Those are wonderful dahlias. They stay very compact and don't get tall and spindly. I can't remember if I even pinched them but to keep them compact, pinch them anyway. You have plenty of sun for them. I feel for you with the Voles. I lost all my clematis. They just tunneled down and ate the whole thing. It had taken 3 years for them to cover the arbor and now nothing. I have tried everything with the voles but my dahlias are in raised beds. I have never had voles there. Good luck.

Hi Carolina, Torrential rains don't sound ideal. If you keep them in a pot, it seems like it would be ideal to move them under shelter during the rains, then back out for sun. A lot of work, but possible. A lot depends on the expected size/height of the dahlia too. Your pot sounds a bit too small unless it is a smaller container dahlia (18-24 inches or so tall.) I've grown 4 ft dahlias in pots, but they were larger shrub pots each with a stake. (see the link below) They provided enough flowers and tubers, and got full height, but I think the garden dahlias of the same variety grew better overall. Could be the soil in the garden was better. Maybe your garden soil is more fertile as well or rose fertilizer is helping the dahlias along? I would think the sun needed for roses would be good for dahlias too, but I'd hope for at least 45 cm/ 18" all around and more space would be better for a larger dahlia. It can't hurt to try one there. Those are my thoughts without knowing much about Costa Rica, but it sure sounds nice! I wish you well in whatever you decide to do. They are tough enough to have grown this far, so you are on your way! Here is a link that might be useful: Growing dahlias in pots link

Amyly Ann, here are some care instructions on found online. Lets not even think about fertilizer right now, the plant doesn't need it yet as it has to recover from all the messing around were are doing to it, and it is in new soil so it is fine on fertilizer right now. http://houseplants.about.com/od/typesofhouseplants/a/LuckyBamboo.htm Caring for Your Lucky Bamboo Light: Lucky bamboo prefer bright, filtered sunlight, such as found under a rainforest canopy. Avoid direct sunlight as it will scorch the leaves. They are more tolerant of too little light than too much. If the plant begins to stretch, however, or the green fades, provide more light. Temperature: Lucky bamboo likes warmer temperatures of between 65ºF and 90ºF. Do not place the plants in front of air conditioning or heating vents. Potting Media: In addition to water, lucky bamboo can be grown in a well-drained, rich potting soil. Keep the soil moist, but not soaking. Water as you would any Dracaena species. The Dracaena genus has provided some of the sturdiest houseplants available today, including the every-popular D. deremensis. These plants, which are native to Africa, have been used as houseplants since at least the mid-19th century and are still popular because they possess the single most important quality in a houseplant: they’re pretty and fairly hard to kill. D. deremensis work as single windowsill plants or as part of a mixed group, with their various leaf patterns complementing and overlapping one another. Growing Conditions: Light: Low light is fine, but they like it a little brighter. New leaves will narrow if there isn’t enough light. Water: Keep evenly moist, although if you have to err, do so on the dry side. (But keeping it too dry will result in brown leaf tips.) Use non-fluoridated water as they are sensitive to fluoride. Temperature: Keep above 50ºF if possible. They do best in the mid-70ºs to low 80ºs. Soil: Loose, well-drained potting mix. Fertilizer: During growing, fertilizer with slow-release fertilizer or use a 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer at half-strength every month. Propagation: They root readily from cuttings. Push tip cuttings into warm soil and keep moist. They will usually root readily without use of rooting hormone. They should root within a month. Repotting: Repot annually into larger pots with fresh, free-draining potting soil. Grower's Tips: D. deremensis is a great plant for low-light conditions, but beware of low humidity. If the humidity drops below 40 percent for an extended time, the tips of the leaves can turn brown. Try misting the plant every day to provide humidity. It’s also sensitive to fluoride and excessive salts, so try to use nonfluoridated water and flush monthly to remove fertilizer salts. Growth may cease completely below 70ºF, but will resume when warmer weather returns. Iron deficiency can result in yellowing leaves between the veins—treat with an iron drench. They are susceptible to thrips and mealybugs.

Thanks for all the comments. I cannot have equal size uppers other than as drawn because of the placement of the window and the beams (it is a new build at the framing stage). I appreciate the comments about the backsplash and need to figure that out. I really do like practigal picture - but the cabinets are the same size but there is more on one side than the other. I do have an island on that is 8 feet by 5 feet and the wall with the range is 20' long.