Many gardeners have pompom dahlias considered one of the most beloved flowers. And this is not surprising. After all, there are many of their extraordinary shades. In addition, the flowering period of this culture begins in mid-summer and ends in late autumn. Variegated buds are able to decorate any personal plot. It is worth noting that pompom dahlias reproduce not only by tubers, but also by seeds. Transplanting plants with roots is a rather laborious process. Using seeds as a planting material is much more convenient and simple.
How to get seeds
Pompom Dahlias are flowers that can please for a long time with their extraordinary flowering. The easiest way to get planting material is to purchase seeds in a specialized store. But if you wish, you can grow them yourself. If you look closely at the buds of pollinated dahlia, you can see the seeds of a light green hue. As they mature, their color changes and becomes dark beige. In shape, dahlia seeds resemble a small cone. If the box is completely dry, and the scales gradually peel off, then it's time to collect the planting material.
Features of obtaining seeds
Growing pompom dahlias from seeds, it is worth considering that the fruits of the plant ripen in late autumn. During this period, air humidity rises and the rainy season begins. So that the planting material does not begin to rot and does not ripen, you should cover the boxes with waterproof material. If frost has begun, then flowering plants are recommended to be cut and put in a jar filled with water. Seeds can ripen at room temperature for 14 days.
After full ripening, seed boxes should be cut and then carefully opened. Varieties of pompom dahlias may vary in color. However, in each box, regardless of variety, there will certainly be at least 10 seeds. Such planting material can be stored for up to 4 years. In this case, it is recommended to create favorable conditions.
Preparation of soil for seedlings
The first step in growing pom-pom dahlias from seeds is soil preparation. Germination of seedlings requires a certain soil. It is recommended to prepare it in the fall. The soil for pompom dahlias should include humus, sand and turf. Components should be taken in equal proportions. Mixed soil components should be sieved, while removing large lumps and stones.
So that seedlings are not affected by diseases and pests, it is necessary to warm the soil at a sufficiently high temperature, and then treat it with a potassium permanganate solution.
How to plant seeds
Growing pompom dahlias is not particularly difficult. When the soil is prepared, you can start planting seeds. Soil for a start should be moistened. After that, seeds are planted in the soil to a depth of not more than 2 centimeters. In this case, it is worth leaving the distance between the holes. It should be approximately 3 centimeters. At the end, containers with planted seeds should be placed in a room where the air temperature is from 23 to 25 ° C. It is recommended to cover boxes with planting material with a transparent plastic film, as well as provide good lighting.
Seed germination
From seeds you can grow perennial and annual pompom dahlias. The main thing is to follow all the rules. 7 days after sowing the seeds, you can notice the first sprouts. At this stage, remove the plastic film from the boxes and transfer them to a room with good lighting. Otherwise, the seedlings will begin to stretch very much.
If you grow annuals, then sowing seeds should be in early April. If you plan to breed your favorite variety in the future tubers, then planting material should be planted in March. This will allow you to get plants in the fall with a strong and well-developed root system.
When the first shoots appear, it is worth providing the seedlings with sufficient moisture and ventilation. It should be noted that water should not stagnate in the soil. Otherwise, the risk of infection of plants with various diseases increases. It is best to moisten the soil with a spray gun without eroding the top layer.
How to dive seedlings
Pompom Dahlias require quality care. When 3 leaves appear on the bores, they must be dived. For each plant, it is worth preparing a separate pot filled with soil, which was prepared in the fall. It is recommended to make a hole in the bottom of each container through which excess moisture will go. Soil for planting should be loose and loose.
Pompom dahlia seedlings should be planted in pre-prepared containers. To do this, it is worth digging out seedlings from a common box with a small lump of earth and place in a glass with soil. The plant should be deepened to the level of cotyledons. Sprouts after transplanting must be moistened. To do this, use a spray gun. Subsequent watering of seedlings should be carried out only after the top layer of soil has dried.
Preparation before planting in open ground
In the second decade of the last month of spring, pompom dahlias should be transplanted into the open ground. By this time, the seedlings will become stronger. However, you should not hurry with the landing. You should wait for the final warming, since spring frosts can greatly harm young plants.
Before planting in open ground, dahlias should be hardened. So the plants take root much faster. Starting from the first days of May, containers with seedlings should be taken out to fresh air. Initially, the duration of such a procedure should be no more than 5 minutes. Every day, the stay of seedlings in the fresh air should be increased. At the same time, the air temperature in the room where the seedlings were grown should be gradually reduced.
Choose the right place
A mixture of colors of pompom dahlias will delight you for a long time, if you choose the right place for planting seedlings. A flower bed with such flowers should be located in an open, sufficiently lit area. In this case, the soil should be well drained. It is worth considering that pompom dahlias do not tolerate cold air and drafts, as well as dark places. If plants are planted in a shaded area, then they will begin to stretch very much. Because of this, the stems will become thin and weak, and the buds may not appear at all.
In addition, the soil should not stagnate. Therefore, it is worth choosing a site with loose soil. A flower bed is best placed on a small hill. This will protect the plants from early frosts. In this case, moisture will not accumulate near the dahlia root system.
It is worth noting that such plants are not particularly whimsical to the composition of the soil. However, the soil must be fertile and loose. Soil with a slightly acidic or neutral composition is ideal. In the autumn period, it is recommended to introduce fertilizer into the soil where the flower bed will be placed. Manure, compost or humus are ideal.
Planting seedlings
Growing from the seeds of pompom dahlias has its own characteristics. Seedlings of these plants should be planted in open ground in late spring or early summer. By this time, the soil will warm up enough. It is worth noting that dahlias are unpretentious. They tolerate transplantation well.
The bed is recommended to be prepared in advance. A little ash and humus should be added to each well. During the transplant, it is recommended to carefully remove the seedlings from the pots so as not to damage the root system. Otherwise, the plants will be very sick.
The distance between the holes should be about 20 centimeters. After planting the seedlings, it is recommended to lightly water and then mulch the soil around the seedlings.
Growing from the seeds of pompom dahlias: we highlight the main
Planting seedlings in open ground has its own characteristics. It is worth considering:
- If seedlings were grown in containers made of clay or plastic, then they must be abundantly watered with water at room temperature about two hours before transplanting.
- Glasses made of paper or pressed peat can be buried in the ground along with the root system of plants.
- A flower bed with dahlias is best placed in a place protected from strong and cold winds.
- The soil should be prepared in the fall, digging it and making the necessary fertilizers.
- Planting seedlings is recommended in pre-prepared wells. The distance between them should be from 20 to 30 centimeters. This indicator depends on the height of the plants. The higher it is, the greater the distance between the holes should be.
- Pits for seedlings should be seasoned with ash and compost. Fertilizer must be mixed with soil in advance.
- Watering the planted seedlings is worth a small amount of water at room temperature. The soil around the dahlia is recommended to be loosened regularly.
Mulching and watering
A mixture of pompom dahlias with other varieties will make the flowerbed more original. She is able to please the eye for a long time. The variety of colors is simply impressive. There are special varieties that have been glorified by many writers - black dahlias. So that the plants grow well and produce buds, proper care is required.
Mulching of areas where dahlias are planted is mandatory. This will simplify the care of plants, as there will be no need for regular weeding and loosening of the soil. In addition, mulching protects seedlings from slugs. After mulching, the soil retains moisture longer. This is true during periods of drought.
As for watering, it is recommended to moisten the soil up to two times during the week. Provided that there is no rain. However, moisture should not stagnate near the roots, as tubers of pompom dahlias are prone to decay. If the drought period has come, then hilling will help keep the soil moist. This should be done after watering.
What fertilizers and how to apply
Photos of pompom dahlias turn out beautiful and unusual. Outwardly, such flowers resemble neat balls of bright colors. In order for the plants to bloom well, it is necessary to properly feed them. Fertilizing is recommended every 14 days. It is recommended to alternate organic additives with minerals. To feed dahlias, you can use:
- 15 grams of ammonium nitrate per 1 cubic meter of water;
- mullein infused with water, in proportions of 1 to 10, respectively;
- infusion of bird droppings in a ratio of 1 to 20 parts of water.
When the first kidneys appear, it is worth using potassium supplements and superphosphate. To prepare the solution, 30 grams of the substance per bucket of water is required. This amount is enough to feed 8 dahlia bushes.
Do not forget about support
Pompom dahlias, like most other varieties, have a hollow stem. With heavy rain and wind, such plants break easily. It is for this reason that dahlias should be tied, fixing with threads to the supporting pegs.
If the stem could not stand and broke, then it is recommended to apply a splint. To do this, attach a strong branch to the stem, fix it and support the plant. Otherwise, it will tend to the side. Attentiveness and timely care will save even broken branches.
Do I need to crop
Pompom dahlias should be trimmed only if you are not interested in the quantity, but the quality of the buds on the bushes. Do not leave more than three shoots on the seedlings. Otherwise, the buds will be too small and not so beautiful. At the same time, it is worthwhile to carefully examine the peduncles. On each of them it is recommended to leave only two buds. In this case, timely care of the bushes is important. Faded buds should be removed immediately. Otherwise, they will delay the growth and formation of new ones.
Throughout the season, it is worth removing the side shoots. In high varieties of dahlias, they can be used as cuttings. As for undersized plants, then their lateral shoots can not be removed. By the way, the latter include most of the pompom dahlias.
Pests
Dahlias are plants that attract many pests. The stems of these flowers most often suffer from attacks of slugs, and the buds of earwigs. Therefore, during the period of activity of these insects, it is recommended to process plants. It is necessary to carry out such procedures in the evening. For processing bushes, you can use a decoction of celandine or wormwood.
During periods of drought, it is recommended to spray the plants with systemic insecticides. They protect dahlias from attack by caterpillars, ticks, aphids and thrips. In some cases, grandfather pest control methods may come in handy. It is worth noting that dahlias really like aphids. To eliminate it, you can treat the seedlings with soapy water. All decoctions and products should be at room temperature. Do not use infusions of herbs in a hot form.