Drooping leaves can mean a multitude of different things on different plants, so if your dahlia leaves begin to droop then it’s not always obvious why.
Let’s have a look at some of the common reasons why your dahlia leaves might be drooping and what you can do about them.
Why Are My Dahlia Leaves Drooping?
Not Enough Water
This one should be obvious, and will usually affect potted plants and not those grown in the ground unless we have a dry summer.
Check the compost in the pot or around the base of the plant. If it is very dry then you likely have your answer. The good news is that plants can bounce back quickly from not having enough water.
Give them a soak now and they should perk up by tomorrow, make sure you keep on top of your watering from now on.
Too Much Water
The direct opposite of the problem above but again should be fairly easy to spot. Unlike Dahlias drying out this one is more common in ground-grown Dahlias rather than potted ones, but it can happen with both.
This tends to happen when dahlias are growing in heavy clay soils and we have a wet summer. The clay soil holds onto the water and starts to rot the tuber.
The easiest way to tell is just by inspecting the ground around the dahlia. if it is really sodden then overwatering could be your problem.
The easiest solution is to lift the dahlia and either move it to a better spot in the garden or into a pot.
If it absolutely must stay where it is then try to improve the drainage. Dig your Dahlia up and add lots of sand and compost to the soil.
Also, add a layer of sand a couple of centimetres deep in the bottom of the hole you will replant your dahlia in.
Too Hot
For us gardeners in the UK, this is usually only a problem for Dahlias growing inside unless we have a heatwave on our hands.
If your dahlia is indoors in say a conservatory and it is getting sun all day then it could end up in trouble.
The heat of the sun could be magnified by the glass and the conditions could just be a little too much for your dahlia.
Move it outside or to a more shaded spot and see if it perks up in a few days, if it does then you have your answer.
More on Dahlias
Dahlias are simply stunning summer flowers, the pop pop head produces amazing displays. The plant is a member of the Asteraceae family along with daisies, asters and marigolds.
Usually grown from a tuber but they can also be grown from seed. The tubers require special care over winter here in the UK and many growers end up with an almost fanatical devotion to their dahlias.
Despite being unable to survive winter outdoors in most of the UK, they thrive in our summer conditions. The moderate but wet climate we have is absolutely perfect for them.
Dahlias make the perfect container flower and are commonly grown this way. Growing them in containers also makes preserving the tuber over winter a lot easier.