Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi all,

A while back (cant find the post) it was recommended that we buy dahlia tubers and use the sprouts as cuttings to increase stocks.

My sprouts are about 5inches tall now could anyone recommend how best to strike them. Hormone powder and a light compost? Jar of water?

Thankyou,

David

Here is a decent link shoing you how to do it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/t ... lias.shtml

HTH

Jerry

Hi David,
If you follow the steps on the BBC Web which are clear-cut but what they omit to mention is the compost that is best to use. Strange really because the rest of the posting is crystal clear.
I would suggest normal potting compost with the addition of about 10% sharp sand well mixed in.
The web also falls short on the after care. I think this is a great shame because the rest is so good.
The new cuttings need to be kept in a light warmish place free from any possiblity from any late frosts.
When the frost are absolutely done with the plants should have grown considerably and they can be introduced to the large outside world and when they have almost outgrown their pot they are ready to be planted in situ.
Cuttings can also be taken from topping out material. Topping out is done to encourage the plants to fill out and not shoot skywards in one large bolt.

I grew 'Bishop's children' from seed (T & M) this year. I got about 60 plants from them, so think this is excellent value for money. Have just pinched them out and will plant out at the end of May.

Thankyou all very much.

David

Dear David,
dahlia cuttings root poorly if the cutting base is hollow. Don't know why but I find it's so.
Regards Sally Wright.

Hi,
Just one more site you can try which is really detailed is jrg dahlias - just type in dahlia cuttings into google!
Good luck
Hilary

I've had 100% success with my dahlia cuttings taken from my cheap Aldi tubers. I didn't have any proper compost so made up my own mix of seed and multi-purpose with some vermiculite thrown in for good luck! I used hormone rooting powder having removed most of the lower leaves first.
Sally, I remember reading in a book about propogation, don't remember which one I'm afraid, that you should never take cuttings once the stems have become hollow as they have become mature and will not produce roots - this applies to all plants, I believe, not just dahlias.