Dahlias on balconies and terraces can winter very well in pots. This guide has all the info on how to prepare dahlia bulbs for winter, store them properly, and overwinter them without digging up. Care tips explain how to get the new season off to a good start.

From the end of February, the tuber can be placed in new substrate so that it begins to sprout

Preparation begins in September

Preparations for overwintering in pots begin for dahlias as early as October. By cutting off the nutrient supply and reducing the water supply, you prepare dahlia bulbs for the approaching winter. How to do it right:

  • early/mid September: Don't fertilize dahlias anymore
  • early/mid October: water more sparingly, but do not let the soil dry out

Please proceed with this modified care to the first frost.

Add dahlia bulbs - this is how you do it right

After the first few nights with frosty temperatures, dahlias in the pot will wither. This is the signal to move to winter quarters. Here's how to do it without digging:

  • Cut off dead dahlias to a hand’s breadth above the potting substrate
  • Dispose of clippings in the compost or in organic waste
  • Do not dig up dahlia bulbs
  • Place in the pot in a frost-free, dark room with temperatures of 5° to 8° Celsius

Windowless, cool basement rooms are well suited for winter quarters. Alternatively, dahlia bulbs overwinter in a dark garage or in a shady spot in the storeroom. Temperatures well below 10° Celsius are the most important premise for potted dahlia bulbs. Otherwise the tubers will sprout far too early, exhaust themselves completely in the dark and refuse the hoped-for blossom festival next year.

Overwintering dahlia bulbs in pots - care tips

Care is reduced to a minimum when dahlia bulbs overwinter in pots. Cool, dark conditions put the tubers into a growth dormancy for months. However, you should not completely ignore your winter guests. Regular checks and a change of location at the end of February set the course for a flowering season:

  • Check dahlia bulbs regularly for premature sprouting
  • Monitor temperatures and relocate to a cooler winter location if necessary
  • From the end of February/beginning of March, repot the dahlia bulbs into fresh, loose substrate
  • Change of location to the bright window sill in a room with a temperature of 10° to 15° Celsius

Dahlia bulbs come to life in a bright, cool location. Water very sparingly for the first few weeks. Start fertilizing in mid-April.

tips

If there is not enough space in the winter quarters, you can stack dahlia bulbs in a large, airy container. Fill a layer of peat sand into a wooden box lined with newspaper, place prepared dahlia tubers 2-3 cm apart and completely cover the bulbs with substrate. You can overwinter other tubers on this substrate layer.

Category:

Vegetable garden