- 1). Pasteurize the soil before planting the dahlia tubers. The University of New Mexico explains that pasteurizing the soil kills any weeds, diseases or insects that may harm the dahlias. To pasteurize the soil, put it in an oven safe container and heat it for an hour at 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2). Prepare pots and soil to plant the dahlias. Make sure to use relatively large pots, since tubers like a lot of space. According to the National Gardening Association, dahlias like moist but not overly saturated soil. They also benefit from some 6-12-12 fertilizer. Put some soil in each plant pot, add a little bit of 6-12-12 fertilizer and make sure that the soil is damp before planting the bulbs.
- 3). Buy dahlia bulbs from a local gardening store right before planting them. Bulbs fare best when gardeners plant them immediately after bringing them home, so buy the bulbs after the pots and soil are ready for planting. Keep the bulbs cool but not frozen until they are planted.
- 4). Plant the dahlia tubers in the pots. The National Gardening Association recommends planting the tubers about as far under the soil as three times the tuber's diameter.
- 5). Place the pots in a sunny area and keep them indoors until the risk of a frost is gone. The National Gardening Association explains that dahlias prefer full sun or very light shade.
- 6). Water the bulbs regularly with about one inch of water per week. Space out the waterings to keep the soil inside the pots moist at all times, but do not overly saturate the soil. With plenty of sunlight and regular waterings, dahlia tubers will grow into plants that can either remain in pots or be transplanted outdoors.
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