Gracie-Mae's Top Tips on Growing Dahlias From Cuttings (part 1/3)

Hi flower friends!

I’m Gracie-Mae, the dahlia photographer behind StripeyCaterpillar.com, and today I’m sharing something super exciting.

My step-by-step guide to taking dahlia cuttings is finally here! It’s the first part of my new three-part video series all about how to grow more of your favourite dahlias.

Let’s get something straight first.

You don’t need a fortune to grow stunning, abundant dahlias.
You can do it even if you’ve only got one tuber.
And yes, it’s actually FUN and very rewarding!

What’s so special about our dahlias?

Well… everything!

100% of the dahlias on The Stripey Caterpillar website are seed-grown right here on our family's flower farm, Green Footed Kiwi. That means they’re all one-of-a-kind, never-seen-before flowers bred with fingers crossed, and muddy boots.

We don’t just grow from tubers like most places. We actually create new varieties from seeds. No boring copies here! We then take cuttings from those first year tubers to make sure we don’t lose any of our precious new cultivars. This way we can multiply our stock very quickly and efficiently. And so can you!

Why take dahlia cuttings?

Because it’s the BEST way to:

• Multiply your favourite dahlias 

• Save heaps of money on extra tubers

• Keep your unique seed-grown varieties alive and thriving

• Learn loads while having fun in the garden

Dahlia cuttings are perfect little clones. So if you’ve grown something stunning from seed, you can make more of it without buying a single extra tuber. (HINT - you can do this with store bought tubers too and give extras away to your friends.)

And no, you don’t need fancy greenhouses or posh kits. Just a bit of time, some compost (The Warehouse variety works just fine) and a warm windowsill will do!

What’s in the video?

In Part 1, I show you exactly how I start waking up your tubers.

You’ll see:

✔️ How we store our tubers over winter
✔️ How we wake them up
✔️ My special tips for keeping costs down
✔️ Simple tricks to stop your tubers from rotting before they have even started to grow!

It’s super easy and beginner-friendly, and I promise you’ll feel motivated to give it a go at the end of the video.

🌸 Hot tip from the video: Don't over water or feel the need to completely cover your tubers with compost. They will ROT and you will CRY!

Why am I sharing this with you?

Because I believe growing dahlias should be fun, not fancy.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about trying things, learning as you go, and being amazed by what grows.

This blog is for you if you’ve ever said:

“I could never grow those.”
“That looks too complicated.”
“I’d love to try, but it’s probably expensive.”

You absolutely can.
It’s totally doable.
And it doesn’t need to cost the earth.

Just bring your excitement and follow along. Don't be scared to ask questions. I promise not to bite!

Let’s get propagating!

So grab your tuber, your tray, and your adventurous spirit, because this is just Part 1.

Watch the full video right now on my homepage.
Stick around for Part 2 where I’ll show you how to take your cuttings.
Then in Part 3, we’ll cover when to plant them out and what to expect.

Let’s grow something beautiful together.

P.S. If you’re not ready to grow your own special dahlias yet, head to www.stripeycaterpillar.com to shop our seed-grown, totally unique, one-of-a-kind dahlia products to bring colourful dahlias into your life until you are ready to start growing them yourself.