By: Noshin Sarfraz
Dahlia
Dahlia flowers are planted in August when they come in as 3 inch, rooted cuttings from Murree – one has to specifically ask for the Dinner Plate Kashmiri variety.
They need to be planted in good composted soil and it takes them a good 3 months to become healthy. They should be fed with 12/15/45 fertilizer, for 7-10 days so the plant does not become too vegetative.
From the beginning, they must be given 45 aspects of Potash to promote more and bigger flowers.
After 3 months, the plants can be propped up with strong bamboo stakes. Remove the bottom suckers so the main stem of the plant remains strong. As a precaution, spray with a water-based solution (see below) every week.
Dahlia care
There are fat tubers under a dahlia plant that need to be kept well fed and watered deeply.
It is also very important to remove spent blooms by cutting the flower and its stem. People tend to remove just the flower and forget to remove the 3/4 inch stem underneath. More flowers can be formed if the stem is removed.
The presence of white spots on dahlia foliage shows fungal infestation. In case of such a situation, remove the affected stems and discard.
The make the following solution which is an excellent anti-fungal treatment.
- Pour 1 litre of warm water, half a teaspoon of Max liquid, 1 teaspoon of good quality baking soda, 1 teaspoon neem oil.
- Dissolve and strain the soda before you add in soapy water.
- Spray and drench the fungal infected plant after themorning dew has evaporated.
- Remove affected leaves before spraying.
- Repeat after a week.
- Check for new clean growth.
- After 3 sprays, one can add a teaspoon of fertilizer 20 in the water mix too.
- Stake the plant well, concentrate on the top growth and keep on removing bottom suckers.
Noshin Sarfraz
President of Amateur Gardening Club, Coordinator, Lahore Gymkhana Gardening Club.
