The dahlia is a well-loved flower the world over, mainly for its large blooms and wide range of colors from pink to white. They also vary greatly in size and shape, meaning everyone can find a dahlia perfect for their taste. It’s a mainstay as the centerpiece of many floral arrangements for celebrations and special events, especially weddings. However, these blooms can be temperamental flowers, sensitive to changes in its environment, which can show in their short vase life of up to four or five days for some varieties.
Cleanliness is Key
The vase - and anything else that comes into contact with the dahlias - should be regularly kept clean. Cleaned shears are important too to prevent any contamination, especially if you’re using kitchen scissors instead of specialized shears for flowers.
Warm and Clean Water
Using warm water when filling up the vase is ideal. Placing them in warm water and letting it come to room temperature maximizes their vase life and helps the dahlia hydrate faster by allowing for better water flow through the stem. Water should be replaced daily and filled up to three-quarters full as the flowers absorb the water since dirty water is one of the main reasons for a flower’s accelerated wilting process.
Don’t Forget to Trim
Another must-do is to cut the dahlia stems and remove any leaves and buds that will be submerged in the water. Leaving them can cause the rotting leaves to become a source of bacterial growth, so it’s important that pruning is done regularly. Stem cutting must be done every two to three days as well at a 45-degree angle to prevent premature wilting.
Low pH is Good for Dahlias
Investing in watering your cut flowers with acidic water is also useful, as the lower pH of acidic water can help the flower’s tissue absorb water. You can use citric acid, an organic acid readily available in supermarkets, to acidify your water.
Keep it Cool
Make sure that your floral arrangement is in a cool area well out of direct sunlight; dahlias are prone to wilting in these environments. This doesn’t apply only to direct sunlight, but to proximity to hot appliances, gusts of air from fans or open windows, and other harsh conditions.
Give Them Support
Other than care, ensuring a supportive arrangement is key to dahlia care. Stakes are used to stabilize individual flowers so they may stand up straight; flower frogs are also tools for keeping even the trickiest flower arrangements in place. These can be very important depending on what kind of dahlias are present in your flower arrangement. Dinnerplate dahlias (the largest dahlia classification), a dahlia variety with huge flowerheads that can grow up to over a foot wide, are particularly prone to drooping. Their stems are often unable to support the flowerheads for long.
Prioritize Placement
When using mixed flowers along with dahlias, place the flowers with shorter lifespans closer to the top of the arrangement where they'll be replaced more frequently.
Complementary Blooms
Consider pairing dahlias with flowers that have similar care requirements, such as hydrangeas, roses, or lilies.
Despite their fleeting nature, dahlias are more than worth it. Keeping them taken care of is necessary to keep them the star of the show. Meticulous care helps maintain your dahlia flower arrangement’s longevity and good condition, keeping their colors vivid and their petals robust past their usual vase life.
Surprise and delight your loved ones with a floral masterpiece that continues to impress
Surprise loved ones with a breathtaking bouquet featuring these captivating flowers. Orchid Republic Floral Boutique makes it effortless to send a surprise filled with joy and lasting beauty with our same day flower delivery in LA and the OC. Our expert florists carefully curate arrangements that showcase the splendor of dahlias, creating a truly unforgettable gift.
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