Dahlia cutting advice - give up or not

[Weepingwillows12]

I grew dahlias from tubers for the first time this year. I read that you need to pinch out the stems to encourage more shoots but can pot up the cuttings and get more dahlias.

I tried it so planted 4 cuttings with a bit of root gel about a month ago now. They looked quite wilted initially but then picked up and no leaves have died but they havent grown or if they have, then not much.

I tried to pot one on today and there were no roots still. Do I keep persevering or give up? Why do they look so healthy with no roots?

What did I do wrong?

Thanks!

Funny, I’ve just done mine today but I saw this last year so I’ve planted with a bit of the tuber. I’m keeping my fingers crossed because I took seeds from it last year and something has eaten all my seedlings.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=QQDy0pNvPXE#

I think I will try tuber cuttings next year too. I just dont want to throw them away if I might still get something from them. Have a spot in the garden earmarked for them.

Why do they look so healthy with no roots? Because they're still taking in water through the end of the cut stem in the same way as a cut flower.

Cuttings in general can take a lot longer than a month to root. My general technique - insert cutting in most compost with a bit of sand or grit added to improve drainage. Enclose the whole thing, pot and cuttings, in a plastic bag to cut down water loss. Do not disturb, except to check the compost is still moist and to remove any cutting that have rotted. When roots start to appear out of the base of the pot, open the top of the plastic bag and over a view days get the cutting used to a drier atmosphere, then pot up.

Thank you. Will give that a try and see if it change anything. If not,I will try again next year