Dahlias in Doors!

I planted up my dahlia tubers 2-3 weeks ago and most are up and running!!

There’s lots of shoots popping through though so some are looking bushy! Is this ok? Should I leave them alone or perhaps cut back all but 2 or 3 main shoots to encourage better form?

Thanks

 

No, leave them be Kriss

 

Hi @kriss , leave all the shoots on but once they have grown 3 or 4 pairs of leaves pinch the growing tips out so they make side shoots ( and therefore bushier plants and more flowers ).

Also, the growing tips can be used as cuttings therefore increasing your stock.

 

Some are growing tall and slender, others bushier which I can recall them being like last year.

Er.... where do I start with pinching them out?!

 

Ah yes Kriss! Some are leggy aren’t they? Warm and well watered I guess! Mine are all in a cold gh or outside so not as advanced as yours are

Not crucial where you pinch back but all stems can be pinched back at least half way to just above a pair of leaves. You can use the cut off shoots as cuttings if you wish.....a simple free rooting compost (with added perlite or grit) in a polythene bag cover will do the trick
If you have large clumsy hands like me you can use a pair of sharp scissors or sharp knife instead of pinching between finger and thumb

 

Are the bushy ones bushy because those were the more mature tubers? Could I have divided them?

 

Different varieties really Kriss .....dahlias can be tall, short, vigorous or slow growing. I have them here at over 2 metres tall and some just over half a metre. Some I divide every year and these make huge clumps of tubers.
Nothing really you can do to affect their dna !!
Do you have labels depicting varieties? These labels will advise you as to their expected size and vigour If not, you will learn this year which are the vigorous types etc and you can then plant accordingly next year