Dahlias can be easily pinched in the spring to produce new blooms. I walk you through the process of pinching dahlias to encourage additional blooms. Dahlias should be pinched when they are expanding quickly and just above two leaf nodes to make them bushier and more robust. Want to see it completed? Continue reading.

I’ll admit that I resisted growing dahlias for a while since it seemed like too much work to dig the tubers every fall. However, I have discovered that they are well worth the effort, and I now adore them. If you give them a try, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Dates for planting Dahlias

Dahlias must be kept indoors until temperatures are constantly above freezing since they are sensitive and won’t withstand a hard frost.

It is preferable to plant stored tubers in containers in the spring and keep them indoors or in a greenhouse so they may have a head start on growth. Once there is no threat of frost, which is typically in late May or early to mid-June in colder climates, the plants can then be transferred into their blossoming site. Mid- to late April is the ideal time to plant them outside if you don’t have the space to start them off indoors. Below is an outside planting of dormant tubers.

Seeds should be sown in early to mid-spring in a propagator. Plants purchased in containers in full size during the summer should be planted immediately

How to grow plants inside

In pots of multifunctional compost, dormant tubers and rooted cuttings should be planted in the spring. When planting dormant tubers, make sure they are placed with the right side up. They often resemble a group of interconnected sausages; the top one should be above and just below the compost’s surface. From here, shoots will start to appear. Keep them out of the frost, in bright light, and with frequent watering

How to plant outside

Dahlias should be adapted to outdoor circumstances before being planted; for more information, visit our guide to hardening off. Use one or two buckets of well-rotted manure per square meter or yard while preparing the planting site because dahlias need healthy, well-draining soil. Apply Growmore or another all-purpose fertilizer as directed on the packet to support their rapid growth.

• Young plants grown from tubers and newly purchased plants in containers should be planted at the same level as when they were first placed in the container. The soil surface should be near the top of the tubers, where the shoots emerge. Plants should be placed 60 cm (2 ft) apart.

• Plant rooted cuttings that are growing in containers a few millimeters lower than where they were before. Plants should be separated by 50–60 cm (20–2 ft)

Water thoroughly, then cover the soil with a thick layer of mulch to retain moisture, leaving a space around the base of the stems.

Why are dahlias pinched?

Pinching Dahlias won’t cause them to grow, actually,  Dahlias will grow with or without being pinched. After all of that, why do I still pinch back dahlias? Because it causes a single plant to produce more flowers while also becoming busier and more robust. Since the enormous, fat blooms may cause the plant to topple over, you want them to be sturdier.

The right time to pinch dahlias

Allow your dahlias to reach a height of at least 12 to 16 inches as they start to grow in the spring, with four sets of leaves on the stalk. It’s still not too late if your plant has grown a little taller because this is only a general rule and not the law.

Dahlia Pinching Techniques

Between two leaves, locate the top sprout on the stem and snip it off with pruners or pinch it off with your fingernail. Although it is lower on the plant, that will also work. I tried to take the best possible photo for you. The additional stems that have been severed further up can be seen if you glance to the left.

On this one, you can see it closer to how your dahlia plant would seem after being pinched. The stem of the dahlia has new growth on either side of the pinched spot. Thus, you will receive two blooms as opposed to one.

Dahlia stems can be pinched or pruned back to encourage the plant to produce more stems and leaves rather than flower buds. In the video, I explain that I leave one stem uncut since it will blossom sooner than the others, which will take a little longer. You will have bushier, stronger plants that are simpler to care for instead of tall, lanky ones. The main benefit is that each plant will produce more blooms.

Conclusion

Dahlias are the ideal plant for your cutting garden, which is the most enjoyable part. Additional flowers will grow as you make more cuts! Cut flowers are typically used in bouquets when they are fully bloomed. Similar to pinching, flower cutting encourages new growth and blooms, keeping the dahlia happy and healthy. Win, win

Despite the fact that pinching dahlias makes them sturdier, you will still need to use strong support, such as a stake, wire cage, obelisk, etc.