Growing color and community in the Gateway City since 1938
Interested in becoming a member of the St Louis Dahlia Society?
Upcoming events
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Kickoff Meeting & Society Overview
Tuesday, January 20th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Welcome members with a meet & greet
Introduce the Dahlia Society’s mission and goals
Explain officer roles & delegate responsibilities
Walk through the year’s full plan of meetings and events
Highlight the 2026 Tuber Exchange & Three-Bloom Showcase
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Tuber Storage Check & Variety Selection Workshop
Tuesday, February 17th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
How to assess tubers for rot, shriveling, and viable eyes
Rehydration techniques
Catalog browsing + variety recommendations
Member favorites and “must-grow” lists
Early planning for April’s Tuber Exchange
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Dividing Tubers & Starting Cuttings
Tuesday, March 17th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Live demo: dividing tubers + identifying eyes
When to pot up tubers indoors
How to take cuttings
Best soil mixes & lighting setups
Preventing rot, mildew, and virus spread
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Soil Prep & Garden Planning
Tuesday, April 21st 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Preparing garden beds
Soil testing + amendments
Layout planning (height, color, spacing)
Staking system comparisons
When to plant outdoors in STL
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Planting Dahlias & Early Growth Care
Tuesday, May 19th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Proper planting depth, spacing, and labeling
How to avoid overwatering
Early-season pest control
When and how to pinch for bushier plants
Preventing legginess
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Pest, Disease & Water Management
Tuesday, June 9th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Identifying common pests (beetles, mites, aphids)
Integrated pest management
Preventing powdery mildew
Watering in hot weather
Securing plants during storms
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Bloom Prep, Disbudding & Shaping Plants
Tuesday, July 21st 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
How and why to disbud
Encouraging long stems for cutting
Fertilizing during bloom season
Managing heat stress
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Peak Bloom Care, Arranging & Three-Bloom Showcase
Tuesday, August 18th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
How to cut at the perfect stage for vase life
Conditioning tips (hydration, alum, boiling water)
Beginner arranging demonstration
Three-Bloom Showcase: bring 3 blooms to display
Discussion of top-performing varieties
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End-of-Season Dahlia Care & Preparing for Digging
Tuesday, September 15th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
When to stop fertilizing
Signs your plants are ready for digging
Labeling before dieback
Evaluating varieties to keep, swap, or retire
Three-Bloom Late-Season showcase
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Digging, Curing & Storing Tubers
Tuesday, October 20th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
When to dig after frost
Washing, curing, and drying tubers
Storage media (peat, vermiculite, shavings, saran wrap)
Preventing rot and shriveling
Labeling and organizing for winter
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Storage Troubleshooting & Tuber Sale Planning
Tuesday, November 20th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Handling mold, shriveling, and rot
Adjusting humidity and airflow in storage
Mid-storage inspection
Planning next year’s tuber sale (inventory, pricing, logistics)
Discussing December’s celebration
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Year-End Celebration + Planning Social
Tuesday, December 15th 2026 - 6:00 PM - 7:00PM
Holiday social with refreshments
Group reflection on favorite topics and successes
Planning new topics and workshops for next year
Creating a wishlist for 2026 dahlias & activities
Brainstorming improvements and new ideas