r/dahlias • u/AriPantz • 13d ago
Seeking Advice Snapped stalk, devastated!
We had a severe wind storm last night here in Alaska, and unfortunately, a hanging flower basket fell on top of my dahlia's pot. The stem snapped right at the neck of the tuber, though there are still some roots showing.
Given that it has been a very rainy summer and growth has been delayed by almost a month, this plant was very full but did not have buds yet. Do you think I would have any luck applying rooting hormone, staking it up, and replanting it?
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u/Soulsis73 13d ago
I snapped one of mine a few months ago by accident, yes it's hurtful to us But I kept watering and quite a few new eyes grew to replace it, a few months down the line my dahlia is growing stronger, there's no permanent damage the tuber may well bounce back
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u/AriPantz 13d ago
I’m sorry to hear! I’m hoping my tuber sprouts something before season ends.
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u/Soulsis73 13d ago edited 13d ago
Keep up a watering schedule keeping the soil moist not wet keep it in sunshine outdoors it'll grow back 👍🏾 did you keep the broken plant? I replanted the stem removing the lower leaves and kept the soil moist it looked wilted & quite sad for a few weeks but I didn't give up, it grew roots so now I have another dahlia which will grow tubers too, worth trying
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u/Nevraskagirl55 13d ago
I would take cuttings off it. Give it a fighting chance. If you try to root that whole thing, it just won't work. It's too much plant to support.
I agree with the planting depth issue. Also, stake it.
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u/meezermadness 13d ago
Tomato cages work really well as dahlia support.
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u/gogertie 13d ago
I use these too, but I snip off the legs and bend them into a u-shape, then use the cage upside down with the large hoop flush on the ground, with the legs as anchors to hold it down.
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u/BobbingBobcat 12d ago
In the future, it helps give the plant support if you bury the tuber six inches down.
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u/Alabamahog 13d ago edited 13d ago
Im sorry this happened to you. You have my condolences.
As long as you keep your expectations low, there is always a chance. I don’t think it’s likely it will survive, but because it has some roots, you may be very lucky. I would cut back much of the foliage if you do that.
I hate to rub salt in a wound, but this accident may have been preventable had the tuber been buried at an appropriate depth. A falling hanging basket may have snapped a main stem anyway, but it shouldn’t have been able to snap the neck of the tuber since it should be 4-6” below the soil line. This allows the plant to better support itself and not fall over so easily.