What's wrong with my dahlias?

Joann2

I grow my dahlias in pots and they have been thriving all season and continues to do so now, all except one pot.  This one pot has lots of buds but few that actually fully flower.  They swell up and seem like they are about to open but then turn brown and look as though they have dried out (see photo).  This pots gets the same amount of watering as all the other dahlia pots but is the only one displaying these 'dead looking' flower buds.  What could it possibly be?

Dovefromabove

It looks as if you’ve made the common mistake of mistaking dahlia seedheads for flower buds ... those are seedheads which are cone shaped whereas the flower buds are sort of round and cushion shaped. 

The difference is shown here https://gardeningstepbystep.com/taking-care-of-dahlias/

Prompt deadheading as the spent flowers drop their petals helps avoid the mistake and encourages more flowering. 

Hope that helps 😊 

sarinka

Good info, Dove👍

Fairygirl

Yes - those are the seedheads. It's an easy mistake to make with lots of plants