Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Prepare Dahlias for Show
How to Prepare Dahlias for Show. Dahlias (Dahlia x hybrida) are single stem disbuds, meaning exhibition requires only a single flower at the tip of a stem. Judges rate dahlias in categories such as color, condition, cultural perfection and form. Issues such as Insect or disease damage, immaturity, over maturity, dull color, no foliage, weak stems...
Dahlias (Dahlia x hybrida) are single stem disbuds, meaning exhibition requires only a single flower at the tip of a stem. Judges rate dahlias in categories such as color, condition, cultural perfection and form. Issues such as Insect or disease damage, immaturity, over maturity, dull color, no foliage, weak stems and short stems may affect ratings. Select dahlias that have full blooms with a depth at least one-half the diameter of the flower and at least two leaves. To prepare dahlias for show, cut them a few days ahead. For example, cut dahlias on Wednesday for a Friday show.
Things You'll Need
Knife
Syringe
Select a developed flower with outer petals folding out and center petals tighter than the outer petals. Cut the stem several inches longer than necessary with a clean, sharp knife in the evening or early morning.
Pinch off any leaves from the lower part of the stem that would be in the water, leaving at least one pair of leaves on the stem.
Put the stem in water that is warm, about 100 to 110 degrees F. Keep the cut flowers in a cool location for 15 to 20 minutes, and store them a refrigerator at about 35 to 40 degrees F until the show.
Cut the stems under water about an hour before the show. Remove all soil and residue from the foliage, stems and flowers with a gentle spray of water from a syringe or faucet, carefully avoiding damaging the bloom.
Pinch off fading petals and damaged leaves.
Put the flower in a soft drink or narrow-necked bottle filled halfway with water to safely transport it. Set the bottle in a soft drink carton or surround it with newspapers or packing peanuts in a box. Wrap the bloom gently in tissue paper.
Label the flower with the plant name and variety after putting it in its display vase for the show. A simple container like a narrow-necked, clear vase works well for cut flowers.
Tips & Warnings
Remove young side shoots early in the season, as soon as they are visible; removing the side shoots helps the dahlia produce a single bloom.
Do not store flowers near fruits or vegetables because the ethylene gas released by the food will reduce vase life.
If the outer petals shrivel or fade, then the flower is over-mature and should not be used for show.
