Hi Redd,
This is my first year trying pots and I have to say they are ahead of the inground dahlias as far as blooming earlier than the same varieties in the garden. Size seems to be slightly smaller/shorter/less bushy in pots compared to garden ones. (The pots are 14 inch diameter and over a foot deep.)

Things I do not like are trying to fix a stake inside a pot, and the frecuent watering needs. A few of the lowest leaves got fried against the hot black plastic as they were growing, but that is a minor problem.

Pluses are that they are mobile when young, and I can have dahlias visible from the livingroom now! I'll be curious to see how getting the tubers out in fall will be, and how they'll compare in number.

Mine do far better in pots than in the garden. There are lots of benefits to having them in pots as opposed to the garden. One of the biggest ones that I've noticed -- far fewer pests eating at them when they're in pots.

I do find that clay pots work better for them than plastic. Mulching the soil cuts down on watering needs as well. Pruning regularly makes them bushier in the pots, too.

The other thing I've noticed is that the ones I have in pots bloom far more than the ones in the garden.

Hope that helps...

Interesting, fizgig. I have found that the dahlias in the ground here, do better than those in the pots. I have both. I also found that the ones in the pots are just beginning now, where the ones in the ground have been blooming for a while. Mind you, all are initially started in pots, then moved either to larger pots or directly to the ground when danger of frost is over. Maybe the difference in soil is a factor.

That could be the case, jroot. I know that mine have the same soil whether in the gardens or in pots.

The soil was different for me. Not saying that they didn't grow...some of them grew beautifully!!! I was extremely thrilled with them 100%....however, they seemed to get to a certain point to just stall out in growth. A couple of them were leggy and really spindally looking, even the leaves were kind of strange after a while. They curled up and became very paper like. So I'm not sure if they were lacking nutrience or not, I did fertalize with Miricle grow.

I do for sure see a difference between my babes in the front as opposed to those on the side where they get more light, (but the ones in the front are still thriving strong and looking great ;)

I have to ask my friend how hers are doing. I gave her 2 and her neighbor that loves dahlias 2 as well. It'll be interesting to see :)

Nikki~

The one thing I did notice.... Miracle Grow does nothing for them. Many plants actually die after the use of Miracle Grow on them -- particularly the liquid.

Mine get Jobes sticks by way of fert. And only twice a year. They bloom from May-frost.

There are a few types of Dahlias that do well in part sun/part shade. I have one of those varieties. Put one of those in full sun for too long and it will look pretty bad. May want to check into that with regard to yours that has curled, paper-like leaves. Might not be a full sun Dahlia.

I don't think it was the full sun issue. Where I have my dahlias now is even more sun than in my front window which gets a fair amount.

As for the Miricle Grow....it seems to work for mine, like I said in a prior post, I'm way ahead of the game in the bud situation.

Maybe it wasn't ment for me.....*shrugs* I dunno lol So long as they're doing well now though ;o)

Nikki~

As long as it works ;) That's what matters =]