Top 7 tips to make dahlias last longer (2024)

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.

Top 7 tips to make dahlias last longer (2024)

FAQs

Top 7 tips to make dahlias last longer? ›

In order to maximize their relatively 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 it cool to room temperature can extend their vase life up to 2 to 3 days.

How to make dahlias last longer? ›

In order to maximize their relatively 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 it cool to room temperature can extend their vase life up to 2 to 3 days.

How do you keep dahlias blooming all summer? ›

you'll appreciate having the long lasting cut flowers for use in bouquets. The key to keeping your dahlia pumping out flowers is to make sure it gets plenty of sunshine, adequate moisture and fertilizer, and to deadhead regularly.

What does Epsom salt do for dahlias? ›

Additional Mid Summer Dahlia Care

Epsom salt, magnesium sulphate, is a useful tonic that enables plants to use nitrogen more effectively. Add up to one tablespoon per gallon either as a drench or in spray. Use regularly in a low dose rather than occasionally at a higher dose to avoid jumps in the health of the dahlias.

Do coffee grounds help dahlias? ›

Yes! Dahlias like coffee grounds and the coffee grounds make for a wonderful fertilizer. Since coffee grounds usually contain about 2% nitrogen, a third percent of phosphoric acid, and roughly 1% of potassium, the coffee grounds act as an excellent fertilizer for your dahlia garden.

What to put in water to keep dahlias fresh? ›

Well because dahlias need sugar— Flower Food not only has a bactericide which keeps your water clean but also has a sugar component which feeds your dahlias. Not every flower needs this but dahlias definitely do! Vase life usually increases by 2 days when you start using flower food.

How do you keep dahlias from rotting? ›

We recommend drying your dahlia tubers for several weeks before putting them away in storage for the winter. This helps to cure them and to prevent rot during storage.

How do you keep dahlias from flopping over? ›

Staking Strategies

An alternate approach is to put stakes on the corners of your dahlia beds and use twine to enclose the plants. These stakes will need to be even stronger than the ones recommended below. Consider using steel T-posts (not light duty ones) or 2" square hardwood stakes.

Is too much sun bad for dahlias? ›

Full Sun Isn't Always Best

Dahlias are sun lovers and more sun usually means more blossoms. But if the sun is too hot and temperatures are too high, the plants may stop flowering. If excess heat is a concern, choose a planting location with half day rather than full day sun.

How to make dahlias bigger? ›

Disbudding For Huge Blooms & Dinner Plate Dahlias

Disbudding is removing the lateral buds (side buds) from a Dahlia to focus the plant's energy into one large flower. Why do it? Typically this is used for Dinner Plate Dahlias or other varieties where you want to reach the maximum size for your flower.

How long do dahlia plants last? ›

Dahlias can be kept for many years if they are treated properly. Dahlias start producing tubers in the spring, but these roots are not mature until late in the growing season. The longer they are kept in the ground, the more mature they will be, and chances are better they will survive in storage.

How do you get dahlias to rebloom? ›

The best way to encourage your Dahlias to Bloom more is actually to Pinch them. Sounds funny, I know, but what it means is that when the plant is 6-12 inches tall you are going to cut the top off of the main stalk. You can watch the full video above with all of the instructions!

How do you keep potted dahlias alive? ›

Potted Dahlias

Keep the pot in a cool, dry, dark place that doesn't freeze. Don't water it, just let it stay dry.

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