FLOWER MARKETS - delicate dahlias

There is an abundance of delightful Dahlia’s to be found at the flower markets during late Summer to Fall and with festive tables being planned this is a great time to scout out the best species and colors of flowers from the huge array out there that can compliment your table.

Weather permitting Dahlia season can extend to thanksgiving but in order to keep those lush and clustered blooms happy for an extended period of time indoors we have sourced from our gardening experts their best tips for Dahlia blooms.

The best advice is as soon as you get your Dahlias home, put the stems into water straight away to maximize their very short 3-4 day vase life. You may get an extra 2-3 days if you use boiling water in the vase, or sear the stem ends with a flame and as a longevity guide, the larger the Dahlia species the shorter the vase life time so plan accordingly when you buy the flowers around 1-2 days before your special event.

Dahlia’s offer a diverse color palette to please almost anyone.. a dazzling array of deep plum purples and reds that escalate into hues of orange, tangerine, corals, pink and creamy whites so you are sure to find a color that will compliment or brilliantly contrast your own table color scheme.

Try not to get overwhelmed by how many colors and species there are when you are out shopping by arriving at the florist or market with a clear concept of what color and approximate size you think would be the perfect flower for your table…even bring a napkin with you and that may help to minimize your distraction with the big showy bright flowers that could easily overwhelm your table scape.

Dahlia’s love to have their big beautiful heads supported by either a vase or other strong stemmed flowers. Here at Gatheraus we like to cut the flowers so they will sit in medium to smaller size vases where they nestle quite close together and have a vase brim for added support. We also recommend to use them as a shorter floral centre pieces where the delicate feathery petals can be appreciated by guests from above.

Dahlia’s do tend to wilt very easily on hot days or in strong sunlight so be thoughtful about what time of day you plan to use them and store them in a cool shady area until the event so you can maximize their lifespan…they will be best for late afternoon or dusk outdoor al fresco patio dining when the climate is cooler and there is no intense heat or direct sunlight.