Dahlia wilting when placed outside

peterpies

First time growing Dahlias from tubers. I started them in pots, inside the house on window sills during March. They have grown well and have plenty of leaves.

When I place the pots outside, the plants start to wilt, then when bought back inside, recover. The outside temp is 16.

Is this wilting normal, I'm worried when I plant them outside they will die.

calico20hill

If you moved them into full sun it is too much for them. Move them to the shade until they quit wilting then gradually give them more sunshine.

peterpies

Yes, was full sun. Will try shade next time. Thanks.

Teddahlia

People worry too much about wilt. Dahlias react to a change in growing conditions by wilting a bit. and in day or two look fine. I am referring to a healthy plant, however. Rotten tubers cause wilt , whether inside or outside. Sometimes the rot can be cut off and the plant is saved.

SteveM

There is wilt and then there is WILT. about 10 years ago I was growing an early (Feb) crop of dahlias under a 3' tall plastic tunnel. One day the weather got hot so I removed the plastic to cool them down. The rapid change in humidity caused the plants to wilt so badly that they were laying on the ground. The next day the foliage was black and looked like they had gone through a hard frost. I ended up cutting them all back and started over.

On the other hand, I like to have my cuttings wilt (a little) for the first day after I place them in their oasis. They seem to root faster when they are stressed a little.