"Let's face it", Ruud Hogenboom admits, "Dahlias are a challenging product to maintain. An average Dahlia has a vase life of about five days, and that's pretty short." Ruud ought to know. After all, he has been a Dahlia grower for seventeen years already. Is a longer lifespan possible? Yes, it sure is. But you have to maintain these flowers. So, read on to get some tips from this well-known grower and also from flower food specialist Chrysal.
Dahlias Are the Jewels in Your Vase
Dahlias are often hailed as the 'Jewels of the Garden', and that does not stop when they are cut for floral arrangements. Dahlias stand in a class of their own, offering a diverse palette of colors, shapes, and sizes that can elevate any design to an art form. Whether you're a florist crafting elaborate bouquets or someone simply looking to bring a touch of nature indoors with a mono bunch, Dahlias are a choice that never disappoints.
One of the most captivating aspects of dahlias is their extraordinary range of shapes, bloom sizes, and colors. Single-petaled, and double-petaled, from tiny flowers to huge ones, from the deepest burgundy to the brightest yellow, soft pastels to vibrant oranges, Dahlias offer nearly every shade imaginable. This wide spectrum allows for endless creativity in floral design. You can create a striking monochromatic arrangement or a lively mix of contrasting colors. The possibilities are as boundless as your imagination.
But it's not just the range of colors that makes dahlias special; it's also the intensity of those colors. The rich, saturated hues of dahlia petals seem to capture the essence of late summer and early autumn, making them perfect for transitioning your floral displays from one season to the next.
Dutch Dahlias From Hogenboom
Dutch Dahlias are available from mid-April — with a peak in mid-May — until the end of September. It's a relatively short season and Ruud and his farm have to make the most of it. In about five months' time, Hogenboom Dahlia's produces one million stems, spread over 13 varieties.
Visiting this grower in the town of Kudelstaart, very close to the Aalsmeer flower auction, brings a big surprise. Hogenboom Dahlia's sells its flowers at a length of 40 cm. The plants in the greenhouse, however, are easily an amazing 2-2.5 meters high! Ruud smiles when he says:
"Yes, you would expect shorter stems, and that would be true for outdoor Dahlias. In this greenhouse, they grow much taller and the stems are also thicker. Still, I cannot cut longer stems, because they would not be as strong. Quality is everything."
Ruud notices that the market just can't get enough of Dahlias. His flowers sell like hot cakes:
"I grow my Dahlias on coconut soil, which sped up the production significantly. Still, I sell out almost instantly. I sell all my Dahlias directly to wholesalers, so I know that my flowers are exported afterward to florists all over the world."
Of course, if the quality of his Dahlias were not top-notch, Ruud would never have accomplished this success. Dahlias are difficult to grow and very vulnerable during transport and in the vase. Nevertheless, their attention value makes them enormously popular. So, to please his customers, Hogenboom Dahlia's does everything within its power to give the flowers a head start.
Ruud:
"We are actively adding a post-harvest product from Chrysal to our Dahlias. We are very happy with the advice we got from Chrysal to use Grow 20. We have been using this solution since the spring of 2024 and the results are very good. My flowers look fresher than with the chlorine pills I used before. This solution gives the Dahlias a push so that the flower blooms faster and more beautifully. So, all of my customers get their Dahlias with a splash of Grow 20 and we have had no complaints whatsoever."
These Are Chrysal's Best Tips
When working with the Dahlia as a florist, good hygiene is really important. Make sure your working space is nice and clean, and don't forget to clean your tools. Also, to keep your Dahlias in good condition in the store, Chrysal recommends using a conditioner like Chrysal Professional 2. If you do, your customers will surely enjoy their flowers a lot longer.
Consumers are recommended to follow these instructions:
- Use a clean vase, preferably made of glass.
- Cut the stem 2-5 cm with a clean, sharp knife or secateurs.
- Use Chrysal bio-based flower food to keep your Dahlia fresh and beautiful for the longest.
- Keep flowers away from draft, heat, and direct sunlight.
Nature's Masterpieces
Dahlias, with their dazzling array of colors, intricate forms, and enduring beauty, are truly one of nature's masterpieces. As cut flowers, they bring a touch of the garden's splendor into your homes, allowing you to savor the last, glorious days of summer. Whether you're creating a bouquet for a special occasion or simply brightening up a room, Dahlias offer a world of possibilities, making them a favorite for anyone who loves flowers.
Enjoy these sunny flowers!
Header and feature image by Wouter Koppen from iBulb.
