There could be a few reasons why your dahlia buds are not opening. The first thing would be to examine your watering practices. Waterlogged roots from excessive water can affect the buds’ ability to open. Also, if your dahlia was planted in poorly draining potting mix or a container that holds water it can lead to too much water that will hinder your buds from turning into flowers. A lack of water can also be an issue, as container planted dahlias need consistent watering because the potting mix dries out a lot faster than those planted in the ground.
If your watering schedule is consistent, it could be an underlying pest issue. If the stems and leaves appear normal but buds are not opening, check them for small holes to determine if thrips or earwigs have punctured or chewed them. Buds that have been repeatedly affected by these pests might not open properly.
Another issue could be excess fertilization in the form of too much nitrogen. If the plant is overfertilized, it will grow luscious foliage at the expense of flowers.
Hi Eva,
There could be a few reasons why your dahlia buds are not opening. The first thing would be to examine your watering practices. Waterlogged roots from excessive water can affect the buds’ ability to open. Also, if your dahlia was planted in poorly draining potting mix or a container that holds water it can lead to too much water that will hinder your buds from turning into flowers. A lack of water can also be an issue, as container planted dahlias need consistent watering because the potting mix dries out a lot faster than those planted in the ground.
If your watering schedule is consistent, it could be an underlying pest issue. If the stems and leaves appear normal but buds are not opening, check them for small holes to determine if thrips or earwigs have punctured or chewed them. Buds that have been repeatedly affected by these pests might not open properly.
Another issue could be excess fertilization in the form of too much nitrogen. If the plant is overfertilized, it will grow luscious foliage at the expense of flowers.
Hope this helps!