Dahlias are favored garden additions, known for their diverse forms and vibrant colors. The ‘Peace Pact’ dahlia is a sought-after cultivar, admired for its unique aesthetic. This guide provides information for cultivating and maintaining this dahlia, ensuring a rewarding growing experience.
Peace Pact Dahlia Distinctive Features
The ‘Peace Pact’ dahlia features spectacular, pure white, fully double flowers, often with a golden heart. These blooms measure 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) wide, classifying it as a small to medium-sized dahlia. As a Waterlily Dahlia, its broad petals are straight or slightly involute, creating a shallow appearance.
This cultivar is valued by cut flower arrangers for its striking look and impressive vase life of 7 to 12 days. Flowers grow on sturdy stems, remaining upright even after rain. The plant reaches 3 to 4 feet (90-120 cm) tall, making it a prominent garden feature.
Cultivating Peace Pact Dahlia
Cultivating ‘Peace Pact’ dahlia requires a site with full sunlight for at least six to eight hours daily. In hot climates, light afternoon shade can prevent scorching. The soil should be well-draining, loose, and fertile, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.1-7.5). Avoid compacted soil to prevent root rot.
Plant tubers in early to mid-spring, after the last frost, when soil temperature reaches about 15°C (60°F). Dig a 6-inch deep hole, loosening the soil to 30 cm. Place the tuber horizontally with the eye or sprout pointing up, covering it with 1-2 inches of soil. Space tubers 12 to 18 inches apart for adequate growth and air circulation.
After planting, water carefully to avoid rot. In most regions, initial watering is not needed until sprouts emerge. In very warm or dry climates, light weekly watering may be necessary until the plant appears. Once visible, consistent moisture is important for the dahlia to thrive.
Ongoing Care for Peace Pact Dahlia
Consistent moisture is crucial once the ‘Peace Pact’ dahlia is established. Due to their luxuriant foliage, they need ample water, but their fleshy roots are prone to rot if water accumulates. Water deeply, 8-10 inches into the soil, 3-4 times per week in dry conditions, or daily for container plants. Water before or after sunrise or sunset to minimize evaporation.
Fertilization supports abundant blooms. Apply a thin liquid fertilizer every 10-15 days from the seedling stage. Use nitrogen-rich fertilizers for initial vegetative growth, then switch to phosphorus and potassium-dominant formulations as flower buds develop. Stop fertilizing once flower buds show color and avoid during high temperatures. A low-nitrogen bloom food is recommended about 30 days after planting, repeated every 3-4 weeks for garden plants or every 2-3 weeks for container plants.
Pinching, or “topping,” encourages bushier plants and more flowers. Remove the central growth tip when the plant is 10-18 inches tall with 3-4 sets of leaves on the main stalk. This stimulates lateral buds, leading to more blooms, though it may delay the first flowers by a week or two.
Deadheading spent flowers encourages continuous blooming by preventing seed production. Cut faded blooms just above a leaf node or new bud. Spent flowers are often pointy and withered, while new buds are round and compact. Support taller ‘Peace Pact’ dahlias with stakes or cages to prevent toppling in strong winds or heavy rain.
Common Challenges and Solutions
‘Peace Pact’ dahlias can face pests and diseases. Slugs and snails cause irregular holes in foliage; manage them by hand-picking, using repellents, or creating barriers like crushed eggshells. Earwigs chew on leaves and buds; deter them by maintaining a tidy garden.
Aphids, thrips, and spider mites are sap-sucking insects that weaken plants. Manage them by hosing with water, using insecticidal soaps, or introducing beneficial insects. Good air circulation and avoiding humidity prevent fungal issues like powdery mildew. If viral diseases are suspected (indicated by mottled leaves or stunted growth), remove affected plants to prevent spread.
Environmental factors can also cause problems, such as a lack of blooms. Insufficient sunlight, over-fertilization with nitrogen (which promotes foliage over flowers), or inconsistent watering and poor drainage can hinder blooming. Adjust fertilizer ratios as the plant matures and ensure proper watering.
Winter Tuber Storage
In colder climates (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7), lift and store ‘Peace Pact’ dahlia tubers for winter dormancy. After the first hard frost blackens foliage, cut stems back to 4-6 inches above ground.
Dig up tubers, remove excess soil, and cure them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area for a few days to a week. Once cured, store tubers in a cool, dark, frost-free location (45-50°F / 7-10°C). Place them in boxes or crates, covered with a medium like slightly moistened sand, peat moss, or wood shavings, to maintain humidity and prevent dehydration.