Daffodils have spread over the last century for their ability to survive, spread and thrive in almost any climate. Just leaving the daffodils in the ground will usually produce acceptable results for any garden owner; however, a little effort is enough to give gardeners a fantastic reward of beautiful flowers year after year. Growing and multiplying daffodils is relatively simple, and their early spring foliage is a great indicator of the flowering season.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Growing Daffodils with Asexual Propagation
Step 1. Think about trying asexual propagation
Asexual propagation means duplicating the exact plant that grew the year before.
- When choosing which sprouts to use for this method, remember to choose the ones that work best in your area, so that only their characteristics will develop next year.
- To begin, wait until the plant has finished its flowering cycle and the leaves of the plant begin to die and turn yellow. This must be done in the summer to allow sufficient time for new growth before planting in the fall.
Step 2. Cut the daffodils
Trim the leaves of the narcissus plant down to the ground, leaving only a few inches. Remove mulch, stones, or other landscaping materials that you don't want to incorporate into the area's soil.
Step 3. Remove the bulbs from the ground
Dig around the area and lift the daffodils with a bent fork.
- Remove the bulbs from the bed and set them aside. On the bulbs there should be small shoots that are growing from small bulbs on the stem, buds and bracts.
- These small bulbs will produce new plants and can be immediately replenished, grow slowly and produce new flowers one to two years after planting - so plant them with the large bulbs from the father to give continuity to the daffodil.
- Then you will have to encourage growth. This can be done with three different methods.
Method 2 of 4: Treat the Bulb
Step 1. Realize that you will need to encourage growth
To promote the growth of the small bulb, it is necessary to treat the large bulb or mother bulb with a method to promote growth.
To do this you have to reproduce the natural trauma that the plant has to endure, to encourage it to develop the main bulbs
Step 2. Cut the bulbs into sections
The first method is simple: take the bulb and put it on a cutting board.
- Sterilize a large knife and cut each bulb into sections, like a cake - 6 to 8 sections for one bulb will be enough.
- Sprinkle the cuts with an antifungal powder and store them in damp sand in a cool, dark place, until the cool months of autumn arrive.
Step 3. Try to extract the heart of the bulb
The second method is to dig in the center of the bulb (very similar to digging a pumpkin). Once you have dug, sprinkle fungicidal powder and store in a cool place as before.
Step 4. Consider making three deep cuts in the bulb
Finally, you can make notches in the bulb by making 3 deep v-shaped cuts at the top of the bulb, quite similar to the first step, but this time without cutting the bulb. Again, sprinkle some powder on the bulb and store in a cool place.
Method 3 of 4: Caring for Bulbs During Vegetative Rest
Step 1. Check your bulbs often
During the dormant period while the plants are in a cool place, check the bulbs at least every 2 weeks.
- Remove any black or discolored part of the bulb. Check for bad smells and eliminate any damaged or diseased parts.
- If the bulbs are dry to the touch, mist them with a spray bottle and bury them back into moist soil.
Step 2. Inspect your bulbs before planting them in the ground
After the cold months arrive, take the bulbs out and give them a final check.
- Throw away wilted, black, mushy, or smelly bulbs.
- It is also advisable to throw away bulbs that have not produced small bulbs during storage.
Step 3. Replant the bulbs
Put the bulbs back into the ground and cover them. They should bloom in spring and when you dig them up next year they will have 20-30 small bulbs growing on the sides.
Method 4 of 4: Consider Sexual Propagation
Step 1. Learn that sexual propagation exists
Multiplying daffodils is mostly a trial and error process, so it's best to start with a large number of bulbs and try all types of multiplication before choosing one.
The first and simplest is sexual multiplication, so called because it requires the intervention of two plants
Step 2. Consider attempting sexed multiplication
Despite its name, sexual multiplication requires very little active involvement in actual multiplication.
You simply have to rely on the work of bees, pollen, and wind and harvest the seeds of narcissus plants after the blooms have died and a large pod of seeds has appeared
Step 3. Store the seeds and plant them in a protected area such as in a greenhouse or at home
The seed will generate a young bulb which can be transferred to another location to produce a narcissus.
