Taking Dahlia Cuttings

blown_dry · 2023-02-04T23:34:14+00:00

Continuing from https://cubits.org/Dahlias/thread/view/92091/#end_of_thread

Teddahlia

"I assume that some varieties are more susceptible to rot than others." The same varieties that have a propensity to rot in storage may well have a higher incidence of rot when taking cuttings. I take lots of cuttings every year and have my sanitizing protocol that is chlorine household bleach to sanitize the pots an flats used for propagation. The ancient garbage can I used to soak the material sprung a leak and I substituted a smaller container and then got lazy and did not add the bleach for the last batches. Water is not good enough. I lost 14% of a batch to "black leg" as the Brits call it. Generally, besides being varieties that rot in storage the smaller cuttings were the victims. I have noticed there is an ideal size for cuttings as judged by rooting quickly and well. 4 to 8 inches is my ideal. I take lots of 2-3 inch cuttings as I am impatient and they do root but more slowly and with a higher failure rate. They were the ones that rotted in that batch.
By the way, my overall average for success is about 95-96% and losses are generally the smaller cuttings and white cuttings and seldom the 4-6 inch cuttings. I take a few leaf cuttings but they take way too long to mature.And I do not use any rooting chemicals.

LoveLanguageDahlias

Teddahlia Thank you, Ted, for so much helpful information!! I'm also experimenting with some white cuttings, more light green, really...I'll see how they do, but I got some late season sale tubers and many had sprouts too nice to compost.
Cuttings taken 4/10...

MissyWeitzel

I take loads of dahlia cuttings indoors each winter, but find it way more difficult to root cuttings off plants growing outside. My failure rate is embarrassing. A couple growers suggested I try rooting in wet course vermiculite and keeping them outside in the shade rather than bringing back inside under grow lights. I'm curious to know if any of you have other methods that work well for you for those? I want to try a few ways but not cubes. I've already had a few painful losses this season and I want to make backups for my backups on some if possible!

SteveM

MissyWeitzel On outside plants I have the best luck taking the cutting material from the skinny laterals growing low on the plant rather than the thicker (sometimes hollow) laterals on the upper part of the plant.

Also, I find it extremely difficult to root cuttings from outside plants late in the Fall when day-lengths are short. The cuttings callus over and try to make small tubers instead of roots, even when rooted under long-day lighting. My best results from field grown plants are from mid-season cuttings rooted under long-day lighting (16+ hours). I can't think of any reason to change rooting mediums if you have one that works well for you in the winter

MissyWeitzel

SteveM I will try some of the skinny laterals. Thank you!

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