We all know and love the traditional Chrysanthemums for Mother’s Day, but there’s a new kid on the block making headway into everyone’s hearts when it comes to giving a potted flowering plant as a gift, and it’s the Dahlia.
You can grow dahlias in nearly every climate zone by just choosing the right varieties, with the exception of cold areas that experience heavy frost. It doesn’t have to be Mother’s Day either, one can gift a flowering potted plant of any type at any time for a special occasion where you may have considered cut flowers. The joy of a potted flowering plant is that the blooms often last far longer, and they can be potted up or planted in the garden and enjoyed for years to come.
Growing Dahlia’s 101
Grow: Full sun
When: Tubers should be planted in winter. Seedlings plant spring. Potted specimens can be planted from spring through to autumn.
Potted: Use Rocky Point Premium Potting Mix when growing in pots.
In the garden: Free-draining soil is a must. Prepare garden beds with Rocky Point ActivGrow Soil Improver before planting dahlia tubers or plants. Then mulch with either Rocky Point Sugar Cane or Tea Tree Mulch.
Prune: In late autumn, when they have finished flowering, prune back to 15cm above ground.
Tips: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms, feed early summer and throughout, including autumn, to encourage more blooms and healthy growth.
