This guest post comes to us from Brooke Wetzel,floriston BloomNation, “the Etsy for flowers”, and Owner ofThe Plum DahliainLos Angeles, CA.
The waning days of summertime in floral talk mean its time to relish the late-summer blooms, especially the glorious dahlia. Weather permitting, dahlia season can extend all the way to Thanksgiving, and here are the best tips to keep them happy as a cut flower.
1. H2O ASAP
Dahlias brought home from the flower or farmer’s market should getdropped in water as soon as possible. In order to maximize theirrelatively short 3 to 4 day vase life, warm or hot tap water is ideal.I’ve found that dropping them in a vase of hot water and letting itcool to room temperature can extend their vase life up to 2 to 3 days.
2. Size matters
Tighter, compact varieties like last longer than thelarge and showy ‘Cafe au Lait’ and other dinner platevarieties, so namedbecause they’re as big as a dinner plate. As a rule of thumb, thelarger and fancier the petals, the shorter the vase life.
3. Consider colors
One of my favorite pairings is using complementary colors like deep plum purples, oranges, and newer corals.
Here are other great tips that apply the color wheel to your bouquet arranging.
4.Be supportive
I’ve found that the dahlia lasts alittle longer when all the weight of the bloom is supported with otherblooms. Even if they’re piled on one another, sometimes these prettygirls need a little help.5.Let’s get clear
I like simple cylinders to let these summertime gems shine. A clean,clear glass vase can let the blooms breathe, and luckily, dahlia stemsaren’t prone to molting or mucking up vase water. A dose of flowerfood can also work wonders to keep the water clean and clear.
6.Use the whole flower
I like to use every part of the flower, if I can. The tight and semiopen buds can add an extra bit of texture and wildness to anarrangement, and after a few days, you may see them open up and giveoff a little more life.7.Watch the sun
If you’re dressing an outdoor table, be sure to keep these blooms outof direct sunlight. They will wilt in the heat of a midday barbecueand are better suited for a dusk al fresco dinner party or shadedbrunch. They are ideally suited for a long and low arrangement whereguests and friends can see the tiny details and textures of yourcreation. Another option is a high/low mix of cylinders to have funwith the possibilities of colors, shape, and varieties. Whichever styleyou choose, these beauties need little fuss and play very well ontheir own.