4 Ways to Treat Narcissus Bulbs after Flowering

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Narcissus is a hardy plant that will continue to bloom beautifully in your garden year after year. Daffodil bulbs can be stored over the winter and reused the following year with little effort. This article will give you some tips on how to keep your daffodils blooming.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Caring for Narcissus Planted Outdoors After Flowering

Step 1. Do not cut the foliage after flowering

It is very important not to cut the foliage of the daffodils after flowering.

• This is because the plant uses the leaves to make energy from sunlight, energy it needs to survive the winter and to flower again in the spring.
• The foliage should not be cut for at least 2-3 months after flowering.

Step 2. Remove the withered, brown foliage

Instead of cutting the foliage right after flowering, wait until it wilts and dies on its own. Then, once the withered foliage has turned brown and wilted, it can be removed by pulling or trimming it.

Step 3. In the fall, provide your bulbs with good nutrition with a water-soluble fertilizer

It is important to feed the bulbs especially at this time of year, as this is when the roots develop most vigorously.

Step 4. Give the narcissus bulbs a layer of organic mulch

It is also a good idea to give your bulbs an annual cover of organic mulch.

• Do this before the soil cools, ideally in the summer or fall.
• 7 to 10 cm of well-decomposed manure or leaf compost will do.

Method 2 of 4: Caring for Narcissus Planted in Pots After Flowering

Step 1. Fertilize container planted daffodils with animal meal

Container planted daffodils need a little more attention than those planted on the ground. After flowering ends, cover the top of the container with a fertilizer such as bone meal.

Bone meal can be very smelly, so it is advisable to keep the container outside for a day or two afterwards

Step 2. Allow the flowers to wilt and avoid watering them

If you intend to keep the bulbs in the same container until the next year, give the flowers time to completely wilt - it usually takes a couple of months. By this point, the foliage should have started to die.

Once the flowers have disappeared, turn the container on its side for about 3 months and avoid watering

Step 3. Care for the daffodil during the fall and winter

Put the container back on its feet once more in the fall and give it a good watering. This watering is necessary for the bulbs to bloom again the following spring.

• Daffodils prefer an acidic soil, so to counterbalance the alkaline effects of tap water you can add a little ironite (a mineral supplement) to the water. Alternatively, water them with rainwater.

  

• If you live in an area with very severe winters, bring the containers indoors during the cold season, as Narcissus bulbs don't even thrive in pots during freezing conditions.

Step 4. Consider planting spent narcissus bulbs outdoors

Daffodils will survive for up to 3 years in a container, but the flowers will never look beautiful after the first year.

• For best results, plant spent bulbs outdoors after the foliage has died and replant fresh bulbs in your container along with fresh compost for the next flowering season.
• The method of transplanting spent narcissus bulbs from a container to the ground is described in the following section.

Method 3 of 4: Transplant Daffodils to Ground from a Vase

Step 1. Move the daffodils outdoors in the summer

Indoor grown or container planted daffodils can be moved outside to be planted in the ground after flowering. The best time to do this is after they bloom and when the foliage has died. Generally the most suitable period is summer.

Step 2. Find a sunny area in the garden with good drainage

A sunny area is necessary, because daffodils need sunlight to grow. Well-draining soil is needed, because narcissus bulbs easily rot in wet soil. Also remember to weed the area where you will plant them.

Step 3. Add organic material to the soil

Incorporate a lot of compost or organic matter (such as well-decomposed horse manure) into the soil before planting. If you're not sure how much to use, cover the soil with organic matter to a depth of 5-10cm, then dig the soil to the depth of a spade.

Step 4. For each bulb to be planted, dig a hole 3 times the width of the bulb itself

It means approximately 15cm for a 5cm 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.

Step 5. Fill the hole with soil and water well

You could also enrich the surface (add a top layer) with fertilizer or mulch. Narcissus bulbs that have been relocated to the ground should bloom again the following spring.

Method 4 of 4: Divide and Transplant Daffodils After Flowering

Step 1. Divide and transplant narcissus bulbs every 7-10 years

After a few years, daffodils can multiply in dense clusters and become a little too numerous. This occurs when the original single bulb multiplies into a cluster of several Siamese bulbs producing an offshoot known as "offspring".

• This can cause smaller, smaller blooms, so it's a good idea to prune and shed this cluster by transplanting and dividing narcissus bulbs.
• Splitting the bulbs also means you can spread your daffodils over a larger area. You need to do this every 7-10 years to get the best out of your daffodil area.

Step 2. Wait until the growing season is over before you start transplanting

The best time to transplant your daffodils is early summer, when the growing season is over and the flower foliage has wilted and turned yellow or brown.

• 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 a part of the plant is still visible above the ground.

Step 3. 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 spade

Step 4. Gently separate the narcissus bulbs with your hands

Once you have located the bulb, 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 (so-called scions) as you need to replant. Be aware that the smallest offspring will not flower for a year.

  

• Discard bulbs that are damaged, mushy, or showing signs of rot.

Step 5. It is best to replant the bulbs quickly enough if possible, although they should survive several weeks out of the ground if delay is unavoidable

• 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.