Question

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Again thanks for the help with my questions.

I only water the Dahlias about every 4-5 days with what I thought was a really good watering.

It has been a very dry year here, actually a record dry year with hardly any rain so they have not gotten wet hardly at all unless I watered them.

On some of my smaller Dahlias the whole center turned brown and actually dried up, then awhile later new green growth started.  Some plants did not even bloom at all.  I blamed the manure I put into the soil.
The leaves on some of the plants are real hard and leatherly and the plants almost seem stunted and not a nice healthy color at all.

I have taken some cutting from the silver nettle vine and will try it outside for the winter, we usually get alot of snow cover so hopefully it will be ok.   Do you think I would be successful also with the verigated swedish ivy to leave it outside or is it a much more tender plant that the silver nettle?

Hope I am not bothering you with to many questions but it sure if nice to get professional help and you are so quick to answer.  I looked at your website, you seem like a real professionl in your field.

Thanks
Carlynn  

Answer
Carlynn,
Was the manure you used fresh or well composted? If it was fresh then the browning you describe could be caused by nitrogen burn.  (Browning can be a sign of fertilizer burn - too much chemical fertillizer or too fresh a manure)  Not blooming would also be a sign of too much nitrogen.  No bloom would also happen if the plants are in shade - dahlias need full sun.  The good news is that the tubers should be fine for next year.

Variegated swedish ivy is a zone 9 plant - if you live in a zone below 9 it won't survive outdoors.  It does very well as a houseplant, however, and it's easy to take cuttings from this Plectranthus.

all the best,
C.L.