This is my second year growing dahlias in a little bit cooler climate in northern VA. Almost all mine came back after the winter. Just judging by how yours looked last year, I think you've got a water/fungus (the stems coming up and then dying sounds like fungus) issue, combined with some snails/slugs. I suggest not watering at all until you see significant growth above the soil line, and then making sure you're only watering about an inch per week until they're blooming. Once they're blooming and if it's really hot, water a little more. Check to see how much rain they're getting so you can adjust your water based on that. Also, put down slug bait and spray with a systemic insecticide. Fertilize once a month with bulb fertilizer. Another thing to think about is making sure not to use top soil or compost with herbicide in it. Some of the fungal issues can be with the tubers themselves, so if you buy them from Lowes or Home Depot (rather than ordering from a nursery), you can try spraying them with fungicide.
What beautiful dahlias, this is my first year growing dahlias as well! It looks like you have a lot of buds that are about to burst open with prettiness! -Cara
Unfortunately I think my dahlias get too much afternoon sun and are starting to fry because of it. I recently read a fellow Texas dahlia grower say the key to success for dahlias here is morning sun and afternoon shade. Unfortunately mine get the opposite.
Yes, they get western sun. Unfortunately, only one of the plants actually survived. I got a few flowers from a couple of other plants, and then they all died except for the Kelvin Floodlight. I got lots of big beautiful blooms on that one. I didn't dig any of them up for the winter. I'm waiting to see if any come back. I don't really know what happened. They were set up on a drip system. That area did get the hottest sun of the day, so I don't know if it was too hot. I was really upset with how that whole experiment went.
I've never grown dahlias so I don't have any advice but do you think they're maybe not getting enough water? Like if you dig down is it moist in there? I hope you get some more blooms!
I can definitely try giving them more water. I have several things struggling with all these over 100° days we have been having so far already. & at the same time some things are loving the heat.
@@ArcoIrisRanchI always get my tubers from Swan Island Dahlias. I had great success with them in WA, but I’m trying to grow them TX and in containers for the first time this year. (The joys of apartment life.) The family/company also gives lots of great advice and instructions on how to raise them.
This is my second year growing dahlias in a little bit cooler climate in northern VA. Almost all mine came back after the winter. Just judging by how yours looked last year, I think you've got a water/fungus (the stems coming up and then dying sounds like fungus) issue, combined with some snails/slugs. I suggest not watering at all until you see significant growth above the soil line, and then making sure you're only watering about an inch per week until they're blooming. Once they're blooming and if it's really hot, water a little more. Check to see how much rain they're getting so you can adjust your water based on that. Also, put down slug bait and spray with a systemic insecticide. Fertilize once a month with bulb fertilizer. Another thing to think about is making sure not to use top soil or compost with herbicide in it.
Some of the fungal issues can be with the tubers themselves, so if you buy them from Lowes or Home Depot (rather than ordering from a nursery), you can try spraying them with fungicide.
Although I have not grown them again since this failure, I do plan on trying again! Thank you for the advice and for watching 🌸
What beautiful dahlias, this is my first year growing dahlias as well! It looks like you have a lot of buds that are about to burst open with prettiness! -Cara
Unfortunately I think my dahlias get too much afternoon sun and are starting to fry because of it. I recently read a fellow Texas dahlia grower say the key to success for dahlias here is morning sun and afternoon shade. Unfortunately mine get the opposite.
@@ArcoIrisRanch Oh no! That’s too bad! Mine haven’t started to bloom just yet, so fingers crossed haha
I would love to see another Dahlia update and are they getting western sun?
Yes, they get western sun. Unfortunately, only one of the plants actually survived. I got a few flowers from a couple of other plants, and then they all died except for the Kelvin Floodlight. I got lots of big beautiful blooms on that one. I didn't dig any of them up for the winter. I'm waiting to see if any come back. I don't really know what happened. They were set up on a drip system. That area did get the hottest sun of the day, so I don't know if it was too hot. I was really upset with how that whole experiment went.
I've never grown dahlias so I don't have any advice but do you think they're maybe not getting enough water? Like if you dig down is it moist in there? I hope you get some more blooms!
I can definitely try giving them more water. I have several things struggling with all these over 100° days we have been having so far already. & at the same time some things are loving the heat.
@@ArcoIrisRanch It's the same here. We're starting to pull some plants out that are giving up in the heat and others are just starting to flourish!
Super helpful video and comments.
Dahlias seem to be pretty hardy. I think the issue was the bulbs. Only 1 from lowes came up this year.
I got mine at Lowe's and Home Depot too. Maybe that's what it is. At least I am not out too much money for them all.
@@ArcoIrisRanchI always get my tubers from Swan Island Dahlias. I had great success with them in WA, but I’m trying to grow them TX and in containers for the first time this year. (The joys of apartment life.) The family/company also gives lots of great advice and instructions on how to raise them.