Dahlia tubers dried & wrinkled
Nina Nupponen
Posts: 2
in Plants
Some of my dahlia tubers (10 out of 60) have been "dried and wrinkled" during winter hibernation in my garage. I have sprayed them throughout the months and now tried to mist more and also kept half of the day in moist moss-compost mix. I am now wondering if they will "survive" and grow when/if placed into new compost? How much "wrinkles" is too much? Thanks for all responses! Wishes from Finland.
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I lift my Dahlia in November and regrow in Feb/March, so the dormancy period is as short as possible. I left them, allow the soil to dry off, cut off what needs to go and then repot with soil. That keeps the tubers turgid. I would not store them bone dry. So I advise you to repot with dryish compost. but keep them dark.
If they're soft, you've lost them. If they're firm then when it comes to potting them up soak them in warm, water for 24hrs before potting them. The storage advice given by blairs, dry sand/compost is the best way to store them over winter.
Last year I lost some due to fungal disease, this year none...but the smallest one dried out. Thanks Dave for the soaking tip. Seems that at least half of them will recover. Two of them show new buds after 2 days...I potted them today. Just in case, I ordered some 50 tubers more.
Thanks so much. I bought Dahlia bulbs that are totally shrivelled and thank you for your advice. Now I can save them.