Storing dahlia bulbs for winter really isn’t very hard, and it’s well worth the effort. That way, you can grow your favorites year after year! In this post, I’ll show you how to dig up the tubers, and give you step-by-step instructions for overwintering dahlias.
I love dahlias. I mean who doesn’t, right? They are a gorgeous addition to any summer garden, and they add such a cool tropical feel.
The best part is that you can easily overwinter dahlia bulbs (BTW, technically they are tubers not bulbs, but I don’t see the Dahlia Police around, so we’re good) in your house, and plant them in your garden again next year!
Here’s what you’ll find in this guide for how to overwinter dahlias…
Oh Those Big, Beautiful Dahlia Blooms
I remember the first time I discovered the amazing flowers. I saw a giant dinnerplate dahlia in a public garden… and it took my breath away.
I had no idea what it was, but I knew I had to have it!
So, when I got home I rushed to my computer immediately and started obsessing about it. After a few clever searches, I quickly found the ID of my newest favorite plant.
Of course I HAD to have one in my garden, and instantly became a girl on a mission. It wasn’t long until I had my prize.
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Dahlias In The Garden
One sweet, beautiful, plump (plump?) dahlia bulb.
After giving it several kisses and doting on it (TMI? Maybe.), I grabbed my shovel and headed out to the garden. I wasted no time getting my new baby into the ground.
Several weeks later, I was rewarded with those gorgeous giant blooms I was dreaming about (I’m sure the kisses made all the difference).
But, with our short growing season, it wasn’t long before frost was in the forecast and panic set in.
Frost is always a major buzz kill!
Dahlia Rigletto Flowers
Do Dahlias Come Back Every Year?
Dahlias are tropical flowers, and they are not frost hardy. They can live for several years in warmer climates. But if you live in a cold climate like I do (Minnesota), dahlias won’t survive through the winter outside (boooo!).
So, I knew my new favorite flower wasn’t long for this world, but I didn’t want to lose it forever. So what did I do… (are you in suspense yet? Maybe a few more dots…)
… I dug up my dahlia flower bulb and stored it for winter. Of course!
Yes, you can keep your favorite dahlias over winter, and regrow them every year, even if you live in a frozen tundra like I do!
It’s a huge money saver. And guess what? It’s super easy to do too. Woohoo!
Gorgeous Dahlia Flower
Preparing Your Dahlia Tubers For Winter Storage
Before storing dahlia tubers for winter, you must first dig them out of your garden (dah!).
But, if yours is in a pot, you can skip this step and simply leave it in the pot all winter. Just cut back the foliage, bring it inside, and store it in a cool, dry place until spring.
If your dahlias are in your garden, follow these quick steps to get them ready for storage…
- Lift the bulbs after frost has killed the foliage
- Gently shake off any excess dirt
- Cut off the stems and leaves
- Allow large bulbs to cure (dry out a bit) for a few days before storing. Smaller bulbs don’t need to cure.
That’s it. No need to rinse the dirt off your dahlia tubers, or split them apart. Just leave them in one large clump with a little bit of soil, and they’re ready for winter storage.
Overwintering Dahlia Tubers
Storing Dahlia Bulbs For Winter
There are lots of ways of storing the tubers for winter. Some people have great success just tossing their dahlia tubers into a paper bag, and storing them on a shelf in their basement.
But small bulbs can dry out using this method. So I prefer to take a safer dahlia storage approach.
Supplies Needed:
- Cardboard box
- Dry to slightly moist packing material (I use peat moss, coco coir, wood chips (pet bedding is great) or sawdust. Whatever’s cheapest or I already have.) You could also use a mix of vermiculite and perlite if you have that on hand.
Steps For Packing Your Dahlia Flower Bulbs
- Line the bottom of the box with newspaper (optional, but it helps to keep the packing material from falling through the cracks) and a layer of packing material.
- Lay the bulb in the box so it will be surrounded by the packing material.
- You can store several dahlia bulb clumps in one box, but try to pack them so they’re not touching each other.
- Fill the box with packing material so that your bulbs are completely covered.
- Close the box and put it on a shelf (or whatever space you have). It’s important that your dahlia storage space is a cool, dry location that stays above freezing. If it’s too warm, your bulbs could rot.
Simple, right? Yes! I told you it was easy.
Storing Dahlia Tubers Over Winter
You can try using different types of packing materials for storing dahlia tubers for winter, or simply try wrapping larger bulbs in newspaper and packing them in boxes.
Experiment to find the storage method that works best for you. Whatever you do though, don’t use plastic bags or containers. If they are kept too wet they will likely rot or get moldy.
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Share your tips for overwintering dahlia tubers in the comments below.
graham cripps says
I have lifted my dahlias and have several ‘clumps’ of healthy looking tubers. How do I split them to get more plants ? I have heard about looking for ‘eyes’ and sharp knives but would appreciate any advice
Amy Andrychowicz says
You can divide your dahlia tubers either in the fall before overwintering them, or wait until spring before you plant them. The “eyes” are basically just buds, similar to a potato. They are located at the point where the tuber is attached to the main stem. As long as the tuber has a healthy bud (eye), you can divide it at that point. Hope this helps!
De says
Sound super easy, however NOT to sound absolutely lazy but it’s the end of Oct. right now and I’m in zone 7b. Do I need to over winter these guys? Note they did come back this past summer all on their own. So before I dawn the duck boots, layer in mosquito spray and move all the wood chips what do you say?
Amy Andrychowicz says
Dahlia tubers will survive the winter in your garden as long as the ground doesn’t freeze. So, if you live somewhere that’s warm enough, then there’s o need to dig them up.
Rachel says
That takes a lot of love and dedication, to grow tropical plants! I love to grow dahlias and have to plant them in spring and dig them all up and store them for winter, takes a lot of time to do that and in spite of all the efforts, I keep losing some bulbs each year!
Amy Andrychowicz says
I lose some of my dahlia bulbs every winter too. But I figure that’s good because it means I can buy a few new varieties. Plus it keeps the garden from getting too full.
Barb says
I live in a ranch style house with no basement no attic space either. I was wondering if I could store my Davila tubers in the pet bedding pine shavings inside a cooler so I can place it in the unheated garage over winter? I live in zone 5 Chicago suburb. I have six different types of dahlias that I would love to replant next year.
Amy Andrychowicz says
If your garage never gets below freezing, then it would work. However, if it does freeze in there, then the dahlia bulbs may not make it (if they freeze, they will die). You could certainly try it to see if it works for you. I personally would not risk it unless you have extra dahlia bulbs you can experiment with. Instead, you can keep them in a dark closet in the coolest room of your home, a utility room, or a storage room. We have a finished basement so it’s warm throughout our house. I overwinter my bulbs in the utility room, and it works great.
jfgreens says
If you give it a try, try to keep your storage container as close to an inside wall as possible to keep them a little warmer. I cooler might be too air tight and not allow for some circulation. If your garage is attached, I would think you would be good until at least 10 or 15 below outside.. For my storage I do dust with sulfur and then use a method that you would think wouldn’t work, but has been successful when placing them in my crawl space. I wrap the cut tubers in cellophane and then put a loop of blue tale with the tuber name on it. I stored about 275 tubers last year and had 2/3rds spout. (Wisconsin)
Amy Andrychowicz says
A crawl space is a great idea for storing dahlia and other bulbs!
Linda Mann says
This is my first year for dahlias. I love them. I planted mine in pots but they didn’t do as well as I had hoped. I want to take them out of the pots and store in a box with peat moss
This scares me. Lol. Would you suggest that I leave them in the pots and remove tubulars in the spring or take them out of pots and go for the box method
Amy Andrychowicz says
Either method would work just fine for storing dahlia bulbs overwinter. If you have several bulbs, why don’t you try both methods to see which one works best for you.
Frank says
I’m wondering if my dahlias need moisture? They are starting to look like prunes. They are overwintering in my garage in a dry peat mixture.
Thanks,
Frank St. Catharines ON
Amy Andrychowicz says
Yes, you can definitely give your dormant dahlia tubers a little bit of water if the peat mixture has dried out completely and the tubers are shriveling.