There is a lot of confusion when it comes to watering Dahlias, way too many people tend to overwater their Dahlias which often leads to tuber rot. The most common reason why Dahlias tend to die is due to overwatering, these plants are really sensitive when it comes to excess water in the soil, especially if the soil is not draining fast enough like clay for example.
Young dahlia plants have lower water requirements compared to established ones. Once your dahlia plants reach a height of 8-12 inches, it is important to water them regularly and deeply. A general guideline is to provide 1 inch of water per week for your dahlias. During hot summer weather, when it is warm and dry, dahlias may require additional watering to compensate for the increased moisture loss.
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Most people tend to have a relatively strict watering schedule, although the needs of the plants will vary depending on where they are planted if they are in the soil or in pots, and on the local weather conditions. Dahlias will need more water if the days are hot and windy, and they will need a lot less water on rainy days. Dahlias will need some extra water if you have fertilized them and if they are flowering.
For example, Dinnerplate Dahlias will need a lot more water than Dahlias which have relatively small flowers, so the bigger the flowers are the more water the plants will need. No matter how often you water your Dahlias, make sure to water them from below. If you want to know the signs that you have overwatered your Dahlias then check out my recent article ( Top 5 ) Signs Of Overwatering Dahlias.
How Often To Water Dahlias?
The watering needs of dahlias can vary depending on factors such as weather, soil type, and stage of growth. As a general guideline, dahlias should be watered deeply once or twice a week, providing enough water to thoroughly saturate the root zone. It is important to strike a balance between keeping the soil evenly moist and avoiding overwatering. Monitor the moisture level of the soil by checking the top few inches with your finger. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to water.
During hot and dry periods, you may need to increase the frequency of watering. On the other hand, during periods of heavy rain or in cooler temperatures, you may need to reduce the frequency to prevent waterlogged soil. Remember to water at the base of the plants, avoiding wetting the foliage, as this can lead to fungal diseases.
How Much Water Do Dahlias Need?
Dahlias will need different amounts of water, depending on where they are growing, what kind of soil you have, and how large the plants actually are. My approach is to water them often but with less water, this way it is less likely that the plants will get stressed out. A lot of people will claim that Dahlias need a specific amount of water, but this is extremely hard to determine as everybody’s garden and climate are different.
You will have to experiment a bit, and sooner or later you will find the right amount of water that your Dahlias need in your specific climate, garden, and soil. Start by watering your Dahlias once every day with the same amount of water, the next day check if the topsoil is moist. If the topsoil is moist then wait another day until you water again, if the topsoil is dry then either increase the amount of water or water them every day.
In this case, you can either water your Dahlias just a couple of times per week with more water or water them once every day with less water. Remember that the main goal should be to give the plants enough water so they do not get stressed out. In addition to this watch how your Dahlias grow and adjust the watering accordingly, just keep in mind that wilting can occur both in case of overwatering and underwatering as well. If your Dahlia leaves are drooping it is not always a symptom of underwatering, for more information check out my recent article Dahlia Leaves Drooping ( Top 7 Reasons ).
How Often To Water Dahlias After Planting?
After planting, you do not have to water the Dahlias, in fact, you will do more harm than good if you water them. Dahlia tubers have plenty of stored water which they will use to sprout, and as the tubers do not have yet roots, they will not be able to absorb the water. Only water your Dahlias once they start sprouting, if the occasional rain comes before they sprout, just don’t worry about it. Under no circumstances water your Dahlias every day before they have sprouted as the tubers will rot.
How Often To Water Dahlias Planted In The Soil?
Dahlias planted directly into the soil will need less water than Dahlias in pots. How often you should water the Dahlias in your garden will mostly depend on how much moisture the soil holds. On hot and windy days the soil can dry out relatively quickly, on the other hand, if the soil is mulched then it will retain water a lot better. Put one of your fingers into the soil, if the top inch is dry then it is time to water the Dahlias.
If the top inch of the soil is dry almost every day then you should water your Dahlias every day, either in the evening or in the early morning. If you have mulched the soil around the Dahlias then you will notice that you can get away by watering them every second day. If you have several Dahlias in your garden then you should definitely use a drip watering system. Dahlia leaves can turn yellow if you are not watering them correctly, for more information check out my recent article Dahlia Leaves Turning Yellow ( Top 11 Reasons ).
How Often To Water Dahlias In Pots?
Potted Dahlias will need more water than the ones planted in the garden. Pots are really bad at retaining water, the smaller the pot the faster the water will evaporate. In addition to this, plastic and metal pots tend to absorb a lot of heat which turns them into small ovens that slowly cook the Dahlias. Potted Dahlias should be watered every day, provided that the topsoil is dry and the plant saucer is empty.
Large pots will dry out slower, oftentimes the plant saucer might still contain water but this doesn’t mean that the topsoil is not dry. In this case, put one of your fingers into the topsoil and if the top inch is dry then you have to water the Dahlias.
How Often To Water Dahlias In Partial Shade?
How often you should water your Dahlias if they are growing in partial shade depends on when they get exposed to the sun, morning, afternoon, or evening. If the Dahlias are getting morning sun, then you can get away by watering them once every two days. If the Dahlias are getting afternoon sun, then you will have to water them every day. If the Dahlias get evening sun then you can water them every other day. Just keep in mind to always check the moisture of the topsoil with your finger, if the top inch is dry then water, if not then skip that day.
How Often To Water Dahlias In Full Sun?
Dahlias tend to grow the best under full sun conditions, although this also means that they will need significantly more water than plants growing in partial shade. Generally speaking, Dahlias that are growing in full sun should be watered every day, although only if the top inch of the soil is dry. Dahlias growing in full sun will occasionally wilt, even if they got plenty of water, usually they will bounce back in the evening or the next day so don’t panic.
How Often To Water Dahlias On Hot Summer Days?
On hot summer days, you have to water your Dahlias every single day, you can get away with skipping a day, but skip several days in a row and the Dahlias will start to wilt. In this case, watering the Dahlias in the early morning would be ideal, although if you only have time to water them in the morning then that will have to do. Under no circumstances water the Dahlias in the middle of the day, it might cool off the plants temporarily but in the long run, it can stress them out.
How Often To Water Dahlias On Windy Days?
A lot of people fail to take into consideration how fast soil can dry out due to wind. Go out on any windy day, no matter if it is overcast or not, and test the soil moisture with your finger. On particularly windy days small cracks can appear in the soil, sooner or later these cracks become larger and the soil will turn into something similar to concrete. On windy days you should water your Dahlias every day, either in the evening or in the morning as the evaporation tends to be slower during these periods than in the afternoon.
How Often To Water Dahlias On Overcast Days?
On overcast days you should water your Dahlias every second or third day of the week. If the overcast days are also windy then you should check the moisture of the topsoil every day, stronger winds can dry out the soil even on overcast days. If the overcast days turn into rainy days then you can skip watering your Dahlias, but make sure to give them some water as soon as the topsoil is starting to dry out.
Key Takeaways
- Dahlias should be watered when the top inch of the soil is dry, this can mean watering every day with less water or watering them a couple of times per week with more water. Only water the Dahlias if the top inch of the soil is actually dry, if it is still moist and you water them then the Dahlia tubers might rot away. Try to avoid letting the soil around the Dahlias dry out completely as the growth of the plants will be stunted and the water will simply run off.
- It is better to water your Dahlias every day with small amounts of water than to water them once a week with a lot of water.
- Overwatering Dahlias is the main reason why they tend to die.