Leggy Unwin's Dwarf Dahlias Ended Indoors with One Outdoor Survivor
Grow log by Sher · Original thread
What you can learnA detailed early-termination case showing the combined effects of spacing, root entanglement, nutrient excess, light distance, topping, and outdoor rescue.
Useful practices
- spacing plants every other pod
- removing crisp basal leaves
- reservoir replacement
- root trimming
- topping the tallest plant
- moving one survivor outdoors
Problems encountered
- excess nutrient leaf crisping
- roots tightly meshed
- uneven sprawling growth
- severe legginess from an excessively high light
*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.
Lovely!
Update #5
Actions taken
Okay... taking a deep breath here. In the past I have burned the top of plants by keeping them too close to the Bounty's light. So I started over-compensating by keeping the lights way too high. In this case, the dahlias have gotten way too leggy. Some of the leaf nodes are inches apart. I moved the lights closer this morning, but it's too late for it ever to look like it should. So instead of watching a bunch of scraggly, disappointing dahlias grow, I have decided to terminate this project. I will be much happier watching some other compact, healthy plants grow. I am learning. Very slowly!
Are you sure you do not want to wait and see? But if you do terminate I can understand as I too end things if I do not like the way they are going LOL. But again the fun of AG'ing is that we can do it and have things growing that we want ALL YEAR long!
Yes, I'm sure. I am going to try to root a couple of pepper cuttings. If they take, I will put one in the Bounty. I like the idea of food growing in the Bounty, and short flowers in the Harvest better anyway. But I was so enamored by Corinne's dahlias, I wanted to try it. I'll grow them outdoors instead.
I really don;t care for Ferry Morse seeds. These are described as growing up to 20" tall ., and AG projects ALWAYS grow taller than the package says which is written for soil growing. The one I had in my project required a tall machine, yes, BUT I recommended the Parkseed Figaro which only grew to 12- 14" in the description. It Bloomed in 2 months and produced endless blooms outdoors with the ones I started outside. Only thing...if you are allergic to pollen, these have 'flying' pollen which will blow through the air abundantly in a room. Anyway... these are the Parks, and I think I will order some more right now for outside! parkseed.com/figaro-mix-dahlia-seeds/p/00664-PK-P1/ I am so sorry you are ending this project. Please consider buying from ParkSeed it is well worth paying a few more bucks! But when my seeds arrive, I would be willing to send you enough to give the Bounty another go if you'd like Sher. Just pm me your postal address(I delete the addresses from the members after I send the shared seeds)
Those dahlias are gorgeous! And I agree with you about Ferry Morse seeds. I have not been happy with anything I have grown from them. And I am horribly allergic to pollen. I really appreciate your offer of seeds, but I do plan to just grow shorter flowers in the Harvests for a while. I bought some nano scarlet geranium seeds from Park Seed. In fact, I got their last pack! I didn't get a smooth paint job on the new 360 deck due to flying dog hair. I am going to sand it and repaint it when my new paint arrives Wednesday, then I will put the nano geraniums in it. Thanks again for the seed offer. That warmed my heart!
Update #4
Actions taken
Unless others think this is a good idea please do not follow me... I usually cut them apart. Squeeze together to get them carefully out. So far I have been lucky and they stayed alive. I actually had to do that with my Marigold project last night.
I agrere with Shawn. I discovered last year that cutting roots does no harm. At first I was afraid, but now I do it in a heartbeat.
Thanks Shawn and Corinne. I will do that today!
Update #3
Actions taken
Looking healthy!
Update #2
Actions taken
Can't wait to see them.
Update #1
Actions taken
I wish you a bountiful garden full of flowers.
Thank you for the good wishes. Shawn! I was so excited about posting my new project that I forgot to put it in my garden patch! Sorry! I am REALLY excited about this one!
I will move it for you
You are so good to us! Thanks for your patience!
My pleasure