Dahlias are a glorious flower to have decorating the garden during the summer, providing all sorts of vibrant shades of the rainbow. With a range of shapes and sizes, dahlias can help brighten up outside spaces all the way through until October.
However, if you have recently planted a number of tubers and are yet to see progress made, there are a few signs you should look out for to make sure the flowers are on the right track. Gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish recently shared the signs gardeners should be on the lookout for, and how to fix them, should there be any issues.
Ish said: “If you planted your dahlias two, three, even four weeks ago and they still look a little bit like this, don’t be disheartened, it’s actually incredibly common. But knowing the right signs will help you know if your dahlias are absolutely fine.”
Key Signs to Check
If your dahlias have not sprouted yet, these are the few things you should be looking out for, and how you can help encourage them to sprout in the weeks to come. There could be a number of reasons why the bulbs have not sprouted yet.
1. Soil Temperature
The first issue that could be affecting your plants is that the soil could be too cold. Ish explained that dahlias thrive when there is a touch of warmth in the soil. If the soil is too cold, the flowers will remain dormant or drastically slow the plant’s growth down.
2. Soil Moisture
Gardeners should also check the moistness of the soil. Ish said: “It also likes a consistent moisture, as well, in the soil. Not too soggy, but enough just so it can start soak it in, a rehydrate, and as a result, it will thrive there too.”
“But don’t think it is not doing anything, it might still be generating roots underneath the actual tuber itself and getting itself started. But if you are worried, it is really easy to check.”
3. Tuber Firmness
To check if the dahlias have made any progress, simply brush away the top of the soil around the tuber and give it a squeeze. You want to make sure that the tuber still feels firm. If the tuber is squishy, it may have been overwatered and begun to rot. It is also possible that you may find some small nubs, which is a good sign of life.
Ish continued: “But don’t panic. In the next few weeks, these will come up, you will have gorgeous dahlias and they will look fantastic. It is just a patience game.”
Planting and Care Tips
You should have planted your dahlia bulbs in the recent weeks, but you can continue to plant them throughout the month of May, too. Sprouting is a good sign, and if they develop, gardeners should begin to see flowers form from July until October.
When dahlias have grown until about 20cm tall, the experts at Gardeners’ World recommended pinching out the main growing tip to help encourage more side shoots. The publication explained: “Remove the main shoot (in the centre of the plant, growing upright) down to the top pair of leaves, using a sharp knife or your thumb and forefinger.”
Ongoing Maintenance
Later down the line once the dahlias have bloomed, gardeners should feed their plants once a fortnight with a high potash feed, such as tomato feed. This will help keep the flowers coming. Also, make sure you water the flowers once a week. When it comes to deadheading, this is important to help prolong flowering.
Gardeners’ World said: “The difference between buds and spent flower heads can be confusing – the buds are round, while spent flower heads are more pointed. Remove the whole flowering stem.”
