A full grown dahlia can be a monster, especially laden with heavy blooms- so now you see the need for support of some kind. I doubt with our rains and wind, that a tomato cage would work for me- just not sturdy enough, and if you need to anchor it with other stakes, why not just stick with a stake in the first place and save the $$?

I've had good luck with regular old 1 inch wood posts 4-5-6 ft in height, depending on the plant. They do rot and they do break, so now I am going to all green metal farm fence posts that are very sturdy. The plant stalks and branches are secured to the posts as they grow with panty hose or 1 inch T shirt strips- something flexible that won't cut into the stalks. As they grow you can move the lower ties up, where they are needed. It is barely noticable and yes it takes time, but I hate to see a good dahlia inert on the ground.

Others have luck with a row of stakes and ties of varying heights running the length of the row- I've seen growers' fields use this method. If you grow a lot, tying would be prohibitive timewise. Others swear by tomato cages.

Did your plant break off entirely? If it's still attached to the tuber/roots, just replant it upright and take care in staking it so you don't stab the tuber. It would be worth a try, at least.

Can you spy the ties? I see two. Should have used some on the poor delphinium!
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Thanks for the info. One of the main stems has broken off, but most of them are in good shape. I seem to remember my grandfather using 1 x 2 inch wooden stakes for his dahlias. I don't have that many dahlias, so it shouldn't be too much trouble to stake them that way. I am going to stop at Home Depot tonight and see what they have that will work.

Plant/Tomato cages, whether used for tomatoes, dahlias or other large plants, are not very stable in rain and wind if they are installed with the small end down.

However, with a bit of modification, they can be re-engineered to hold up in some very severe conditions. I raise about 200 show dahlias in modified cages, and I turn to stakes for maybe three plants each season when they just get out of control and start reaching over six feet tall.

Check the link below for more information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Supporting Dahlias - A NO Stake NO Tie System

I tried tomato cages this year for the first time and I put them in large size down and they seem to be doing a great job for me. It's been in the high 90's for the last month, no wind and barely any rain. I could spit and produce more water than we have had in rain so I can't say if this method would hold up after a good storm. Some of my plants are 6 foot and they are standing tall.

UpWithDahlias, thank you so much for that link-I have it bookmarked for next year. This year some of my Dahlias have a very thick stalk-I really wish I would have seen this earlier in spring.

Yes, that support system does seem good for the lower portion. But I don't see what would happen to the tall 6' stalks. Won't the part above the cage still bend over the top of the cage? Or, is the point to save a big break at the base?

when i plant my dahlias i usually put a wooden stake....bout 4ft one alongside the tuber....then as it grows i tie the plant to the stake....but we also have made 4ft cages out of concrete wire....to put around each dahlia....so when they get really big i can control them pretty well within the cages.......for the really tall ones i put up metal green posts up around the plant and tie plant to several sides of the post to help secure from the kansas winds....

I use 1/2" rebar for my stakes. It comes in 20'lengths so you can get 3 stakes 6'7'tall. You have to keep tying the plant to the stake as it grows. Works very well and will never rot. It even supports the monster plants.