Imposter??

jistjul

Hi Y'all,
I am wondering if anyone has heard of a Czarny imposter? Another grower mentioned to me that my Czarny looked like "the imposter" Czarny. When I compare my pictures to others, I have to wonder if she was right. My blooms are about 3 inches across, the plant is quite short, maximum 3 feet. The color seems right, I am just not sure of the form. I would love to hear from experienced growers what you think?

SteveM

jistjul Nice photos! I have never grown Czarny but, from what I have read and photos I have seen from reputable growers, your photos and descriptions match exactly. I think it is the correct Czarny.
Another thing I remember reading is that Czarny tubers are difficult to store over the winter. Did you have success with cuttings? If so, I would take cuttings now to overwinter plants. It would be a shame to lose such an unusual dahlia, it seems to be difficult to find.

jistjul

SteveM Thanks for the heads-up! I bought it as a rooted cutting, so I haven't taken cuttings from tubers yet. I haven't taken cuttings from growing plants before - sounds intriguing! Well, except when I pinch them. For whatever reason I didn't save the cutting when I pinched him. Does taking a cutting from him look the same as pinching?

SteveM

jistjul I haven't taken cuttings from growing plants before

I seem to remember you had great success rooting cuttings last Winter? If so, and if you have a setup to do Winter cuttings, you might enjoy rooting cuttings taken from Czarny laterals now. The laterals you take should be clean (free of any obvious mildew) and free of insects. Skinny laterals (from low on the plant) root the easiest. Hollow stems are difficult to root so use solid lateral and cut about 1/4" below a node. I like 4-6" lateral material and use it almost exclusively for my Winter cuttings.
as Ted mentioned, it is not worth the effort to save cuttings that have developed mildew so I would toss any cuttings that show any signs of mildew.
Also, if you do take cuttings from outdoor plants don't wait much longer because mother plants grown under short days (late Fall cuttings) are extremely difficult to root.

Teddahlia

There is only one set of DNA in a plant and it is in every part of of the plant. So if you can grow a plant from the part of the plant you collected, it can only be the same plant. Fall cuttings are not worth the effort. They need too much care for too many months. Success rates are very low to as disease or insects kill plants. I did it once and was able to keep one of three cuttings to plant in the Spring. It was a first year seedling that had made no tubers. Yes, it grew during the winter but was so diseased with powdery mildew that it was barely alive. I planted it into the garden and sprayed and sprayed and got it somewhat healthy and it finally bloomed. In the previous Fall it was a magnificent flower and a beauty to behold. The flower blooming the next year was "just a flower" and I had totally overestimated how good it was. I had on "rose colored glasses" when I had looked at it. Reality set in the next year. All that work and nothing to show for it.

jistjul

SteveM Yes! I did have great success with rooted cuttings from a Tuber, and also with those initial pinches. My whole garden had a severe case of powdery mildew at the end of the season that I just could not keep at bay. So no cuttings this year, will have to baby those tubers in my food fridge, and check them every day! I may try some laterals next spring! Thanks for the tips!

Teddahlia

On the new Dahlia propagation site on Facebook , a Dutch grower showed pictures of the 825,000- cuttings he takes every year. It will take you about 5 years to open up each of the 825,000- pictures. 😘🙃😝

Yes, the 825,000- was correct but there are no individual pictures.

jistjul

@SteveM - Welp. That's not going to happen. I dug it up this evening, and that gorgeous, healthy plant made absolutely ZERO tubers. Good news is - no diseases! LOL. Fortunately, I found some more for next year already. I ordered 2 and I think I will try taking tons of cuttings early and if any make tubers, make one of them a pot tuber for taking cuttings from to keep this poor producer alive. It made tons of gorgeous blooms, and I really want them for bouquets next year.