How to Grow and Care for Hapet Daydream Dahlia

The Hapet Daydream dahlia is a cultivar admired for its distinctive appearance and dynamic presence in the garden. Its manageable size and striking blooms make it a versatile choice for various garden designs, from container plantings to border arrangements. This dahlia variety is noted for its robust growth and the remarkable transformation its flowers undergo throughout their blooming cycle.

Hapet Daydream’s Unique Qualities

The most notable characteristic of the Hapet Daydream is its color-changing flowers. The blooms emerge with a bright yellow base accented with purplish-pink hues. As the flowers mature, this combination softens to a creamy white and delicate pink, creating a multi-toned effect on a single plant. This evolution ensures a dynamic visual display from midsummer until the first frost.

The blooms reach three to four inches in diameter and are classified as a ball or decorative form dahlia. Their petals curve inwards, forming a nearly spherical flower head with a slightly flattened top. The plant has a compact, upright growth habit, reaching a height of about three to four feet. Its strong stems make it an excellent choice for cutting gardens, as the flowers hold up well in bouquets.

Planting Your Dahlia

Planting should occur in the spring after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 60°F. This dahlia requires a location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to produce abundant blooms. Insufficient light can lead to weaker stems and fewer flowers.

Dahlias flourish in well-draining, fertile soil, so amending the planting area with organic matter like compost will improve soil structure. Dig a hole four to six inches deep and place the tuber horizontally with the “eye” or sprout pointing upwards. Space multiple tubers about 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for adequate air circulation and growth.

After positioning the tuber, backfill the hole with soil. Overwatering newly planted tubers can cause them to rot. Water the tuber once at the time of planting and then wait until the first green sprouts emerge from the soil before watering again.

Seasonal Care and Maintenance

Regular watering is necessary throughout the growing season, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogged conditions. Water deeply once or twice a week, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. This practice encourages a deep and robust root system.

To promote a higher yield of flowers, use a low-nitrogen, high-potash fertilizer every few weeks during the summer. High-nitrogen formulas tend to encourage lush leaf growth at the expense of flowers. Fertilizing should be stopped in early autumn to help the plant prepare for dormancy.

A pruning technique called “pinching” can create a fuller, bushier plant with more blooms. When the dahlia plant reaches about one foot tall, pinch off the top of the main stem to stimulate the growth of side branches. Due to its height and the weight of its blooms, staking may be necessary to provide support and prevent the stems from breaking.

Overwintering the Tubers

Dahlias are not frost-hardy, and their tubers will not survive a hard freeze if left in the ground in many climate zones. The overwintering process begins after the first hard frost has blackened the foliage, which signals the plant to enter dormancy.

Once the foliage has died back, cut the stalks down to about one or two inches from the ground. Carefully dig around the tuber clump with a garden fork, taking care not to damage the tubers. Lift the clump from the soil and gently shake off any excess dirt.

Allow the tubers to cure for a few days in a dry, frost-free location away from direct sunlight. Once cured, place the clump in a ventilated box and cover it with a medium like peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings. Store the container in a cool, dark, and dry place where the temperature remains between 40-50°F for the winter.