Kaelis Dahlias (2024)

FAQs

What is the rarest color of dahlias? ›

Black dahlias are extremely rare: less than 20 of 200,000 species of dahlia are black. But new research from scientists has thrown new light on how these dark flowers get their colour.

Overwatering may cause Dahlias to wilt and droop. Too much water, from either overwatering or poor soil drainage, causes tubers to rot, which may lead to yellowing or spotty leaves. As far as toppling over or flopping over, some Dahlia varieties with large, heavy blooms do require staking to keep the plants upright.

Cattails, flag iris, marsh marigolds, and rush reed plants thrive in soils that stay soggy all year long and make poor companions for dahlias. Plants that prefer drier soils or desert climates also are not a great match with dahlia.

Should I fertilize my dahlias? If you choose to use a fertilizer, go for low nitrogen and high in potassium and phosphorus, something like a 5-10-15 or 5-10-10. Fertilize within the first month of planting, then repeat again 3 to 4 weeks later.

Introduced in the 1940s, dahlia 'Thomas Edison' still adds splashes of bright purple to modern landscapes. Dahlias can take full sun, although Southern gardeners may need to give them afternoon shade.

After planting and until you see the sprouts above the soil level, water sparingly, about once a week. Overwatering to keep the soil wet will result in rotting tubers. Once the dahlias have sprouted above the soil, water them daily or as often as you would any other container plants.

Mist On Hot Days to Keep Dahlias Cool

You can install a misting system or just use a watering wand to spray the foliage once or twice a day. This extra moisture means the plants don't need to work as hard to stay cool.

Young dahlia plants do not require much water. Once your dahlia plants are established (8-12” tall), water regularly and deeply. A good rule of thumb is that your dahlias should receive 1” of water every week. In the heat of summer, dahlias will require more water especially if it is warm and dry.

Then you already have a good home remedy for fertilising dahlias with your coffee grounds. Fertilising with coffee grounds adds nitrogen to the soil and its addition creates a slightly acidic pH, which dahlias tolerate well, as do roses (Rosa), hydrangeas (Hydrangea) or violets (Viola).

Do dahlias like Miracle Gro? ›

Feed dahlias every 7 to 14 days until the plant naturally stops blooming at the end of the season. Bonus: When you plant in Miracle-Gro® soil and feed with Miracle-Gro® plant food, you'll see up to 3 times the blooms vs. unfed plants over the growing season—when used as directed, of course!

Marigolds: Marigolds are known to repel pests and diseases that can harm dahlias. Planting marigolds near dahlias can help protect the dahlias from pests and diseases.

Epsom salt will feed and nourish the growing dahlia bulbs and help increase the vibrancy of the flowers.

They prefer loosened and well drained soil. If you have clay or thick/heavy soil, loosen it well, and you can add sand or peat to help with drainage. Dahlias do not like mulch or store-bought garden soil, as many of these products can possibly harm the tubers.

Of the 20,000 varieties of dahlia flowers, only 10 to 20 kinds are black in color. Now researchers say they've solved the molecular mystery of how these rare flowers get their dark hues. Flower color in dahlias is determined by a mixture of plant metabolites called flavonoids.

Delphinidin derivatives are not formed due to the absence of flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase in dahlia petals, which provides an explanation for the lack of blue dahlia flowers. Orange, lilac and rose cultivars are characterized by a lower anthocyanin content compared to many red cultivars.

Did you know that blue is the rarest flower color? Brandon George, graduate student in Public Garden Leadership at Cornell University, takes an in-depth talk on the color blue, why it is so rare in the plant world, and some tips for displaying it in a garden.