The St Louis Dahlia Society holds one meeting a month year round. Meetings are always on a Tuesday from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM and are held in the Primrose Room at the Commerce Bank Building at the Missouri Botanical Gardens. The building address is 4651 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110. Find specific meeting information below.

Kickoff Meeting & Society Overview

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Meet & greet

  • What the Dahlia Society is and goals for the year

  • Delegate roles and select officers

  • Overview of what’s ahead (tuber exchange and three bloom showcase)

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Tuber Storage Check & Variety Selection Workshop

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • How to check tubers for rot, shriveling, eyes

  • Rehydration techniques

  • Reviewing catalogs & recommended varieties

  • Members share favorites + “must-grow” list

  • Discussion of tuber exchange logistics

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Dividing Tubers & Starting Cuttings

Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Hands-on demo: dividing tubers, identifying eyes

  • When to pot up tubers indoors

  • How to take cuttings for extra plants

  • Best soil mixes & grow-light setups

  • Disease prevention (stem rot, mildew, virus awareness)

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Soil Prep & Garden Planning

Tuesday, April 21st, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • How to prepare dahlia beds

  • Soil testing and amending (compost, peat, lime, etc.)

  • Spacing and layout planning (height groups, color palettes)

  • Staking systems comparison

  • When to plant outside in the STL climate

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Planting Dahlias & Early Growth Care

Tuesday, May 19th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Proper planting depth, spacing, and labeling

  • How to plant without overwatering

  • Early season pest control (earwigs, slugs, rabbits)

  • When and how to pinch for bushier plants

  • Preventing legginess

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Pest, Disease, and Water Management

Tuesday, June 9th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Identifying common pests in STL

  • Integrated pest management

  • Powdery mildew prevention

  • Watering best practices during heat

  • Securing plants against storms

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Bloom Prep, Disbudding & Shaping Plants

Tuesday, July 21st, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • How to disbud and why

  • How to encourage longer stems for arrangements

  • Fertilizing during bloom season

  • Heat stress management

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Peak Bloom Care, Arranging & Three-Bloom Showcase

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • How to Cut Dahlias for Maximum Vase Life

  • Beginner-Friendly Floral Arranging Demo

  • Bring in Three Blooms Showcase

  • Bloom Performance Roundtable

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End-of-Season Dahlia Care & Preparing for Digging

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • When to stop fertilizing

  • How to know when to dig

  • Labeling before tops die back

  • Evaluating varieties: which ones to keep, swap, or retire

  • Bring in Three Blooms Showcase

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Digging, Curing & Storing Tubers

Tuesday, October 20th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • When to dig after frost

  • Washing, curing, and proper drying methods

  • Storage containers & medium (peat, vermiculite, wood shavings, saran wrap)

  • Preventing rot and shriveling

  • Labeling systems for winter

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Storage Troubleshooting & Tuber Sale Planning

Tuesday, November 17th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Handling mold, shriveling, or rot

  • Checking tubers mid-storage

  • Planning next year’s program topics

  • Planning the Following Year’s Tuber Sale

  • Discuss Upcoming Year-End Celebration

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Year-End Celebration + Planning Social

Tuesday, December 15th, 2026
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

  • Holiday Social

  • Group Reflection: What Worked This Year

  • Planning for the Upcoming Year

  • Wishlist for 2026 Dahlias & Activities

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