As I read through the various postings I see a common thread that I refer to as "over-care." How I limit myself is as follows. My strategy is to properly amend the planting site to provide a suitable soil profile to the liking of the tuber. Once planted, I provide a biologic preventative treatment to foster microbial activity for a variety of reasons. At time of planting, thwarting potential fungal disease is crucial. With my soil balanced between good drainage, sufficient organic content and balanced nutrition to include a mycorrhizal inoculum. In addition, I mix up a batch of biological products to support my effort to keep my tubers healthy. So, I use Actinovate, Companion 2-3-2, Earth Juice - Catalyst, Ful-Power and Maxi-crop [liquid form]. This cocktail along with my addition of Jobe's Organic Granular fertilizer lends itself to a high degree of success. The planting site gets a lot of attention as I focus on increasing tilth through the addition of gypsum, azomite, live earth [humates], fish bone meal, kelp and composted manure. I really get down and dirty while creating these sites and love the challenge of finding the energy to do a really thorough job. In my area, unamended soil means heavy clay which if left unattended spells real disappointment over the season. Once, sufficiently amended it produces tremendous results and rewards us with a bounty of veggies, flowers, etc. Recognizing that a living soil is what provides us with a glorious garden, my effort to contribute to just that is later realized in the wellness of what it is we decide to grow for the season. Of course, I'd be the first to agree that there are a lot of approaches to how one plants and cares for their plantings. So, to this I say, find what works best for you and once you've completed the task...stand back and let Mother Nature do her thing. Analogous to watching a pot of water come to boil, we distract ourselves by weeding, mulching, pruning, and bickering all the while loving the joy of growing. [laughing as I sit scratching my mosquito bites from last evening.] I also highly recommend the use of azadirachtin products over neem oil, Monterrey Garden Insect spray [spinosad A & B] in combination with the azadirachtin and, of late, I have begun using Serenade - Biological Fungicide as a preventative in my effort to thwart gray mold, powdery mildew and the various leaf blights sometimes affecting our planting.

Forgot to ask-- did you cut a hole in the bottom of the small container so the sand stays REALLY wet- the water below isn't just for humidity- it's to keep the sand wet at all times. You're growing your cutting in the water- the sand is just to keep it standing up straight- which it will do if it's shorter. If you didn't cut a hole it won't be wet enough & the cuttings will wilt.

Crisis averted, was reading on here and someone mentioned stem damage as well as tuber being eaten so I went out, dug it up and the tubers look great so I figured wasn't that--then noticed somehow the stem had been damaged. It must have happened a little bit ago as there are already new sprouts coming from the tuber and under the damaged area (which I trimmed off), but how bizarre just yesterday it was still fine and today is when it manifested--must have just gotten to the point where it was no longer drawing nutrients/water. So it's been set back a fair amt as now the new sprouts have to grow before I'll see any blooms, but I'm glad it wasn't something more nefarious or a critter eating the tuber etc. I was worried about the 19 other dahlias in the bed!

How long has it been wilty for? A few of mine were wilted today after yesterday's torrential rain but I'm sure they will bounce back. They are in the ground though. Is there any other way you can dry out the soil without removing it all from the pot? Maybe move it somewhere to get A LOT of sun? Is it blooming? If so, I would put it somewhere sunny and enjoy the blooms for as long as possible and hope the plant doesn't die. I would rather enjoy the blooms now and replace the tuber later if I have to if it is an easily obtained variety.