Species of the genus Dahlia turn out to be easy-care plants, at least in summer. However, the subtropical plants are not adapted to the winter conditions in Central Europe and require special attention in autumn.
Dahlias should ideally be pulled out of the ground after the first frost
The right time
Dahlias are not winter hardy and should be taken out of the ground and stored every autumn. The optimal time for this measure is after the first night frost. Choose a dry day for digging. This makes it easier to get the rhizome out of the ground and remove the substrate more easily.
Get tubers out of the ground
Cut off the above-ground plant parts of the dried dahlia, leaving about four inches. Carefully loosen the soil by working it around the bulb with a digging fork. In this way you prevent the storage organs from being damaged during digging. If some specimens show damage, remove them. This measure prevents mold growth.
warehousing
Until planting out next spring, the dahlia bulbs spend their time in a cool and dark room in the basement that is well ventilated. The air should be neither too humid nor too dry. Place the tubers on a suitable surface so that there is enough space between them. Which material you use for storage depends on the conditions in the winter quarters.
Storage options:
- fresh pet litter
- perforated freezer bags
- dry sand
- spread newspaper
control
Check the dahlias regularly for their condition. If some rhizomes are dried out, shriveled, or have disease, remove them. This protects the remaining copies.
Hibernation in the pot
If you have cultivated the ornamental plants in the tub, storage is a little easier because you do not have to dig up the root pieces. Place the planter in a location that enjoys cool but frost-free conditions. Just cut off the plant material ten centimeters above the substrate so that the plant will sprout again at this point.
tips
Pre-germinate the rhizome tubers indoors in April. After the ice saints they come back into the bed. In this way, they develop their flowering splendor earlier.