The bright yellow blooms of daffodils are a wonderful sign of spring—but do you know how and when to plant them properly? Here are tips on planting daffodil bulbs, caring for daffodils, and what to do after they flower.
Daffodils are a hardy and easy perennial that grows in most regions of North America, except in the hottest, wettest areas, such as South Florida. Daffodils are a fall-planted bulb, so plant them in autumn and they will bloom in late winter or early spring.
The traditional daffodil flower may be a showy yellow or white, with six petals and a trumpet-shape central corona, but many cultivated varieties (“cultivars”) exist today. Leafless stems bear between 1 and 20 flowers; sometimes the flowers need to be staked so that they don’t weigh down the stems.
Daffodils are suitable for planting between shrubs or in a border, or for forcing blooms indoors. They look wonderful in a woodland garden and in large groves. You’ll find that many gardeners plant the bulbs not just by the dozens but by the hundreds! Daffodil flowers also make for great springtime cut flowers.
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The leaves manufacture food
The leaves manufacture food so leave the bulbs/plants in the ground for about 8 weeks after they flower to allow the foliage to dry up on its own. Don't tie up or otherwise alter the foliage. You can remove the flower head, when it is spent to avoid seed production.
When you lift the bulbs, brush off any dirt and put the bulbs aside in a temperate, dry area where they will get good circulation but not on top of each other. Some folks use shallow trays or old nylon stockings or onion bags or vermiculite.
The freezer is too severe. The refrigerator is a better choice. The time required is 12 to 16 weeks. Do not place apples or other ethylene-producing products in the fridge you are using for the bulbs but do not wrap the bulbs in plastic either; they need to breathe.
I planted daffodils about
I planted daffodils about three years ago and they have bloomed every year. My question is...this year we seem to have a bulb growing at the base of each closed flower. Is this reproduction or am i seeing something else?
Yes, the "bulb" you see is
Yes, the "bulb" you see is where the ovule is found (in the ovary) of wild daffodils. That is where seeds develop. It can take 5 to 7 years for a seed to become a plant.
The bulb in the ground is a quicker way for daffodils to reproduce.
For more on see see here: http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203...
Can these bulbs be cut off
Can these bulbs be cut off and replanted in another area?
i need to know if i can dig
i need to know if i can dig up my daffodils that are growing in apatio pot before they all stop flowering? or should I wait until lesves turn brown.
I have been searching off and
I have been searching off and on for months about tee tiny bulbs I dug up and I think I FINALLY may have found what I have been looking for....ovule - seeds of daffodils bulbs. An aunt gave me apprx 25 bulbs ten plus years ago. I planted them. They got covered and layered with leaves. It was suppose to a temp spot. I dug up last year what became apprx over 200 bulb/seeds. Bulbs came came up, didn't bloom, not ready. Didn't understand why no more greenery came up than what I transplanted. Wish me luck. She has recently passed and I really want to dedicate a really nice large area in memory of her calling them Aunt Jo's.
I have these double daffs
I have these double daffs along my walkway at my home. For years they have come up very green, grow beautiful buds AND THEY NEVER OPEN! They are in a sunny spot and believe they get plenty of water. Should I yank them out or is there something I can do to get the buds to open? They are double daffs.
Overcrowding can cause buds
Overcrowding can cause buds to dry up. If you haven't divided your bulbs the last few years you may want to dig them up and replant them this fall.
When my daffodil bloom is
When my daffodil bloom is spent is it proper to 'dehead' it or should I leave the old blossoms alone and let them fade away naturally?
You can remove the spent
You can remove the spent flower but leave the leaves. If a flower stalk produces a seedpod it is a good idea to remove it. This will allow the daffodil plant to focus its energy on the underground bulb.
I had to dig up my daffodils
I had to dig up my daffodils before the leaves died back because I was moving & wanted to take some with me. What do I do with them to give them the best chance of survival?
Plant the daffodils in the
Plant the daffodils in the ground as soon as possible or plant them in a container with soil.
Thank you!
Thank you!
I have double daffodils and
I have double daffodils and they have not bloomed for three years. They were weed eated in the spring but I don't know if the leaves had died or not. Will they bloom again or do I need to dig them up. Is it possible they need dug up and separated as they are not in big clumps.
If your daffodils have not
If your daffodils have not bloomed for 3 years it is best to dig the bulbs and move them to a sunny new location. Now is a good time to transplant the bulbs.
I have just realized I messed
I have just realized I messed up big time. When my daffodils quit blooming the are all across my front yard, I have my husband mow them down. NOT GOOD...I won't do that again. But tell me, those that did not bloom this year because we mowed them down last year, will they come up and bloom next spring or do I need to dig everything up and try again? I know I have messed up, but is it fixable?
Deb Woodhouse
Springdale, AR
If you cut back the leaves
If you cut back the leaves once they have died and yellowed this spring, there is a chance they will bloom next year.
I live in Northern Michigan
I live in Northern Michigan and have some potted daffodils that I would like to plant for next spring. Should I let them die back and follow the cleaning/refrigeration method and plant them in a couple months or wait until fall? Thanks!
You should let the daffodils
You should let the daffodils die back in their pots, place them outside if temperatures allow. Once you have removed the dead, yellow leaves, you can plant the bulbs in the ground.
If daffodils are pruned
If daffodils are pruned before the leaves die down I realize they won't bloom the next year but will they be able to bloom in two years? Here's my situation. I bought some wild daffodil bulbs from ebay and when they came they were trimmed with about 4" of some foliage remaining. Most had yellow foliage but some was still green. So the ones still green probably won't bloom next year but could they the following year or not? Thanks for any information.
If you cut back the leaves
If you cut back the leaves once they have died and yellowed this spring, there is a chance they will bloom next year.
Last spring my mom and I
Last spring my mom and I transplanted quite a few daffodils from my grandmothers house to mine. They successfully browned out and I cut them down as recommended. All but one group of bulbs have successfully sprouted and have blooms. My question is regarding the group that didn't come up.. are they dead? They were all planted the same day. Should I dig them up and move some bulbs to fill in the gap it the fall or wait a year to see if they appear next year?
Wait until the daffodils are
Wait until the daffodils are dormant (end of summer or early autumn) to check the bulbs and maybe transplant some. The daffodils that didn't grow this year will probably not come up next spring.
I have daffodils I bought at
I have daffodils I bought at a grocery store. I live in Florida. Can someone help me understand:
do I leave them in the small pot or can I transplant them into a bigger pot?
When they stop blooming do I take the bulbs out of the pot and put them in a dark spot in the back room or leave them in the soil?
I could not find anything on Southwest Florida daffodil care. Thank you.
Hi Cindy, After the leaves
Hi Cindy,
After the leaves have turned brown remove the bulbs from the pot and let them dry out. Put the dry bulbs in a paper bag and put them in the refrigerator for 8-10 weeks. Then plant them in a bigger pot and put the pot in a sunny location.
When is the best time to
When is the best time to separate overcrowded daffodils?
Also, do you dig the bulbs up & store them & them replant them at a certain time of year?
Detailed directions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Separate and transplant
Separate and transplant daffodil bulbs when they are dormant in late summer or fall. You do not need to store the bulbs.
I just accidentally dug up my
I just accidentally dug up my grandma's jonquils 2 days ago. I hope I understand your answer and I can replant them tomorrow.
I received a potted plant of
I received a potted plant of daffodils. I do not want to plant them outdoors. How do I care for them after the leaves have turned yellow and died? I want to keep them as an indoor plant. Also the bulbs can be seen at the top of the pot. Should I replant them to a larger pot with more potting soil?
Once the leaves have faded,
Once the leaves have faded, remove the bulbs from the soil and let them dry. When dry put them in a paper bag and store them in the refrigerator for at least 8 to 10 weeks.Then plant them in a bigger pot with enough soil to cover the bulbs.
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