gardeners do this in the fall., arguing that this way the roots tolerate storage better, they are easier to process, it is easier to split the tuber, because it has not yet become coarse, has a thin peel. And gardeners, as a rule, have more time in this period than in spring. Nothing prevents you from calmly examining dahlia tubers, treating cut points, and disinfecting “wounds”.
Before cutting dahlias or cutting their tubers, it is necessary to dig up the rhizomes and process them properly.
Preparation of dahlia tubers for division
You need to dig up dahlia bushes when severe frosts begin. In most regions of Our Country, this is mid-October. By this time, the flower stem should wither or freeze, and the inflorescences should fade.
In order for dahlias not to rot and become infected with fungal infections, and also to better endure winter storage, watering the bushes is stopped 2-3 weeks before digging up the tubers.
To dig a bush without damaging the tubers, it is necessary to retreat from it about 25-30 cm around the entire circumference and carefully dig it with a pitchfork or a shovel. Thus, it will turn out to cut too long roots, while not damaging the tuber itself.
Now the tubers need to be carefully turned over and allowed to dry upside down for several hours. If the weather is damp outside, the rhizomes are brought into a dry and warm room.
The following preparatory activities are performed in the following sequence:
- dahlia stems are cut to a height of 2-3 cm – this is just enough to attach a tag with the name of the variety to each tuber. If longer stems are left, dahlia tubers will begin to wilt and rot.
- The tubers are thoroughly washed under the pressure of water to rid them of the earth. The fact is that in the soil there can be many infections, pests or their larvae, which will simply exterminate dahlias over the winter.
- Now you need to remove all dry parts, cut off the roots, remove the “dead” tubers.
- Large rhizomes are inspected to identify the affected areas. It can be rot, infection with diseases, traces of the vital activity of pests. All this must be cut with a sterile knife to the point where the cut will be white, without damage. If it was not possible to save more than a third of the tuber, it is immediately thrown away.
- They also remove all sluggish and too light rhizomes – they will not be able to lie all winter and give new shoots. You can check dahlia tubers with ordinary water – if they float, you can safely throw them away. Leave only those specimens that have sunk to the bottom of the dish.
Propagation of dahlias by cuttings and tubers
It is necessary to cut dahlias in the spring, when the buds on the tubers begin to wake up and sprout. But it is better to divide the tuber after all in the fall.
Prepared, washed and dried rhizomes, consider and count the kidneys in their upper part. Beginning gardeners are advised to divide each large dahlia root first into two parts, trying to ensure that each of them has an equal number of buds.
It is necessary to cut the rhizome only with a sterile very sharp knife. You can disinfect the blade with alcohol, calcining the knife on fire helps a lot.
First, the rhizome is slightly cut in the upper part (where the stem is located). Now they take both edges and carefully stretch them in different directions, tearing the dahlia tuber into two parts.
If necessary (there are more than two buds per rhizome), each part is divided again. When the delenki are ready, their sections are processed, sprinkled with wood ash or other antiseptic preparation.
You can soak the delenki in a strong solution of manganese, dropping them there for 15 minutes. At the same stage, you can check which tubers will float and which ones will sink to the bottom. After processing, the delenki are dried, spread out on newspapers or cardboard boxes. All sections should be weathered and dry, without dark spots and foreign inclusions.
Now the tubers can be stored, in the spring each of them will turn into beautiful dahlias.
Cuttings are another way to propagate dahlias. You can get these shoots at the stage of germination of tubers.
When the rhizomes are taken out of the cellars and garages where they were stored in the spring, they are inspected, spoiled and withered specimens are rejected, and then germinated.
To grow a cutting, you can buy a special device or plant a tuber in a coconut substrate. The pot is only half filled with the mixture, the tuber is also not fully deepened – the upper part with the kidneys should be above the surface, only the roots are located in the ground.
After 2-3 weeks, a dahlia stem begins to grow from the bud, when it reaches 10-15 cm in height, it is carefully cut between two buds using sharp scissors or a knife.
You can root the cutting in ordinary water – the stalk is placed in a glass into which a lot of water is poured. In a few days, the first roots will appear. And you can immediately plant the cuttings in a substrate of coconut fibers, sand and neutral peat.
Germinated tubers and grown cuttings can be planted in the soil when the threat of severe frost has passed. In most regions of the country, this is done in early May.
How to properly store dahlia tubers
If stored improperly, dahlia rhizomes can rot or turn into shriveled “mummies”. This happens due to temperature fluctuations and insufficient or excessive humidity.
There are several ways to store dahlia rhizomes:
- In vermiculite, when layers of this substance are interspersed with layers of rhizomes. Vermiculite retains moisture well, but as the temperature rises in the room, the tubers will immediately begin to germinate.
- Most gardeners use sand, sawdust, or peat to store dahlias. This helps to preserve the roots until the next season, but you need to carefully monitor the moisture level of the substrate. In regions with a dry climate, sand or sawdust must be moistened so that the tubers do not wrinkle and dry out.
- Particularly valuable hybrids, which can germinate as early as December, are stored in paraffin. The tubers are alternately dipped in paraffin heated to 70 degrees. After the “crust” hardens, canned dahlias are stored in any boxes, bags or boxes.
- With the help of clay, you can also preserve flower tubers. To do this, the clay is diluted with water to the state of liquid sour cream and the rhizomes are dipped into it. In the spring, it is enough to knock on the crust, the clay will crumble, and the buds will be able to germinate.
If everything is done correctly, you can forget about buying new dahlia tubers – you will only have to go to the store for the latest varieties and exotic hybrids. Reproduction of perennial dahlias at home is quite possible – even a novice gardener can do it.
A video on this topic will help a beginner:
