How to store dahlias in the winter at home
You can see this amazing flower in almost every summer cottage, in a park, garden or on a city flower bed. Novice flower growers often ask themselves: when is it necessary to dig up flowers and how to store dahlias in winter?
Miracle flowers and their characteristics
The flower came to European countries in 1557. Since that time, it has gained its popularity due to its extraordinary beauty. Its healing properties were also discovered here. Roots containing fructose have been widely used to treat diabetes mellitus. Petals saved from various skin diseases and all kinds of insect bites. Years of fruitful work of breeders have presented more than twenty thousand new varieties to amateur flower growers. Among them there are both perennial and annual plants. The most varied shades, sizes, shapes of this wonderful flower still win hearts and do not leave indifferent many gardeners.
Dahlias are named in honor of an outstanding biologist, professor, traveler, who was called Ivan Ivanovich Georgi in Russia.
Dahlia species
Dahlias begin to bloom in late summer and do not fade until autumn. And their scent continues to attract and fascinate more than one generation of flower lovers. In order for dahlias to delight you every year with their beauty, you need to properly care for them. This heat-loving flower does not tolerate the cold season and may die.
Let's highlight several types of dahlias:
- Annuals.
- Perennial.
Annual plants are less whimsical, their life is limited to one season. There are dwarf, medium, tall species. Flowering begins faster in the former. Flowers can be grown using seedlings or by planting seeds in open ground. Both are effective and depend on the time we have at our disposal and our willingness to tinker.
Perennials are, at first glance, more beneficial. Once planted and enjoy their flowering for several years. But this is a misconception. These dahlias require a careful attitude towards themselves, more time and patience, as they cannot hibernate in the open field.
When to dig dahlias
In no case should perennial dahlias be left in the ground for the winter. They will not survive freezing days and will die quite easily. Heat is the source of life for a given flower. Therefore, the digging of the plant must necessarily be carried out before the onset of severe frosts and not later.
In different climatic zones, they do not come at the same time. We must take this important point into account when determining a specific date.Our ancestors believed that the rhizomes should be dug before September 26. On this day, the Orthodox honor the memory of the Hieromartyr Cornelius. According to folk signs, it was considered: "Cornelius' day in the yard, every spine in its time." But taking into account the fact that autumn is getting warmer every year, and frosts come much later, the time for digging up the roots may shift.
Dahlia tubers should survive light frosts, but not more than minus 1 degree. This will harden them and improve wintering.
From the first small frosts, the leaves of the dahlia will turn black. This will indicate the need to dig up flowers. In the presence of green leaves, we do not do this, since the natural process of feeding and preparing the buds for the next flowering is still going on in the plants. Removing the roots early for wintering can cause a decrease in the number of flowers in the next season and make it difficult to store tubers.
Somewhere in the middle of August, we begin preparations for digging. In order to strengthen the stems and improve the formation of large and healthy roots, we must huddle the bushes.
At this time, we monitor the watering. It should be moderate, not abundant. The water should not stand around the bush to prevent mold from forming. It can lead to rotting of the tubers, and they will die.
How to dig dahlias correctly
Having decided on the deadline, you must follow all the rules for digging tubers. In no case do we do this by pulling out or simply digging up.
This process is not very laborious and will not take much time, if we strictly adhere to a specific algorithm of actions:
- Cut off the stems, leaving 15 cm to the rhizome.
- We huddle the bush.
- Dig it out carefully without pulling the stems.
To avoid damage to the root system and not to tear off the neck of the flower, we dig in the bush from four sides with a pitchfork. At the same time, be sure to maintain a distance from the stems of 20-30 cm. Then gently press on the tool, raise the plant above the ground and put it to the side. You can trim the stems after digging out of the soil.
Do not cut the stems close to the rhizome. This can provoke the penetration of the infection. We use a pitchfork. This will help prevent damage to the tubers.
Storage preparation
We will divide the preparation for storage into several stages:
- Inspection and drying.
- Shortening.
- Division.
- Washing.
- Disinfection.
- Drying.
Inspection, drying, shortening, division
Having dug a bush, we remove the soil from the tubers and dry them in the fresh air for several hours. At the same time, we avoid direct sunlight. Next, we carefully examine the roots of the plant. We cut long root crops with secateurs, scissors or garden knife.
All garden tools must be disinfected by holding them for some time over a fire flame. We must do this when going to work with other types of dahlias.
If weak and damaged tubers are found, we can safely remove them. We also carry out the division process in the fall. It provides for the separation of tubers from each other. When an infection occurs, we thus avoid spreading the disease to healthy areas. This will be much more difficult in the spring. The roots coarsen over the winter and are difficult to cut with a knife or pruner. With the help of division, we rejuvenate the plant and save the bush from aging. It is also a great way to reproduce a flower. So dividing is a very useful procedure for dahlias. Each root should have two dormant growth points and a separate tuber with a bud, which will feed the growing sprout in spring.
Rinsing, disinfection, drying
After dividing, rinse everything well with water and dry. The next step will be to treat the roots with any fungicide, which is always available in specialized stores or pharmacies. We carefully study the instructions for a specific preparation so as not to harm the rhizomes. The most common folk remedy, which is almost always at hand and is widely used for these purposes, is manganese. Processing root vegetables is not at all difficult. We do this in the form of spraying or short soaking, for about 20 minutes, in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
We do the treatment in protective gloves to avoid the negative effects of chemicals and not get burns.
Pay attention to the emerging tubers. We safely take them out and throw them away. These plants cannot be planted next season. They are not suitable for further use. We will spend no more than an hour for the entire procedure. We crush the cuts of the stems wood ash or dry lime to avoid decay.
In order not to get confused in the names of varieties, we will definitely mark the tubers with tags. We hang them on the remnants of the stems or glue them to root crops. They can simply write the name of the variety or make a short description. The next stage is drying in a cool dark place for 6-7 days. You can safely use a window sill in the apartment. In a private house - a veranda, a greenhouse. To achieve maximum moisture loss from tubers, you can put them upside down. During this time, the roots will dry out, and the cuts will coarsen.
The most ideal storage temperature is +5 degrees. Throughout the winter, we must, if necessary, inspect the tubers and stems of the plant for rotting, germination or drying out.
How to store dahlias in winter and where
Storage options include:
- Basement, cellar.
- Apartment.
- House.
Any method is suitable for storage. It will depend on your capabilities and desires. Let's consider in more detail the features of each option.
Basement, cellar
If you are going to store dahlias in a basement or cellar, you need to know what humidity and temperature are kept in the room throughout the season. These factors significantly affect the quality of the planting material.
For such storage, tall boxes made of any material are ideal: wooden, cardboard, plastic:
- Cover the bottom and sides with strong wrapping paper.
- We fill in dry soil at least 5 cm.
- We put the rhizomes in one layer and again cover with soil. We do this until we fill it to the top. We try to avoid voids, for this you can shake the boxes a little.
- Cover the filled tubers with paper or burlap.
We also use racks on which we lay out prepared dahlia roots. At least once a month, we must inspect the planting material and remove damaged specimens. If the room has low humidity, be sure to spray it with a spray bottle. A warm and damp cellar is not suitable for storing root crops.
The basement must have ventilation, temperature +5, humidity 60-80%. Under such storage conditions, the roots of the dahlia will not deteriorate and will be perfectly preserved until the new season.
How to store dahlias in winter in an apartment, house
In a house or apartment, it can be quite problematic to create ideal conditions for storing rhizomes. After all, you need a suitable temperature and humidity. We do not despair. And in this situation there is a way out.
When storing, we adhere to certain rules:
- We start by choosing a place. A pantry, vestibule, a place near a window or balcony door will do. In extreme cases, a place in the toilet near the cold water pipe is also suitable. You can allocate for storage a shelf for vegetables in the refrigerator or a place on the glassed-in balcony.
- Indoors, be sure to isolate the stored tubers from the streams of warm air. To do this, wrap them in several layers of fabric, then apply foil. On the balcony, warm old clothes or outerwear will help protect from the cold. You can also use Styrofoam. But it should be remembered that we store here only until severe frosts, then we transfer it to a more comfortable room.
- Putting in the refrigerator, mix the roots with the existing substrate and put in a bag. It must have small holes.
If we store dahlias in the apartment until spring, then after digging up we do not shake off the ground, but leave a lump.
We dry it on newspaper, paper. We put it in a box or box. We fall asleep with sawdust, foam or moss. And only in the spring we shake off the ground and divide the tubers. We inspect the planting material once a week.
Storage methods
How to store dahlias in winter? Every novice florist has asked himself this question. The answer will help us to give knowledge about the methods of storing dahlias.
Let's highlight the most interesting and effective ones:
- Waxing.
- In boxes filled with sawdust.
- Using garden vermiculite.
- In boxes of sand.
- In a clay shell.
- Using film.
- In the peat.
- In pots.
- With a clod of earth.
- On the street in the ground.
Waxing
Paraffin is a pretty good tool for high-quality preservation of planting material. It protects against mold and drying out of rhizomes in winter. During processing, due to the high temperature, all pathogens die. Paraffin is easy to get from ordinary candles that everyone uses in their home. To process 6 small tubers, you will need 1 candle. We take a few pieces and three on a regular grater. Dissolve the resulting mass in a water bath at a temperature of 60 degrees. With or without a fixative, lower the tubers into the resulting solution and let cool. We repeat the procedure several times to form a denser protective layer, which should be about 2-3 cm. It is he who will help in the future to protect the roots from the negative effects of the external environment. After the roots are placed in bags and taken to a dark cool place for storage.
Also, waxed material can be safely stored in the refrigerator. With the onset of spring, during the preparation of the planting material, carefully remove the paraffin protection. At the same time, we try not to damage the tubers. You can plant without removing the protective layer, there will be no harm from it to the plant. Take the roots in our palms and rub them lightly. The paraffin wax will begin to crack. This will be enough for bud germination. Using this method will bring you 80-90% safety of the plant tubers.
This method of preservation is more suitable for early varieties, since bud awakening occurs later. Ideal for those types of dahlias that are naturally thin tuber.
How to store dahlias in winter using garden vermiculite
Modern technologies make it possible to constantly apply something new in the process of growing and preserving plants. Vermiculite is a mineral with a layered structure and is widely used in plant growing. Agrovermiculite has become a frequent guest on the shelves of gardening shops and is loved by flower growers. It is used as a growth stimulant, to improve soil composition and for winter storage of planting material. It is an ideal tool for high-quality preservation of dahlia rhizomes. It will help protect tubers from rot and fungal diseases. All that is required is to fold the material into bags with small holes and cover it with agrovermiculite purchased from a store. In this form, dahlias will perfectly survive until spring in an apartment or house. Percentage preservation will be 90-95%.
In boxes filled with sawdust
Sawdust is a common natural material that comes from sawing trees or any other wood. They are used to fertilize the soil, preserve moisture in it and for winter storage of fruits and rhizomes.
For the successful preservation of dahlia tubers, we take only large sawdust or shavings.
Pour dry wood material on the bottom of the box and place the flower tubers on top. Forming dense rows, we constantly sprinkle the roots with wood particles.We try to avoid voids, periodically shake the container. These boxes with dahlias should be stored in not very warm rooms. Sawdust tends to dry out and can lead to drying out of the planting material. If there is no suitable room, do not forget to periodically spray the wood particles with water. The storage capacity of tubers is 80-90%
We do this not abundantly, as you can provoke the appearance of mold. This will lead to the development of root disease and a decrease in the quality of the material.
How to store dahlias in sand boxes in winter
For storage in basements and cellars, this is ideal. How to store dahlias in sand boxes in winter. This artificial material has the ability to absorb moisture. This will contribute to the dahlia tubers not drying out and their quality preservation. In dry rooms, this method is strongly discouraged, as this will lead to the drying out of the plant root system. If you don't have crates, you can replace them with regular buckets. We lay the planting material according to the same principle as with sawdust. We use only dry sifted sand, do not forget to fill all the empty space, periodically shaking the box or bucket. Thus, we will prevent the access of air to the roots of the plant. Cover with burlap on top. The preservation rate of dahlias is 85%.
The humidity of the air where the dahlias will be stored in boxes with sand must be at least 85%.
In a shell of clay
Since ancient times, clay has been used by humans to protect against moisture, it is able to fight microbes and bacteria. To store dahlia tubers, we use a clay shell. It is very easy to make it. For this, we prepare a solution. We dissolve the clay in water so that as a result it looks like thick sour cream. Add a little of any fungicide there.
We dip the root system of the dahlia into the solution and dry it in the open air until a hardened crust forms. This is done without exposure to direct sunlight. It is best to dry in the shade on the balcony or in the summer cottage. During the spring planting, carefully remove the shell so as not to damage the roots. We don’t worry if some part of the clay remains. Over time, it will dissolve in the ground and will not harm the plant. This method saves the planting material by 85%.
How to store dahlias in winter using film
For these purposes, we use ordinary film. You can eat food or the one that is used for greenhouses and booths. We pre-disinfect the tubers by treating with any fungicide or sulfur powder. After that, we wrap it in several layers with foil and put it in a prepared container.
We store the planting material in a dark place. Do not forget to periodically inspect the tubers and remove the spoiled ones.
In peat
Peat widely used to improve soil structure. Florists widely use it not only as an organic fertilizer, but also for storing dahlia root crops. To do this, in boxes, buckets, barrels on a layer of peat, lay the prepared tubers in layers and carefully sprinkle with a peat mixture. We try not to leave air spaces. Then we transfer all this to the basement or a cool room, where there is no access to light. Root preservation is 80-95%.
In pots
Pots are ideal for storing dahlia tubers. Their value will depend on the size and amount of planting material. Their advantage is that only one rhizome can be placed in one pot. This will protect against the spread of disease during contact with other tubers. The pots can be filled with peat, sawdust, earth, sand. Store in a cool place with adequate air humidity.
With a clod of earth
This method is widely used by those growers who do not have basement storage. After digging, we leave a clod of earth on the dahlia bushes. Cut off the stems, dry a little and place in boxes.We fill the container with foliage, sawdust, which we prepared in advance. We store the planting material at temperatures from +12 to +15 degrees. This option is suitable for an apartment or house where there is no cellar.
On the street in the ground
The method is proven, reliable and effective. Suitable for those flower growers who live in their home or in the country. We need:
- The barrel is plastic or plastic.
- Wooden box.
- Polyethylene.
Wrap the prepared roots in a soft cloth or thick paper. We place them in the barrel. We close the lid, after making holes in it. Then we dig a hole. Its depth will depend on the height of the barrel, which we must completely bury. But first we cover the lid with a wooden box, wrap it up with polyethylene and fill it well with earth and foliage. The drawer will allow the tubers to breathe. In winter, add a lot of snow, if any. In the spring we will be surprised at the result. The tubers will look as if they were just dug up in a flower bed.
Throughout the season, we must inspect the planting material for damage and decay. We do this at least once a month. If diseased roots are found, we remove them in order to protect other samples from infection. When dry, lightly spray with water.
In March, we bring the planting material into warm rooms for germination before planting. At the same time, we dissolve the root vegetables in one layer.
We do not store dahlia tubers next to vegetables and potatoes. There is often high humidity near vegetables, and this can provoke the occurrence of fungal diseases. And subsequently it will lead to the death of tubers.