Dahlia - Rotten Stem

TimmyMagic

I have got about 30 dahlias planted in the ground. None have flowered yet, but some are doing well and some have been savaged by slugs. A couple of them seem to have shoots that have died. The lower stems go black and when I break them off, they are filled with mush. This isn't the best photo, but hopefully shows the problem: 



Does anyone know why this happens? We've had a lot of rain lately so I'm guessing it's that. Or could it be because they have been attacked by slugs and are therefore weaker?

Perki

maybe slug have eaten the side and its collapsed or its split with the heavy rain , as long as the whole plant is going black I wouldn't be to worried. 

TimmyMagic

@Perki Yeah, I was just curious as this has happened on two different dahlias. I suspect you're right about the slugs. They have decimated some of my dahlias! Thankfully I've got enough that are doing well.