This is my first time growing dahlias from tubers (last year was my first time with any plants and I just bought a few already grown ones). I planted these 2 weeks ago and one is a mammoth already. (First pic, next to the Calla Lily- it's 14" tall) You can see the difference from the first to the other ones started at the same time. (Plus 2 that haven't sprouted yet but do have roots I can see through the bottom holes). I'm in zone 6a and last frost date won't be for a few weeks still, nighttime temps probably won't be warm enough for dahlias until June. I do plan on growing in containers only this year. Is this one (first pic) ready for it's permanent container? Should I start bringing it outside when the weather allows? Fertilize yet? Pinch it? Stake it? Right now it's in my back room that gets quite warm when it's sunny. It's mostly just getting light from a very large sunny window. I've got a couple clip on grow lights giving extra light to the ones that are still small plus a couple small fans on them during the day. I dont know if this is supposed to be this big already or if I'm doing something wrong.
by amemoryortwo
3 Comments
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All of these are leggy – you need to move them way closer to a brighter window or get more grow lights or they’ll be too weak to support the flowers. I might pinch almost all of these to try root propagating and then plant the tubers outside with a minimal amount of this growth. They’ll already be nicely rooted and pushing out new growth from the eyes that won’t reach for light.