Bright and memorable dahlias are the favorites of many gardeners. These lush flowers are often used to decorate the infield. Many try to preserve the ripe harvest of tubers until the spring. In order not to face difficulties and avoid standard mistakes, it is important to know how to store dahlias correctly in winter. We offer time-tested ways of storing the roots of this flower.
When and how to properly dig dahlias for storage
In many forums about gardening beginner gardeners often ask various questions about the rules for storing dahlia tubers. We give one quote: "I bought dahlias in February, how to store them?" 
To get as soon as possible flowering bushes, plants begin to engage in early - in February and March. And it is common practice to dig and store tubers in regions with fairly harsh and unpredictable winters.
Digging of root crops is recommended to begin with the arrival of the first autumn frosts, when the leaves turn black from frost.
It is important not to delay with this procedure, otherwise low temperatures can ruin the leaves and shoots. As a result, rotten shoots spread to the root system.
Too early digging is also contraindicated: you risk getting fewer flowers next season, and the stored tubers will be worse. While the leaves are still green, the natural process of nourishing the roots is going on, and the buds are prepared for the next flowering. 
Before digging and storing dahlias for the winter, it is necessary to cut the stems. Pruning avoids accidental damage to the kidneys or roots.
To avoid damaging the root collar, leave a height of about 2 feet above the ground. 20 cm - this is quite enough. In order not to tear the neck of the flower and not to ruin it, do not put the shovel too close to the stalks, and also do not try to pull the bush by the stalks.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the varietal variety and peculiarities of growing an annual dahlia.To safely remove the tubers from the ground, dig under a bush with a shovel from all sides at a distance of about 30 cm, scrape the soil and carefully remove the tubers.
Further quality preparation of the roots for storage is considered the key to success. 
There are many options for storing dahlia tubers at home, but whatever method you choose, There are a number of mandatory preparatory operations.:
- Flushing Dust shrub from the ground. Then, rinse the tubers off the ground with plenty of water.
- Shortening. Excess shoots from tubers need to be cut with sharp scissors. Tubers shorten about 15 cm.
- Division. We proceed to the division of rhizomes. Stems are cut almost to the base of the root cannons. At each cut root must be present buds. If the roots are very hard, and the buds are underdeveloped, you can leave them whole.
- Disinfection. Immersing the tubers for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, you prevent them from rotting and the possible development of fungal diseases. Roots can also be treated with a fungicide. Check for every damage and signs of disease. Any dark or rust stains must be removed. Tubers can often be found white bloom - this is the initial phase of infection with fungi. If you do nothing, then such a spine will cause infection of the entire planting material, you will not be able to save the crop until spring.
- Drying After washing, be sure to leave the tubers to dry in the fresh air. And before storing dahlias after digging, it is advisable to leave the tubers for 10 days in a cool room. This is done in order to tighten shallow wounds on the roots.
Did you know? The ancient Aztecs used root crops dahlia for food. The fact is that wild dahlia rhizomes are edible, they contain inulin - substance resembling starch.
How to store dahlias in winter, storage at home
How and where to store dahlias in the winter - a question of particular relevance to urban gardeners. That is why we decided to collect the most current storage options for tubs that allow you to do this even in an apartment.
Storage in boxes
Not everyone has the ability to store tubers in the basement or in a special vault. 
Therefore, for keeping in a city apartment, the roots are usually placed in boxes, which are then transferred to the coldest place (for example, near the balcony door or in the vestibule).
Keeping in boxes is one of the most acceptable ways. how to keep dahlias at home. Roots neatly placed in a box on a layer of peat, the top is also covered with peat. Peat can be replaced with sand or sawdust (preferably softwood).
Important! If your garden has several varieties of dahlias, it is recommended to label each variety. This will greatly facilitate the landing work in the next season.
Sand storage
Next, consider how to store dahlias in the winter in the sand. A container with a volume of approximately 20 liters is filled with well-dried sand. Dahlia roots in 1-2 layers immersed in a box, covered with sacking.
According to numerous reviews, the tubers are perfectly preserved. This method is also convenient because it allows to check the condition of the roots in the winter. 
However, this method has disadvantages - a large amount of sand is required. In addition, the flowers themselves begin to give sprouts and suction roots much earlier than the desired period.
The main danger when storing root crops is excessive moisture. Moistening the sand used is a common mistake when storing dahlia roots in sand.
You will need knowledge of how to keep gladiolus at home in the winter.It may seem that the sand is completely dry and the roots dry. However, from moisture roots either rot, or germinate ahead of time. It is better to overdry them, because overdried roots can still be restored, and rotted roots can no longer be.
Paraffin storage
Waxing or immersing tubers in molten paraffin wax is quite laborious, but one of the favorite methods of skilled gardeners. 
Paraffin-treated root crops are stored much better. Paraffin does not allow moisture to disappear, the roots do not dry out.
In addition, in the process of paraffin treatment from exposure to high temperatures, all pathogens that were present on the roots die.
After hardening, paraffin forms a protective layer, due to which the negative impact of external factors to the delocs is absolutely not scary.
Tubers also like dahlias multiply tulips, buttercups, gladioli, daffodils, cannes, freesia, callas.When choosing the method of waxing for storage, it is important to remember that delenki in this case awaken much later. This method is suitable only for early varieties of plants. So let's analyze how to keep dahlia tubers in paraffin. Dahlia tubers are waxed as follows:
- Paraffin or candles flicker, put in a pot of water. Next, this pot is transferred to a larger container and put in a water bath.
- Paraffin melt on low fire. The thickness of the melted material should be 2-3 cm.
- To root the club got into the pan, they may have to be divided. Washed and dried roots tied by string, dipped in hot paraffin and immediately taken out. On air, paraffin hardens immediately.
Vermiculite Storage
Next, we discuss how to keep dahlia tubers in vermiculite until spring. Vermiculite perfectly retains moisture, which means you should not worry about re-drying of tubers. 
On the other hand, it is this factor that can cause early sprouting of tubers even with a slight increase in temperature at the place of detention. It is recommended to choose not ordinary garden vermiculite, but large-fractional.
The bottom of the container selected for storing root crops is filled with vermiculite, then a layer of roots is laid.
Learn all about growing an interesting type of dwarf dahlia.Thus, in turn, the entire capacity is filled. Then the billet should be covered with plastic wrap and transferred to a cool room (3-6 ° С).
Storage in sawdust
Storing dahlias after digging in sawdust is a fairly simple, affordable and reliable option. The only condition for the successful storage of tubers - large sawdust, even better chips. Choosing small sawdust, there is a risk that they will stretch all the moisture. 
Sometimes roots with sawdust canned in packages. This is an unacceptable mistake, because due to the condensation formed, the roots of the flower in polyethylene rot. From high humidity rootklubni die.
Important! Dahlia tubers should not be stored next to potatoes or other vegetables. High humidity near vegetables can cause fungus diseases on the roots.
Necessary conditions for keeping dahlias at home
Dahlias for storage must be taken from beautiful and large bushes, as the forecast for the preservation of tubers of such plants in the winter is most favorable. The roots of weak and thin plants do not survive.
In different years, different varieties of dahlia are stored unequally. Much depends on the weather in the vegetation phase and on the landing site (in the sun or in partial shade). 
Dahlias originated from the crossing of heat-loving plant species, and Guatemala, Peru, Chile and Mexico are considered their homeland. Therefore, these flowers do not have winter hardiness.
In addition, wild dahlias grow in conditions of a short day and a cool night. This explains the later flowering of these plants in our climatic zones. Nevertheless, Fubuki Kogan and Mingus Toni are very reliable varieties.
When choosing for yourself the most suitable way of storing dahlias at home, it is important to remember the necessary conditions. 
Based on the foregoing, these include: low temperature (3-5 ° C), sufficient air humidity (approximately 60-70%) and good ventilation (in order to avoid rotting of the roots).
Cornelubni perfectly stored in the cellar, in a cool garage or an extension. In this case, from time to time they still need to be carried out for ventilation.
If you live in an apartment, the principle of storage remains the same, but the way of storage must be thought out more carefully, based on the living conditions. The best option is storage in boxes.
Did you know? Dahlia interest has never been constant. This plant was either grown in royal gardens, or was considered a symbol of obscenity. The XIX century became golden for these flowers, during this period Europe experienced a real “dahlia fever”. The cost of cut flowers and tubers has increased so much that even legends of how poor gardeners turned into millionaires.
Observing all the recommendations and adhering to the generally accepted standards of how to store dahlias in the cellar in winter, you can enjoy and admire the beauty of these flowers for more than one season. Any of the above storage methods guarantees 90-95% successful results.
