Hey, Keithog.

I am by no means an expert. This is my first year growing dahlias. Others may tell you to cut the baby all the way back to the tuber but I had a tuber I "rescued" from a BBS. Poor baby had a stem wrapped awkardly around the tuber. I am/was afraid to cut it back, so I just planted. The main stem broke right at first set of leaves. I planted anyway and she grew from the two laterals. She's healthy and getting ready to bloom for me. :).

I would wait for Cici or one of our other experts to weigh in before you take advice I have to offer.

Unless rot sets in, your Dahlia will generate new growth and if properly cared for, increased blossoms, too. The stem breakage released a hormone known as an auxin which serves to awaken dormant buds beneath. Frankly, it should be fun to watch as your plant develops.

Bad Kitty! Dahlias are friends, not catnip!

My bet is that by now there are new sprouts developing at the 'armpit' of the leaf still attached to the unbroken part of the stem. Your cat just 'stopped' your plant for you a bit early, which will encourage it to branch out and eventually give you more flowers.

Sooo... Ditto to what Gary said. No worries, all is well.

Dahlias are pretty resilient...I had one that wasn't properly staked and broke in half when it got quite tall. I wrapped the broken area with electrical tape and it healed over.

Thanks guys! The dahlia is doing fine and I have just been watering it in the hot weather.

I think it's filling up nicely again! I'll post pic of it as it gets bigger. I planted a dahlia tuber probably early last month, it did have growth on it, but on the package it said to bury it underground so that's what I did. I haven't seen anything come up, does anyone think it will sprout? Thanks!