Preparing dahlias for winter and storing them

There are over 30 species and 20,000 varieties of dahlias, they vary in color, stem height, bud fullness and petal shape.

How to store dahlias in the winter at home? This question is often of interest to both novice florists and people who are professionally cultivating flowers. Here you will receive complete information on choosing a place and methods for storing dahlia tubers, advice and recommendations from specialists, as well as methods for recovering from damage during the winter period.

Preparing dahlias for winter and storing them at home

INTERESTING FACT! Dahlia is the national flower of Mexico. It was first mentioned in 1615. It was brought to Europe by the Spaniards at the end of the 18th century. Before the invention of insulin, dahlia root was used to treat diabetes mellitus, as it contains fructose. With the help of petals, skin infections, rashes, and bites of various insects are treated. A decoction of the petals will help relieve dry skin.

Dahlia - This flower is native to Central America, so it does not tolerate frost. In order to preserve it, the tubers must be dug up and harvested until spring in a suitable place.

Somewhere from mid-August, dahlias need to be hilled to strengthen the stems, as well as the formation of strong and large roots. Watering should be moderate to prevent rot and mildew from forming around the tubers. Towards the end of September, dahlia are dug up. If the plant undergoes several small frosts of 0.1 degrees in the ground, then this hardening will help it to better endure wintering.

IMPORTANT! In case of severe frost, dahlias should be dug up and kept within a period of no more than two days. This measure is necessary in order to protect the stems from rotting.

Remove excess soil, cut off the stems, leaving 5-8cm. from the root and extract it from the ground. Digging is best done with a pitchfork, so as not to damage the root system. It is impossible to wash the soil, it can be shaken off after drying. Stem sections are treated with dry lime or wood ash and kept for about seven days at room temperature. This time is enough for the stems to become coarse and the roots are completely dry.

Spray the plant with a fungicide or mild manganese solution during wintering to prevent disease and dry it again. If a root immersed in a liquid floats, it is thrown away. He won't make it to disembark. Remove old, thin and damaged tubers.

NOTE! After digging, the tubers should be immediately separated from each other. If damaged areas of the root system are found, then division will stop the infection and harmful bacteria will not spread to the root neck.

If you live in a private house, then it is better to dry the plant in a greenhouse or veranda, and a windowsill will be an excellent place in an apartment.Make tags with the name of the variety, the color of the dahlia, and attach to the stems. The ideal storage temperature is +5 degrees. Throughout the winter, inspect roots and stems to prevent them from drying out, rotting, or sprouting in time.

How to store dahlias after digging in winter

• In the basement.

You need to pick up spacious, tall boxes made of cardboard or wood. Cover the bottom and edges with strong wrapping paper, sprinkle dry soil 5 cm thick on it. Lay the tubers in one row and again cover with a protective layer, carefully distributing it so that there are no voids. Thus, fill the box and cover with paper at the end. Ventilation should be carried out in the basement, the approximate temperature is +5 degrees, the humidity is 60-80%, which will not allow the roots to dry out and sprout new sprouts.

Control should be carried out every 15-30 days, if damage occurs, remove the affected parts of the plant.

• In the apartment.

To store dahlias in an apartment, choose a suitable place - this can be a pantry, a vestibule, near a balcony door or window. The plant can be stored on a glassed-in balcony or in the refrigerator on a vegetable shelf.

If a dahlia overwinters in an apartment by a window or door, then the box should be isolated from warm air, for example, wrap it in several layers with a thick cloth and then foil.

If a balcony is chosen, then isolate the box from cold air. Wrap it in some blankets or unnecessary clothing.

If you decide to put the dahlia in the refrigerator for the winter, then you need to put it in a bag with small holes and mix with any substrate.

Control must be carried out every 7-10 days.

INTERESTING FACT! On the territory of Mexico, there was an ancient civilization of the Aztecs, which had a rich mythology and many bloody rituals. One of the myths is associated with the dahlia flower. It tells the story of the birth of the God of War, who was given birth to a woman of the serpent. At birth, he was wearing a crown, a sword shaped like an agave leaf and a scarlet flower. It was a dahlia, it gave the newborn God an evil roar and lust for blood. And then the Aztecs began to sacrifice thousands of women, men and children. The plucked hearts of their fellow tribesmen were placed on a pedestal decorated with dahlia flowers. When the Spanish conquistadors landed on the territory of America, they introduced the ancient people of the Aztecs to Christianity, thereby putting an end to the bloody rituals of the pagans.

Dahlia root storage methods

• Waxing.

Storing the dahlia in paraffin prevents root drying and mold growth during the winter. Take several candles, grate them on a coarse grater and heat them in a water bath to 60 degrees. Then dip the tubers in paraffin with tongs, remove and let cool. Repeat the procedure to thicken the protective layer. Now the roots can be folded into bags and stored in a dark place. In the spring, before planting, the paraffin protection must be carefully removed so as not to damage the planting material.

• The use of vermiculite.

Vermiculite is a non-toxic resinous mineral with thermal insulation and anti-mold properties. Place prepared tubers in perforated bags. Sprinkle them with vermiculite, and your dahlias will perfectly endure the winter in the apartment.

• In boxes with sawdust.

Take small sawdust - this is a fairly common natural material. Pour them on the bottom of the box, then arrange the dried tubers in one layer. So continue styling to the brim. It is worth paying special attention to the storage space, since choosing a room that is too warm can lead to rapid drying of sawdust and loss of moisture in the tubers, which should not be allowed.If it is not possible to choose a room that is suitable for the temperature, the box with a dahlia must be periodically sprayed with water, but not too abundantly, as this can lead to mold formation.

• In boxes of sand.

Storing dahlias in sand is suitable for those who have a cellar, as it actively draws in moisture - this quality in a dry room can lead to the drying out of the root system of the plant. Room humidity should be around 85%. You can use a box or bucket to stack the tubers. Pour a little sifted and dry sand on the bottom, you can spread the planting material on it. When the container is full, the roots must be carefully poured on top to prevent air from entering.

• In a clay shell.

Prepare a clay mortar. For this method, dilute it to a thick sour cream consistency. Dip the dahlia tubers in the solution and let dry in the open air until a hard crust appears, in a gazebo or balcony. In the spring, before planting, the carapace should be carefully removed. Clay can partially remain on the tubers; its complete removal is not essential. The main thing is not to damage the dahlia, and the remaining crust will dissolve in the soil after planting.

• In the film.

For this method, the roots of the dahlia are first treated with sulfur powder or fungicide, then wrapped several times with a film. After this procedure, the tubers are placed in boxes and stored in a dark room.

• In the peat.

Many growers use peat for storage. The principle of application is the same as with other substrates. Do not replace peat with moss. In a damp room, it will intensively absorb moisture, which will lead to the formation of mold and rot. In a room that is too dry, the moss will draw out the juices from the tubers, and they will dry out.

• In pots.

Pick up pots with a circumference of about twenty centimeters. Grow a dahlia and store the root in it. Fill the pot with nutritious soil, plant the flower and dig it into the ground so that the edge protrudes about 1 cm above the surface.Tubers of a dahlia planted in this way will be smaller and will be better preserved.

In the fall, cut off the stem and dig up the flower along with the pot. Separate thin roots and protruding tubers. Wrap everything with paper or newspaper in several layers and put it in a bag to exclude light from entering the plant. Put it in the cellar, pantry. In the spring, take it out and start watering until the buds form. Then remove the roots and plant. If watering and germination is prolonged for 2-3 weeks, then shoots will appear and they can be used for cuttings.

INTERESTING FACT! Dahlias are never blue. Since the 19th century, breeders have tried to breed a blue variety, and so far this has not been possible. One London edition even offered £ 1 to the creator of the blue dahlia, but no blue was obtained. They also do not exist in black, there is only a dark red and dark purple flower.

Tips and tricks from specialists

In no case should you pull the dahlia by the stem. In order not to damage the dahlia root, the bush must be dug with a pitchfork on four sides, departing from the stem 20-30 cm, thus cutting off the long roots and digging out only the tubers. Then press the forks to raise them above the ground and set them aside.

IMPORTANT: The necks of the tubers are very fragile, in order for them to become stronger, leave the dug root in the flower bed to dry.Then you can remove soil from them, separate and proceed to disinfection.

It is more convenient to process and store dahlias by disassembling them into divisions, that is, into individual tubers. It is better to divide the root in the fall, since it will harden considerably during the wintering period. Carefully examine the tuber neck, find the eyes of future shoots and separate it from the rest. If the eyes are poorly visible, then in this case you will have to wait for spring to divide the root.

When buds appear on the necks of the tubers, it will not be difficult to determine the place of division. Small parts of the root can be stored without dividing. Inspect the resulting divisions, if the inside of the neck is brown or has rusty spots, cut this part off completely. If the tuber neck is discolored, then this is also a sign of disease. Dahlia does not hibernate with such defeats.

NOTE! If you break off a tuber without a neck, then it will not germinate.

The main dahlia tuber should not be discarded. In spring it can be used for cuttings.

Before planting large tubers, cut and dry the sections, and small and without preparation will give a large number of suction roots, which contributes to the rapid growth of the flower.

During wintering, dahlias can be affected by insects or rodents. When thrips, ticks, wireworms and other pests appear, the tubers must be treated with one of the insecticides. When handling them, personal protective equipment should be used to prevent contact of the chemical with skin and respiratory tract.

Since you will be applying the drug indoors, using it without gloves and a respirator can lead to poisoning. In winter, rats or mice can appear in the cellar or basement. They are capable of partially or completely destroying your planting material. Use traps or poisons to fight them.

INTERESTING FACT! Paul Callahan is a famous gardener who revived the undeservedly forgotten dahlia in the 80s of the 20th century. Dahlia gardens were laid out on the territory of Coulf's possessions. Until now, members of the dahlia lovers society continue to care for flowers, which are the pride and main attraction of those places.

Follow the tips and instructions in this article and you'll be sure to save your dahlias until next season.

VIDEO: When to dig up and how to store dahlias in winter.