monthly What's looking good in September 2025

Oreti— before you remove all the foliage, please take some close-up foto’s so that we can think about what’s going on with your babies. I am willing to invest some time with you if you want to look for an answer. First I’d the problem, then we can look for a solution. You don’t have to deal with this alone…unless you want to.

 

Oreti… have you dug up any to check out the roots, is the soil beneath them dry? Maybe not enough water or a unground vole…? Sometimes to much heat and sun can make them wilt but generally once it cools and they are watered they bounce back. I take it you have done all of that and they are not bouncing back.

I am curious now. My lil story . One year I had so much trouble with white fungus powdery mildew covering all my dahlias. Over 100 planted in several different areas. I read that whole milk mixed with water sprayed on them off and on for two weeks or more helped eliminate the bugs that spread the fungus and revitalizes the plants. It worked and blooms were better but a bit stressed. I checked the tubers in fall when digging them up and something had been taking bites out of them and I had to discard over half of them. At that time I found out that we had gophers. That’s when I learnt how to trap them.
I am heartsick for you. It’s such a disappointment waiting thru the season for booms and something has taken that joy away … it is unspeakable to our garden souls.

@Sjoerd we cross posted… maybe between the 3 of us we can find a solution for Oreti.

 

Pac— I’m in…but I’ll tell you what, I can’t begin to develop any meaningful ideas until I see some piccies illustrating signs or symptoms. Of course Oreti would actually want to have some ideas on this one. I get the idea that she wants to solve the mystery herself or just “let it be”. I do not want to force things.

 

OK.....it's what you had I think Pac.
In all my years of growing Dahlias I've never ever experienced any problems whatsoever.

What is really puzzling me is that every single one is affected in varying degrees. Yet they are planted out in many different parts of the garden each with it's own individual environment. This makes it hard to pinpoint the cause. None have been subjected to overhead watering as we are on a hosepipe ban and have to conserve the usage. Watering cans are aimed directly at all plants roots and surrounding soil base.
Here is just a sample of the horror show.......




These really upset me as they were grown from tiny pieces of tuber taken from plants that were planted by my parents in their garden .I removed them on the day we locked up the property for the final time after my Dad passed away in 2020,we lost Mum ( who was such a dedicated and knowledgeable gardener) back in 2006





So appreciate your offers of help @Sjoerd and @Pacnorwest .. even if I only save my parents plants...

Thanks xx

 

That powdery mildew. @Oreti. I don't know what fixes that. I haven't had issues with it in years and not in my present garden.

 

I agree powdery mildew. That is exactly what happened to mine one year as stated above How I treated it and how it was later handled when digging them up. See below quote.

More info on powdery mildew .
https://triplewrenfarms.com/powdery-mildew-problem-solving-for-dahlias/

 

Sorry about your dahlias @Oreti, yes i agree with the others it's mildew. It could be that they were distressed with the hot weather, it won't kill the tubers it just looks bad.

 

Still got some roses
The hanging baskets looking good

 

I had trouble with my gladioli this year, the ones in the ground didn't flower very well, i think that they got too dry.
The ones in the pots did better.

 

Oreti— A mixture of 40% skim milk and 60% water. Spray the plants every ten days with dry weather.
There are variations.

I am having some of that here at the moment:

 

A Sycamore key from a Sycamore Tree...



Now if Sycamore trees are the only ones with keys on, it seems to me that there has to be a reason,
I've got a funny feeling it's the changing of the seasons....

(Worzel Gummage)

 

Thanks @Logan .......I know it's powdery mildew, I 've been battling with it for a month now, tried most things. I also know that it doesn't kill them......I would prefer it if it did , it distorts them badly and stunts growth. I am clearing the ground as best as I can ,probably get rid of all of them, treat the ground properly leave the areas dormant next year . Once they've been infected they tend to get it again. Too ugly, so will grow new ones and plant in new places. I've been growing Dahlias for many, many years and have never had it before and to have every single one go down badly with it despite all being grown in different places...some are a fair distance away from each other. It's down to the high humidity we've had ...only last week it was again in the high 90s here. There are some that tend to be more resistant to it.
Fresh start is probably the best way to go.

 

Thanks @Pacnorwest .
I've been alternating the spraying of them..well those I still have... with the milk solution and a bicarbonate soda one. It's been suggested that it's better not to keep using the same remedy so to use a couple.
Time will tell, but still think I'll start afresh next year.

 

I shall watch this spot, Oreti.
Good luck with your remaining plants.

 

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