How to Grow Daffodils
 Contents | The List of the Flowers |
Data / Charm of Daffidils / Choosing Bulbs /
Planting Bulbs / Location / Watering / Pests / After the Flower / Utility / Medical Effect/ Example Breedings
Data
Botanical name: Narcissus spp
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Origin: Mediterranean
Type: Bulbs
Planting season: Autumn
Flowering season: Winter, spring
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Charm of Daffodils
Daffodils are ones of the representatives of spring blooming bulbs. Though their color variation is not abundant, their shape has lots of variations including single, double, and banches. Their fragrant feature is very unique, and they can be used for potpourris after the blooming.
They are very easy to grow. You may know how their reproduction ability is tough when you see them naturalized anywhere.
However, I still wonder why daffodils (narcissuses) are the origin of the word "narcist".
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Choosing Bulbs
As you know, there are various kinds of daffodils. You can choose the color, shape, size and the blooming season.
You should care not to choose the bulbs, with which the inside is empty and the weight is light. Such bulbs have been eaten by flies, possibly. And, it is recommended to choose the bulbs, which is not devided and larger than average.
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Planting bulbs
In both of Japan and America, the proper season is the end of summer or the beginning of winter, when it is still warm. However, in warmer areas, mid autumn is the proper season. Anyway, the cold weather during the winter is required for spring-brooming spieces.
However, autumn or winter-blooming spieces such as paper White, Grand Soleil D'or can grow indoor because they do not require the cold weather, and they are good for forcing.
To plant the bulbs in a container, you can plant them closely avoiding contacting each other. Cover whole bulbs with soil.
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Location
Most of the breedings like sunlight. Though some spieces can be grown indoor, they also require some lights to bloom (near the sunny window may be favorable).
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Watering
Water it throughly, after waiting the soil surface gets dry. Stop watering when the foliage is turning yellow and dying back.
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Pests
Narcissus bulb fries may habitate inside the bulbs. And, slugs also like them. See the links for how to control them.
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After the Flower
If you want to reuse the bulbs, pick the flowers from the stem right away after the flower has faded. Then, let the foliage die back.
You can keep the bulbs underground in gardens, however you may not be able to expect flowers on the second year in case of containers because separated bulbs do not grow enough.
It may take 2 or 3 years for small bulbs to have flowers. Dig out the bulbs in autumn on the second year, and replant them after deviding them into each bulb. They may not have flowers in this year, but you can grow the bulbs big enough to have flowers for the next year. Stop watering when the foliage is dying back, and keep the bulbs in the container, or you also can dig out and store them.
Small spieces may bloom on the second year, even if they are left in a container.
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Utility
The fragrant of daffodils calms down your mind. So, here is how to make moist potpourri, not to waste this fragrance.
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Medical Effect
Caution: It is not recommended to make medicines because it is risky to intake plants without professional knowledge.
See the details at Risk of the Plants and Aromatic Effect.
Medical Parts: Bulb, leaves and flowers
Indication: Irritation of the mucous membranes such as bronchial catarrh,
whooping cough, colds and asthma
Because the bulbs are quite poisoness, never eat them.
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Example Breedings
Rip Van Winkle / Cheerfulness, Salome, Paper White, Grand Soleil d'Or
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