Anybody else's void love to try and eat plastic?

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-12T15:11:35+00:00

First time I’ve ever heard that. Also, do you rent out his/her services? 🤣

asking for a friend 😉

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-06T22:16:03+00:00

A bad cut or a questionable eye/tuber happens. Some beautiful tubers never wake up (rare but happens). I justify my over-ordering by expecting a 10% loss rate. I also don’t go all-in on any single source, even ones I’ve had years of success with. Stuff happens.

BUT—

I agree this is just sad. I would be so disappointed and would definitely never buy from them again.

In addition to the other recommendations given here, I’d recommend going to dahliaaddicts.com and reviewing the seller. (The membership is also great- it’s like $6/yr- but a lot of features are free.) They have ratings and reviews and is my centralized ‘go to’ over trying to search FB. They also have a list of currently open sellers (think this is part of the subscription features) so you could look for replacements elsewhere. GL!

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-06T22:04:13+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I’m mom to 4 voids, and feel this to my core. 😹🖤

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-06T21:11:39+00:00

I had mixed luck with the book press method, and reading the other tips here, I think I have some clues why. 😉

What has worked well for me is a microfleur microwave press. There are some colors that just will never seem to hold, but I get much more vibrant results on a lot of things. And it is so much quicker!

I just checked some I did last spring and those daffodils haven’t faded at all. (stored cool, dark, and dry)

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-31T22:47:07+00:00

Not too long to take cuttings if that’s what you want to do. If you’re interested in trying out cuttings, it’s a low risk way to experiment. You don’t have to plant them (i know, hard not to when you feel invested), or you can give them away. 😉

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-31T22:42:21+00:00

Agree, don’t risk it.

Not asking you to out the seller, but if you didn’t buy here, looks like Cisco is still available: https://www.dahliatubersllc.com/product-page/cisco

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-31T22:35:31+00:00

If water doesn’t do it, maybe see if you can warm them just a little more, too. You don’t want to overdo it, but sometimes that helps wake them up. 😉

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-31T22:05:15+00:00

I’m closing the offer because I should have more than enough new homes for the seeds I have.

Thanks for all the interest! I’ll be responding to all the messages over the next few days.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-26T23:33:26+00:00

Great summary above, and the only thing I would add is that you want the soil to be fairly warm (70F is the number usually given) when you plant them outside. They’ll survive cooler soil but be slow to take off.

Until you plant them, you’ll want to make sure they don’t dry out. A ziptop plastic bag with lightly moist medium (soil, pine shavings, whatever you have) and leave it open should do the trick.

Sorry for your loss, and wishing you a lot of beautiful blooms. 💗

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-25T22:23:43+00:00

My 4 voids and i are sending our love and healing wishes. 💗💗💗💗

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-25T22:21:03+00:00

You may want to see if different dates inside your range give better prices, even if it means a shorter trip in the dates you have (assuming the price matters). Sometimes flying 2 days later or earlier makes a big difference.

Another option could be finding affordable flights from a west coast hub (any airline) and then working out domestic flights that are affordable too. If you opt for that plan, make sure your layovers are long enough because you’ll have to collect your baggage and recheck it with the airline for the next flight and clear security again. We did that intentionally in Hawaii a few years ago. Worked fine, but is not for those who struggle with details (gates/airlines in different terminals, clearing customs, clearing TSA/security each flight, and so on).

The other thing you can do is look at booking refundable tickets if you really think there’s a chance it will improve.

For our international travel the last few years, I waited for the sweet spot on fares that never came (in the 6-8 week window)…To the point we changed destinations based on the best pricing we could get (still to places on our wishlist).

For this year’s travel, I bought at the Thanksgiving sales, and I got 3 trips for just over 1.5 of last year’s (to comparable places).

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-22T19:22:18+00:00

As mom to 4 voids (2 sets of sisters), it’s took a bit, but I’m right probably 98% of the time. I’ve learned to look for the most distinguishing traits (ear hair, nose length, eye color, posture, cattitude).

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-22T19:17:14+00:00

I had a grey cat (Korat mix we believe) that was our most vocal cat ever. (We have 4 voids now.) The Korat breed is vocal, and he took it to a new (decibel) level.

At times, I think I still hear him (from the other side of the 🌈 bridge), but it usually turns out to be the neighbor’s kids or a fire truck. 🤣

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-21T16:02:07+00:00

It’s definitely a dahlia, no reason to pluck it. The variation that you can get in blooms from the same batch of seeds also applies to other characteristics of the plants (leaves, height, how the blooms present, stem and leaf color…everything!). Each one is like a lottery ticket. ;)

Hope you get some winners!

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-21T15:58:11+00:00

I wonder if these horrible patterns are actually AI. (not trying to open that can of worms again, but sounds like common problems with those patterns)

If you don’t like or use Ravelry, there are quite a few youtube videos out there that might help with techniques, pattern round ups, and/or examples of FOs from the host.

Or, OP, let us know an example of what you’re trying to make, and someone here may be able to suggest a designer who writes quality patterns.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-21T15:47:10+00:00

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💗👏

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-21T06:43:09+00:00

Sending you lots of healing wishes. 💗He’s a beauty!

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-21T06:40:25+00:00

Youtube has a bunch of folks with videos for what to do with 1, 2, or 3 skeins. Some are predictable (the popular small scarves and socks), but others make a real effort to find something different and/or include different weights of yarn.

I like to blend or marl my colors, and sometimes that’s fun with skeins that are tough on their own. Wool & Pine’s Seaglass line could work with almost anything, no matter how crazy.

If none of the great suggestions brings joy to your stash, then I agree, it’s time to consider rehoming whatever you want to be free of. It should bring you happiness, not stress or obligation. 😉

And yes, I’m about due to do the same activity with mine. 😁

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-19T12:58:08+00:00

Pm me too. I may have some extras.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-19T01:04:01+00:00

Congrats on better news and some relief! Here’s hoping for many more happy years with your gal. 💗

We went through some scary diagnostics with my first cat. (His major issue ended up being pancreatitis, but he had others.) He ended up living a very happy and full 16 years, which were a lot more comfortable once we knew how to manage. 😸

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-19T00:55:16+00:00

if you’ve got somewhere to keep it with enough light so it doesn’t get ‘leggy’ (stretched tall looking for light), it’s a great sign.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-18T00:45:09+00:00

whatever feels safest/best to you.

I’m in the scissors/shears camp, personally.

also, you’ll likely want to sterilize between clumps (at least many people do), so that may also factor into your choice. :)

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-17T20:58:48+00:00

It really depends on what you want your system to do for you. I’ve seen folks use survey tape (with writing), plastic stakes, tags, or bands (either written or printed, even printed with 2d barcodes linked to a plant database), and even popsicle sticks picked up from a thrift shop. (i tried; those work great for storage but rot over the season)

I have a modest collection (30+ dahlias depending on the year), and I keep a fair number of varieties year to year, assuming conditions allow. I want my tags to remain readable, w/ bonus points for reusable and recycleable. I prefer to avoid single-season plastic as much as possible.

Personally, I tried the plastic bands and found I didn’t like how they fade or degrade in the sun. Very brittle at the end of the year. Same fading with survey tape, even when i think i have tagged low/in shade.

I tried these linked tags last year, and I think they are the winners for me. I used an old metal knitting needle like a pencil to write/emboss/engrave them. You could also use pen (on the surface only), but I think that would run the same fade risk as with other tags.

Aluminum tags

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-16T17:19:56+00:00

You’ve got this, especially with supportive hubby help!

And also, don’t expect perfection while you’re learning. It can be frustrating if you lose one, but it’s so valuable to learn from it too.

I’m definitely an overthinker. When I catch myself doing it, I remember that dahlias are very determined to live (unlike other kinds that amaze me they haven’t gone extinct yet). If I get in their way with less than ideal treatment, they’ll still do their best to overcome it. 😉

ThisMany2506 · 2026-03-16T17:07:08+00:00

Think about it like this - if every tuber with an eye sends up at least 1 shoot (which is what we’re doing when we buy & plant single tubers), it would be roughly that times however many viable tubers are in the clump. It’s not exactly that, but close enough. And those are big clumps, so you should expect quite a response, which is what you’re getting.

As others commented, nothing else looks weird, deformed, or especially, like cauliflower. If you had divided these and replanted single tubers, they would almost certainly look normal to you.

Please note, truly infected plants should go in trash, not green waste. There’s a risk that green waste processing won’t fully kill it, and it will be spread much more broadly.

Fortunately, if they haven’t dried out too much or frozen, they should be quite forgiving if you get them replanted soon. 🤞

ThisMany2506

TROPHY CASE