After a few years the daffodils can multiply in dense clusters and become a little too numerous. This occurs when the original bulb multiplies into a cluster of several Siamese bulbs producing an offshoot usually called scions. This can cause shrunken and smaller blooms, so it's a good idea to thin and spread this cluster by transplanting and dividing daffodils. It also means that you can spread your daffodils over a larger area.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Splitting the Daffodils
Step 1. Divide and transplant the daffodils at the end of the growing season
Wait until the growing season is over before starting. When the growing season is over, the foliage will wilt and turn yellow or brown. This usually happens in late spring or early summer.
If you wait any longer you will not be able to find your daffodils, because the plant goes into dormancy, and its visible signs will hide under the earth. For this reason, try to intervene when there is still a part of the plant visible above the ground
Step 2. Dig up the daffodil bulbs without damaging them
Use a garden spade to dig up the bulbs, being careful not to damage them. We recommend digging far enough away from the plant to avoid accidentally shearing it.
The bulbs are typically planted quite deep, and over time the daffodil bulbs can move a little lower in the ground, so expect to dig about the depth of a medium-sized spade
Step 3. Gently separate the narcissus bulbs
Once you have identified the bulb, carefully separate it from the earth as carefully as possible, trying not to damage the roots. Gently separate the clusters of the bulbs by twisting and pulling with your fingers. Get as many divided bulbs (also known as scions) as you need to replant.
Smaller offspring can hardly flower within a year. Discard any that are damaged, mushy, or show signs of rot
Step 4. Replant the narcissus bulbs as soon as possible
It is best to replant the bulbs quickly enough if possible, although they should stand several weeks out of the ground if delay is inevitable. Store bulbs you don't need to plant right away in a cool, dry place.
An ideal way to store them is to put them in a paper bag in a dark corner of a garden shed
Method 2 of 3: Transplanting Daffodils Outdoors
Step 1. Find a sunny spot in the garden to replant your daffodils
Find a new spot in the garden for your divided daffodil offspring. Daffodils prefer a sunny area, although they tolerate partial shade for part of the day. A narcissus plant needs to receive at least three hours of sunshine per day.
Step 2. Plant narcissus bulbs in well-drained, composted soil
Daffodils need well-drained soil, so try to avoid planting them in any point where puddles form or where the water does not drain easily. Narcissus bulbs rot very easily in wet soils.
- It is a good idea to incorporate abundant compost or organic material, such as well-decomposed horse manure, into the soil. If you are not sure how much to use, cover the soil to a depth of 5 to 10 centimeters with manure and then mix with the soil.
- If your soil is very clayey and tends to retain water, you can add some gravel to the soil to improve drainage.
Step 3. Plant each bulb in a hole that is three times the width of the bulb
To plant each bulb, dig a hole that is three times the width of the bulb - that's about 6 inches deep for a 5-inch bulb.
- If possible, add a compost-filled transplanter to the bottom of the hole to prop the bulb. Place the bulb in the hole with the pointed end facing up.
- Fill the hole with soil and water well. You may like to garnish the surface (add a top layer) with fertilizer or mulch.
Step 4. Plant any remaining bulbs in the original spot where you got them
Now go back to the area where the bulbs originally grew and replant them using the same method. With numerous bulbs in the area it is possible that the soil is depleted of nutrients, so it is particularly important to enrich the earth with fertilizer at this point.
Step 5. Feed the transplanted bulbs with a water soluble fertilizer
In the fall, give the transplanted bulbs a good dose of water-soluble fertilizer. During the autumn the roots grow more actively, so feeding them during this period will help the transplanted bulbs to stabilize in their new home. All bulbs will appreciate an annual top coat of fertilizer or top mulch.
Method 3 of 3: Transplant the daffodils into a container
Step 1. Plant daffodil bulbs in a deep container with good drainage
You can also move the narcissus offspring into a container. Try to choose a deep pot to give their roots plenty of space (at least 20 centimeters). The pot should have drainage holes.
Step 2. Use bulb compost or regular pot compost
Both compost are particularly good for pot-grown daffodils. Fill the vase so that it is about two-thirds full, and plant the bulbs with the pointed end facing up. The bulbs should be close together but not in contact. Cover the bulbs with soil and water the pot.
Step 3. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place for the first few months
Move the container to a cool, dark spot, such as a shed or basement, for a few months, rather than keeping it in a warm home. Keep watering it and take it to a warmer, brighter place after about three months.
It is best not to put the narcissus containers in a warm place, as this inhibits flowering
Step 4. Fertilize potted daffodils with bone meal
After flowering, garnish the top of the container with a layer of fertilizer such as bone meal (this is pretty smelly, so you wouldn't be able to keep it indoors!).
Step 5. Replant fresh bulbs every year
Daffodils should survive three years in a container, but they won't make large blooms after the first year. For best results, plant spent bulbs outdoors after the foliage has wilted, and plant fresh bulbs in your container for the next flowering season.
Step 6. Transplant the daffodils from a container to the ground
Daffodils planted indoors and those previously planted in containers can be moved outside and planted in the ground. The best time to do this is after they bloom and the foliage has wilted. This will typically be in late summer or early fall.
