Winter Care for a Potted Dahlia in North Carolina (Zone 7b)

Your 12-inch dahlia is a dwarf variety. Slugs love dahlias—use bait. Three storage keys: 1) Frost-free (35–60°F, ideal 45–50°F), 2) Dark, 3) Dry but not desiccated. Keep in pot, check monthly. If tuber shrivels, soak overnight, replant in dry soil, cover pot with plastic bag. Cut stems to 4–6 inches at first frost. In spring, when “eyes” swell, gradually introduce light and water. Fertilize monthly from bud stage. Reapply slug bait outdoors.