I am in my second season of growing dahlias and am experiencing the same problem as last year. My blooms are at least 12 inches (and on large varietals much farther) from the nearest set of leaves. The result is that I cannot reasonably cut (or show) the dahlias in a vase with the leaves attached. One person suggested this might be due to using the wrong fertilizer? another suggested I live in a "fog zone" near a beach (but we get strong daily sun)? Any thoughts on what may be causing this? In all other regard my plants are doing great.