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Often, owners of country houses grow dahlias to decorate their plots. This genus of flowering plants includes V There are 42 species and more than 15,000 different varieties. All the colors of nature can be seen on the buds of these beautiful representatives of the flora. Depending on the variety, dahlias can be annual or perennial. Perennial plants, native to Mexico, are thermophilic and cannot always successfully survive wintering in domestic climatic conditions. That is why, having decided grow perennials flowers on your site, you need to know how to store dahlias in winterso that with the arrival of the new season they will again please with their beauty of lush buds.
Features of the dahlia root system
Dahlias have a rather complex root system. It consists of thickened roots, which are called storage tubers, and thin roots, which supply nutrients to these same tubers. Tubers increase in volume during the period of plant growth, accumulating the necessary nutrients, and during winter storage they retain their viability. Each thickened tuber can live for 3-4 years.At the same time, less saturated tubers and thin roots die during winter storage.
The roots of heat-loving dahlias are dug up for the winter and stored in favorable conditions until spring. However, it is necessary to understand that the growth bud of new shoots of the next season is not on the roots themselves, but in the lower part of the shoots of last year, therefore, when pruning the bush in the fall, it is necessary to leave a small shoot of the stems.
How to prepare tubers for storage
Different varieties of dahlias can delight you with the beauty of their flowers in spring, summer or autumn. However, the lush green mass of the plant always loses its elasticity and aesthetics with the arrival of the first frost. The leaves become black and withered. It is at this time, without waiting for severe frosts, that it is necessary to dig up the roots of dahlias for subsequent storage.
It is necessary to remove dahlia roots from the flowerbed when the air temperature is above zero. You should first cut off the bush of the plant, leaving 10-15 cm of shoots. The digging procedure must be carried out especially carefully so as not to damage the fragile dahlia tubers. To do this, first dig up the root neck, then the tubers themselves around the perimeter, at a distance of 20-30 cm from the neck.
In the fall, before storing for storage, the dahlia roots are divided. Next year it will be possible to get a flowering bush from a part that consists of at least one tuber and a shoot with a growth bud. After divisions Dahlia roots are inspected for damage and putrefactive spots. All suspicious areas on the surface of the tubers must be removed.The upper part of the remaining stem up to the growth bud and thin roots are also removed.
Before storing, dahlia roots must be treated with a manganese solution or fungicide (Maxim, Fundazol). To do this, the tubers are washed with clean water and dipped, for example, in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes. After processing, they are thoroughly dried. The recommended drying temperature is 150C, duration from 2 to 10 hours.
Optimal storage conditions
In order to understand how to properly store dahlias in winter, you need to familiarize yourself with the conditions under which the roots will retain their viability. So, to store dahlias in winter, it is necessary to determine a place where there will be a consistently cool temperature within +3...+70C. The humidity level should not exceed 60-70%. In private homes, such conditions can be created in the cellar or basement. To store dahlia tubers in the apartment, you can adapt an insulated balcony.
To preserve them, dahlia tubers are placed in bags, boxes or other containers during winter storage. Additionally, the tubers are sprinkled with non-hygroscopic material, such as sand. The most commonly used methods for storing dahlia roots are described in detail below.
Storage methods
Storage dahlias after digging is not a troublesome task if the preparation of the tubers was carried out correctly. Dry roots, disinfected with an antiseptic agent, are well stored in conditions with low temperature and humidity.Fluctuations in temperature can cause premature germination of buds, which will lead to death or deterioration in the quality of planting material. It is also important to remember that only ripened tubers can be stored. If you dig up the roots before frost arrives, their shelf life will be low.
In private homes it is not difficult to find a place to store dahlias. As a rule, in the cellar you can find a secluded corner with the required temperature and humidity. In this case, you can simply put the roots in a cardboard or wooden container, and with the arrival of spring, take the container out of the cellar and plant the roots in the ground. If there are no such conditions, then it is necessary to ensure that there is filler in the containers, which will protect the tubers from low temperatures and humidity fluctuations. You can learn about using the most affordable methods for storing roots below.
In sand
Many country house owners prefer to store dahlia bulbs in sand. This material does not absorb moisture and does not deplete the tubers. To store tubers, containers are filled with sand. These can be plastic or wooden boxes, buckets with a volume of 20 liters. Dahlia tubers are placed in sand in one or several rows. The storage container is covered with burlap and lowered into the cellar or basement. In an apartment, it can be placed in a cold corridor or, for example, at the balcony door.
During storage, you can periodically check the condition of the roots. In this case, under no circumstances should the sand be moistened, as this can lead to rotting of the roots. The peculiarity of this storage method is the early awakening of the tubers. To prevent premature germination, it is necessary to reduce the storage temperature strictly to +30WITH.
In the peat
Peat can also be used for winter storage of dahlia tubers. To do this, sprinkle a layer of peat on the bottom of the box and place dahlia roots on it. Another layer of peat is scattered on top of the tubers. Such boxes can only be stored in a cellar or basement, where there is no access to light and sudden temperature fluctuations.
In the sawdust
You can save dahlia tubers until spring in sawdust. The only requirement for such a filler is the size of the segments. It is better to use coniferous wood shavings for storage. It will not absorb moisture from the environment and the roots themselves. Pour sawdust into a wooden or plastic container with air access. The use of sealed plastic bags to preserve roots is not at all acceptable, since the lack of ventilation will lead to their rotting.
In paraffin
For some residents of apartment buildings, the issue of storing dahlias indoors is particularly acute. For them, there is the most labor-intensive but effective way to store dahlia roots, which uses paraffin.
The main advantage of paraffin is its tightness. It prevents the roots from absorbing moisture and evaporating it. As a result of using such material, the tubers do not dry out or rot. Pathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses do not develop under the paraffin layer.
You can “pack” dahlia tubers in paraffin as follows:
- The candles or paraffin are ground into shavings (you can grate them on a coarse grater) and then poured into a container with a little water at the bottom.
- The container with paraffin is placed in a water bath for melting. The result should be a layer of viscous liquid of 2-5 cm.
- It is necessary to immerse the roots in paraffin for just a few seconds. Taking them out of the container, you will be able to see a paraffin film that will protect the tubers from external factors during winter storage.
Tubers in paraffin can be placed in boxes, buckets or bags, and wrapped in film. The peculiarity of this storage method is the premature germination of tubers. Therefore, it is recommended to use the method for early varieties.
An example of how to preserve dahlias in winter using paraffin is well described in the video:
Vermiculite for storing tubers
Vermiculite is a natural material that is not hygroscopic and can replace paraffin in its properties. To store dahlia tubers, it is recommended to use coarse vermiculite. You can find it at a farm store. A layer of vermiculite is poured into an airtight container and the tubers are laid on top of it, sprinkled with another layer on top. So, fill the entire container and cover it with film or an airtight lid.
Conclusion
Regardless of the filler, containers with roots should be placed in a cool, dark place with the recommended level of humidity. Otherwise, the roots will dry out or, conversely, germinate prematurely. If in a private house the storage issue can be solved quite simply by placing containers in the cellar, basement or, in extreme cases, in a cold corridor, then in an apartment this can become a real problem. Of course, the boxes can be installed on the balcony, but there will always be a possibility of them freezing.To prevent freezing, containers are brought into the room, placed near the balcony or entrance door (in the coolest place). Such temperature fluctuations will affect the quality of the roots. A paraffin shell and a thermal insulation cover can smooth out the negative impact. As a last resort, storing dahlias in an apartment can be done in the refrigerator, although it is unlikely that you will be able to put a large number of tubers in the refrigerator.
