How to Grow Dahlia in Pots: Winter Planting, Depth and Disbudding (Video)

Transcript

Ever wonder how to get big dahlia blooms from a simple pot this winter?

Ever wonder how to get big dahlia blooms from a simple pot this winter?

Grow Dahlia in Pots

Here's the short, honest answer, and one tip most people miss.

Tubers, Seed or Nursery?

First, decide what you’re planting. Nursery plants that arrive in November already have roots, so they’re the simplest start. If you want the exact variety you love, go for tubers, they survive a season if you store them right. Seeds are cheap but usually produce dwarf, heat-sensitive plants, great for bedding but not for those giant showy flowers.

When to Plant in Pakistan

Timing depends on where you live. In the plains like Lahore and Islamabad, plant your tubers in October or November and move the pots under a cover when frost is expected. In the hills, wait until March or April when the chill eases. A simple cloth or a garden shed can protect tender leaves on cold nights.

Planting Depth

The depth matters more than you think. Aim to bury the tuber about eight centimeters, roughly three inches, with the old stem stub pointing up. This gives the eyes enough soil to push through while keeping the crown stable.

Pot Size & Staking

Choose a pot that’s thirty to thirty-five centimeters across and can hold twenty to twenty-five litres of mix. Fill it two-thirds with a blend of soil, compost and sand, then plant a sturdy bamboo stake about a meter tall near the centre before you set the tuber. The stake will support the tall stems as they grow.

One Bud Per Stem

Each stem tip sprouts three buds, a fat central one and two tiny side ones. As soon as you can grip them, pinch off the side buds. The plant then pours all its energy into the centre flower, giving you a noticeably larger bloom on a clean, long stem. If you prefer more flowers instead of bigger ones, just let all three open.

Care While It Grows

When the shoot has three or four pairs of leaves, pinch off the tip. That encourages the plant to branch into four to six stems rather than a single tall pole. Water only when the top three centimeters of soil feel dry, usually every three to five days in winter, more often as March warms. Once buds appear, switch to a flowering fertilizer richer in potash than nitrogen, feeding every three weeks. Too much nitrogen will give you a leafy giant but few blooms.

After Flowering

By late March in Multan or April in Lahore the heat ends the bloom show. You have two choices. Keep the plant alive by cutting it back to fifteen centimeters, moving the pot to a shady spot and watering sparingly through the summer monsoon. Or stop watering when the leaves yellow, lift the clump, cut the stems short and let the tubers dry upside down in a box of sand or sawdust. The dry tubers can be stored for the next autumn planting.

The one trick: stake early

And here’s the single trick that makes all the difference: stake your dahlia on day one. Slip a sturdy bamboo pole into the pot before you cover the tuber, and the plant will have instant support as it pushes up. This prevents the heavy stems from bending or snapping, especially when the big blooms open. It’s a tiny step that saves you a lot of heartache later.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.