Contents
Spring has come and more and more often we think about what flowers will delight us this season. Of course, in any area there are at least a few rose bushes, wintering perennial flowers, and when the threat of spring frosts has passed, it’s time for petunias and other annuals. But the dahlia, which was lovingly grown by our grandmothers and great-grandmothers, will take its rightful place among the most beautiful flowers. There was a time when we forgot about it a little, but fashion is returning, and hardly any other perennial can boast such a variety and duration of flowering. Dahlia, having released the first buds in the middle of summer, delights our gaze until the very frost. Germination of dahlias after winter is one of the most important stages in caring for a plant, and we will talk about it in this article.
What do we need to know about dahlias
Dahlia (Dahlia) is a perennial from the Astrov family, it came to Europe from Chile, where about 40 natural species grow. Species plants are not used in culture, at home we mainly grow varieties and hybrids bred with the help of Dahlia Changeable. To date, there are more than 15000 varieties of very diverse bushes in height, size, shape and color of the flower.
The dahlia flower is an inflorescence – a complex basket, consisting of reed and tubular flowers, with a diameter of 5 cm to 25 cm or more. It has a hollow stem, sometimes reaching more than one and a half meters in height, but there are very tiny dahlias that do not even reach 30 cm. Large plants require mandatory support; under the weight of flowers and in strong wind, the stem can easily break and end up on the ground.
The root system of dahlias is root cones or root tubers, which are thickened roots, but we habitually call them tubers. So, dahlia tubers do not hibernate in the ground even in the southern regions, for the winter we dig them up and store them in suitable conditions.
Germination of dahlias before planting
Dahlia is a very heat-loving plant, it is important to plant it in the ground on time, therefore, it is advisable not to miss the time when it is time to pull the root tubers out of the cellar or basement. We will tell you what to do during their traditional storage, and in the end we will offer you to watch a video about the features of the germination of tubers drenched in paraffin.
When to get the tubers
The question is often asked when to get dahlias from storage for germination. It is impossible to give an unequivocal answer – our territory is vast, when in some regions everything is already blooming, in others the earth is just beginning to thaw.
If you get them ahead of time, at high temperatures and in the presence of lighting, the shoots will stretch and outgrow too much, it will be difficult to divide the tubers and they can easily break when planted in the ground. If you pull the dahlias late, the sprouts will be too small. Nothing terrible will happen, but for every day of delay in the awakening of root tubers, there will be several days of delay in flowering.
If you are going to propagate dahlias by cuttings, you need to get them a month earlier, but the technology for germinating and processing tubers will not change from this.
Preparing dahlia tubers for germination
We think we have answered the question of when to get dahlias. Now let’s see what to do next. The ideal storage temperature is 4-8 degrees. Even if it was higher, the difference from room temperature will be significant. You can’t get the tubers out of the cellar and just bring them into the house. First, put the container with dahlias in a warmer place for 2-3 days, covered with cellophane to prevent moisture loss, only then bring it into the house.
If you did not wash the tubers from the soil in the fall, you need to get them out and do it now. Then carefully inspect, remove rotten and dried dahlia root cones, cut off all damaged thin roots. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt them. It is also necessary to cut out all rotten places to healthy tissue.
Pay special attention to tubers that are good, but either loosely attached to the root neck, or hanging on a thin thread. When you plant dahlias, they will simply rot, all growth buds are not on root tubers, but on the old root neck, which cannot be cut for this very reason. Throw away all the beautiful, but unnecessary processes – there will still be no sense from them.
Disinfection of dahlia tubers
It must be said that each owner prepares dahlias for germination after they are taken out of the basement in different ways, but the tubers must be disinfected in any case. Do this directly after cleaning and trimming is completed. You can soak dahlia root cones for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a fungicide solution, such as foundationazole. This will kill pathogens that may have been left over from winter storage.
Then, if the buds are clearly visible, you can carefully disassemble the dahlias into divisions for germination, each of which will have at least one growth point and always a good piece of the root collar with the old stem cut off. Do it with your hands if you can separate the tubers without breaking, or with a sharp knife if you can’t do without it. Experienced gardeners, especially those who plant dahlias for sale, manage to make thin divisions with a piece of last year’s stem, which nonetheless take root perfectly.
Dahlias planted with a large nest of tubers with many shoots will be weak, they will give few flowers.
After the overwintered dahlia tubers have been washed, disinfected and divided, sprinkle the cut points with crushed activated charcoal, leave for several hours or for a day so that the water is glass and calus forms, and only then planted for germination.
Planting dahlias for germination
Prepare a place for germination of dahlias, it should be light, well ventilated and warm, at least 20 degrees. It is very important to plant dahlias for germination so that the root collar is on top, young shoots appear on it, and not on the tuber. If you turn it down, this can lead to the following consequences:
- The shoots will first grow down, and then, bending around the tubers, up. This will significantly delay flowering.
- When transplanted into the ground, germinated shoots can break off.
- There is a danger of rotting them in the substrate.
Pour the substrate at the bottom of the boxes and place the dahlia tubers so that they do not interfere with each other. As a substrate for germination can be used:
- any soil;
- sand;
- perlite;
- sawdust;
- coconut fibre.
Here, the quality of the soil for germination does not play a big role – the main thing is that it be loose, water-, breathable and disinfected. You can spill the earth and sand with potassium permanganate in advance, and pour perlite, coconut fiber and sawdust with boiling water, cover with a lid, and let cool.
Do not cover the tubers too much with the substrate, it will be enough if it simply covers them to avoid moisture loss.
If there is any doubt whether there is enough moisture, it is better to refrain from watering. Thick tubers contain enough water and nutrients to survive even a short drought. For the same reason, do not feed young shoots.
If you have very few dahlia tubers, and they were stored, perhaps, in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf, they can be planted for germination in flower pots with drainage, and when planted, simply transfer them to the ground.
The content of germinated tubers before planting in the ground
Further care for germinated tubers will consist of periodic moistening and ventilation. When the first shoots of dahlias appear on the surface of the substrate, it is better to move the boxes to a cooler place, with a temperature of about 15-16 degrees.
But what to do if the root tubers were not stored at an ideal temperature of 4-8 degrees, but at a higher one and germination has already taken place without our participation? You can let the dahlia shoots color in the light, gently break them out or cut them with a piece of tuber, plant them like cuttings, or you can plant them in the ground when the time comes for the whole nest.
When the threat of spring frosts has passed, we carefully remove the dahlias from the substrate and plant them in a permanent place, having previously installed supports for tall varieties.
How to germinate dahlia tubers before storing paraffin-treated tubers and how to choose good root tubers in a store or garden center will tell the video:
Conclusion
So, the most important thing: plant the tubers with the root collar up, provide them with a bright, warm place, water very moderately – these are the main components of the success of germination of dahlias. And they will delight you with lush flowering until the frost.