Hi all!
Growing Dahlias in tropical or subtropical weather is a real challenge.
almost all bloom are open center the first time. Last year was my first time growing them. Are any of you in hot weather?

North Texas was very hot this year. I have to pot my dahlias as rhey hate my clay. And i forgot to feed so 2 blooms from one of my half dozen plants. Lost so many i don't know cultivar anymore

Gypsi said: North Texas was very hot this year. I have to pot my dahlias as rhey hate my clay. And i forgot to feed so 2 blooms from one of my half dozen plants. Lost so many i don't know cultivar anymore

Very beauty! I'm digging my tubers now, not big success in my first year from seeds.
Maybe next year is better. I'm in the Caribbean.

Hot, but not humid....they do best in early spring, and then early fall. Cool nights and warm days.

ecotarianosrd said: Hi all!
Growing Dahlias in tropical or subtropical weather is a real challenge.
almost all bloom are open center the first time. Last year was my first time growing them. Are any of you in hot weather?

Very nice dahlias. Dahlias like heat but also appreciate shade from the bright afternoon direct sun exposure.
If you can give them midday sun and protection from bright direct afternoon sunlight they will be much happier.

Hi, Thanks @bumplbea I'm trying to give the best condition, my climate don't help at all. I planted some in filtered shade they grow weak and no flowers. Many has open center.

Hi @Gypsi Look for the hot weather dahlia list in Georgia society web.
There are two list with name, size, form, etc which are heat tolerant. I would like plant them, but don't sale tubers in my country, all I can is plant from seeds until I have my owns tuber.
I would love to have Santa claus.
I have some in seedlings now, they bloom in 4 months. Also planting, zinnias, celosias and cosmos.

I am probably not buying more. I have several that lived, and I guess I will dig them soon or just put their pots in the greenhouse to protect from freezing and excessive rain. I have to grow in pots, my heavy clay soil can't be amended enough for them, it's either too wet, too hot, too dry or too????

Hi!
I have the same situation with my soil. I never have enough compost, then am making the raised beds in the form of hugelkultur and see a big difference with the vegetables and flowers. All Dahlias I grow last year was from seeds, the whiteflies are give me a hard time with them.

Whiteflies luv new growth in dahlias. I spray horticulture oil on them and remove some leaves that have eggs and to give the plants more air circulation. Some years they are so bad I am forced to use a systemic to keep them at bay or the whiteflies will infest the whole garden.
Since I have learned not to use dahlia fertilizer which forces more new growth = more whiteflies.

I attempt to grow dahlias every year in south central texas (San Antonio area). So far I've had zero luck. Well, I had one that bloomed. Once.

They're so beautiful yet so frustrating. Maybe I'll be stubborn and try again this year. Or maybe I can just convince my husband to finally move out of Texas!

Pictured: my one semi-successful dahlia bloom

This year is a little different, my dahlias looks better, and planted in raised bed.