In September, dahlias ignite a firework of blossoms. No other plant species can come up with such a wealth of shapes and colors as this magnificent perennial. You can choose from almost 15,000 cultivars for your own garden. In the following article we would like to introduce you to this extremely attractive plant and give you valuable care tips.
Dahlias decorate the garden all summer long
Plant profile:
- Botanical name: Dahlia spec. (Georgina)
- Order: Asteroids
- Family: Asteraceae
- Genus: Dahlias
- Growth: upright
- Growth height: 30 to 180 centimeters
- Main flowering period: July to the first frost
- Leaves: Opposite, ovate serrated, dark green
- Flowers: Arranged in a cup, act as a single flower.
- Flower shape: From single-flowered to radial to spherical double
- Flower color: Except for black and dark blue, almost all colors, even two or more colors.
Special properties:
The nutrients stored in the bulb allow the dahlia to grow into a large, profusely flowering plant in just one gardening year. If you have laid out or redesigned your garden, it is able to transform a bare bed into a sea of flowers by autumn.
origin
The original home of the dahlia is the Mexican highlands. In 1789 the first dahlia seeds were brought from there to the botanical garden of Madrid. From here, the magnificent perennial quickly spread throughout Europe.
location and care
Due to their warm region of origin, dahlias can only be cultivated outdoors in our latitudes from the end of April to the end of November. Then you have to dig up the tubers and overwinter in a frost-free room.
floor
Dahlias prefer full sun. The substrate should be rich in humus and nutrients, and the soil should not be too dry.
watering and fertilizing
Dahlias like it moist, but not too wet. Therefore, water regularly and carefully. From May to June, the perennials are fertilized every 14 days with some fully ripe compost to which you add some horn shavings (€32.93). Alternatively, you can use liquid, organic fertilizer.
diseases and pests
Healthy dahlias are very resistant to disease. If waterlogging occurs, the magnificent perennials tend to rot.
Unfortunately, dahlias are very popular with snails. Therefore, surround the perennials with a snail fence and/or collect the reptiles in the early hours of the morning.
Dahlias overwinter
Prune the perennials back to four inches before the first frost and dig up the tubers. Shake off damp soil and allow the tubers to dry upside down until there is no moisture left in the stem.
You can either bury them in a wooden box filled with sand or overwinter them spread out on the grate in a frost-free room.
tips
In spring you can carefully divide the tubers and multiply the magnificent perennial in this way.