The ‘Carolina Wagemans’ dahlia is a captivating variety cherished for its distinctive bloom structure and warm, vibrant coloration. Classified as a Waterlily dahlia, this form features broad, flat ray florets that create a cupped, symmetrical appearance. The petals are a delightful coral pink, often displaying salmon undertones. Blooms typically measure three to five-and-a-half inches across, and the plant reaches a mature height of three to four feet. Successfully cultivating this tender perennial requires understanding its specific environmental needs to produce a profusion of blooms.
Site Selection and Soil Preparation
The ‘Carolina Wagemans’ dahlia requires a minimum of six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Full sun encourages robust stem development and maximizes flower yield throughout the season. Selecting a site that offers protection from strong winds will also help prevent damage to the tall, heavily flowered stems.
Dahlias cannot tolerate standing water, making excellent soil drainage a foundational requirement. The ideal growing medium is rich, loamy soil that permits rapid water passage while retaining adequate moisture and nutrients. Amending the planting area with organic matter, such as compost or manure, improves fertility and texture. The soil pH should ideally range between 6.0 and 7.5, a neutral to slightly acidic range that optimizes nutrient availability.
Planting the Tuber and Initial Support
Planting should occur only after the last predicted spring frost has passed and the soil temperature consistently registers at least 60°F (15°C). Dig a hole six to eight inches deep and position the tuber horizontally, ensuring the growth bud, or “eye,” faces upward. The top of the tuber should rest three to six inches below the finished soil line.
Staking the ‘Carolina Wagemans’ variety is highly recommended due to its mature height and bloom size. Drive a sturdy stake into the ground next to the tuber at planting time to prevent later damage to the root system. After backfilling the hole, water the area thoroughly once, but refrain from further watering until green shoots emerge. Excessive moisture during this initial phase commonly causes tuber rot.
Once the plant reaches about 12 inches in height and has developed three to four sets of true leaves, “pinching” is necessary. This involves removing the central growing tip just above a leaf node. This action halts vertical growth temporarily and redirects the plant’s energy into lateral branching, resulting in a bushier structure with a greater number of flowering stems.
Mid-Season Care and Bloom Management
Maintaining a consistent watering schedule is important once the plant has established foliage and the weather warms, often requiring deep watering once or twice a week depending on the climate. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist but never saturated, which helps the plant manage the heavy demands of foliage and flower production. Water should be delivered slowly at the base of the plant to encourage deep root growth and keep the leaves dry, minimizing the risk of foliar diseases like powdery mildew.
The ‘Carolina Wagemans’ dahlia is a vigorous grower and benefits from a regular fertilization regimen throughout the summer. Dahlias require a low-nitrogen fertilizer, meaning the first number in the N-P-K ratio should be lower than the second and third numbers, such as a 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 blend. Too much nitrogen encourages excessive, soft green growth at the expense of flowers, often resulting in weak stems that are prone to breakage.
Begin applying this low-nitrogen formula about 30 days after the tubers were planted and repeat the application every three to four weeks through the peak of the season. Deadheading, the removal of spent, faded blooms, should be performed frequently. Cutting the dead flower stem back to a point just above a healthy leaf node or a newly forming side bud signals the plant to produce more flowers rather than expending energy on seed production.
Preparing for Dormancy and Storage
As a tender perennial, the ‘Carolina Wagemans’ dahlia must be lifted and stored for the winter in regions where the ground freezes. The signal to begin this process is the first hard frost, which will cause the plant’s foliage to blacken and collapse. After this frost event, cut the stems back, leaving only a short section of stem, typically two to four inches, attached above the ground.
Wait approximately one week after cutting back the foliage before carefully digging the tubers to allow the eyes to fully set and the neck of the tuber to harden. Use a garden fork to gently lift the clump, taking care not to damage the fragile necks where the tubers connect to the stem. Once lifted, the clumps should be allowed to cure or dry in a cool, dark, frost-free location for several days to allow the skin to toughen before storage.
For successful overwintering, the ideal storage environment is a dark location with a consistent temperature between 38°F and 50°F (4°C and 10°C). The humidity should be high, ideally between 75% and 85% relative humidity, to prevent the fleshy tubers from shriveling and dehydrating. Tubers can be packed in a slightly moisture-retaining medium and placed in ventilated containers, such as plastic crates or cardboard boxes, to allow for air circulation and prevent rot. Suitable mediums include:
- Fine vermiculite
- Peat moss
- Wood shavings