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Need more sunshine

YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 6,971
Have just been deadheading and I've noticed that many of the plants (dahlias especially) are not growing well and I can only think that they need more sunshine.  All of the ones that got going fairly early in the summer are doing well and flowering despite the weather, but the later ones have definitely stalled. My Hydrangea limelight is another casualty no sign of flowers yet.  Has anyone else noticed this or is it just my imagination.
Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,332
    I can't say I've noticed a difference every dahlia I've got has  buds on now or is flowering  , I am just having to pick them up off the floor like everything else  :/. Hydrangea Limelight flowering aswell .
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 6,971
    It's odd @Perki, Mambo and Twynings after eight are doing well but Park Princess and Thomas Eddison are only about a ft tall.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • @Yviestevie Re your dahlias, the optimum amount of sunshine for them is between 6 and 8 hours and preferably during the morning.  The optimum temperature for growing dahlias is 78 degrees Fahrenheit.  Any more sunshine or any later in the day and/or a less than optimal temperature will cause stress and their growth/flowering will be set back.  Hopefully this doesn’t contradict the findings in your garden!  I presume you are feeding them?
  • YviestevieYviestevie Posts: 6,971
    @2 point 4 Yep, they all get fed and treated the same.  The two not doing so well get morning sunshine, the ones doing well don't, so that contradicts things a bit.  Maybe they didn't overwinter as well as the others.  I don't dig them up just give them a good mulch and this winter wasn't as bad as some.  The ones not doing well are in a dryer part of the garden so I can't blame winter wet for the current situation.
    Hi from Kingswinford in the West Midlands
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    My dahlias have definitely stalled - as of about two weeks ago. The plants are covered in buds but no flowers for ages (not in full-full sun).
  • NollieNollie Posts: 6,779
    Mine are mostly in full sun and I would say the heat has stalled them, definitely not as floriferous as last year when the temperatures were not so high. Arabian Night is the exception, the temps haven’t stopped that one. They are also soaking up buckets and buckets of water!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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