Dahlias are stars of the summer, so enjoy them while you can. Can't believe it's almost July! Here are some tips on taking care of dahlias as cut flowers, courtesy of Alan Fisher of the American Dahlia Society dahlia.org.
Photo courtesy of the American Dahlia Society
1. Dahlias need a lot of water to support their many petals.
2. Their stems are hollow and will clog if there is a lack of fresh water or if the water contains bacteria. So make sure you use a clean vase without any residue.
3. To sterilize the vase, use a bottle brush and soap, rinse it clean and dry it upside down. You may also want to disinfect it using a solution that is 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.
4. Cut-flower food will help the dahlias last. They typically look good for 4-5 days.
5. If you are using a solution of water and food, change it every two days.
6. If the vase contains just plain water, change the water every day. Cut about an inch off the stems of the dahlias before reinserting. You can also take the end of a sharp knife and put a tiny hole into the stem, just under the water line. This will let air out and force the water to go higher.
Flower Fact of the Day: The Chicago Flower & Garden Show will be back on Navy Pier next March 7-15. The show was held on the pier for 10 years before moving to Rosemont for the past two years. Read more at: chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-flower-show-returns-bothjun27,0,3955648.story.
