Daffodils Plants: Calm and beautiful flowers – Details and Care tips

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Flowering bulbous Daffodils plants are a great addition to the garden and their white and yellow flowers add a sense of calm and beauty to the garden. When given the right conditions to grow, these plants require very little care and maintenance.

Quick Details of Daffodils Plants

Contents hide

1 Quick Details of Daffodils Plants

2 Daffodils Plants Buying Instructions

3 Overview of Daffodils Plants

4 Usage and Advantage of Daffodils

5 General Care for Daffodils

6 Pests and other problems for Daffodils

6.1 Leaf Scorch

7 Propagation of Daffodils

Other Common Names	Narcissus, Jonquil, Daffodil
Type	Outdoor flowering plant
Maintenance	Low
Flowering	Spring
Light	Bright direct sunlight
Water	Regular watering during growing season.
Temperature	Depends on the species. Can thrive and bloom in warm and cold conditions.
Soil	Well draining slightly acidic soil
Fertilizer	Balanced fertilizer while blooming
Habitat	Europe and Asia
Toxicity	Yes
Common Diseases	Rot, slugs, bulb scale mite, narcissus bulb fly.
Scientific name	Narcissus poeticus

Daffodils Plants Buying Instructions

There are multiple varieties of Daffodils so buy of your choice.
If possible buy a bushy plant.
If possible buy a plant with buds instead of full blown flowers.

Overview of Daffodils Plants

They flowering perennial Daffodils plants belonging to the family of Amaryllidaceae. There are almost 50 species in this genera and has both medicinal, traditional and commercial value.

Daffodils Plants are bulbiferous plants and the leaves and the stems arise directly from the bulb. A single stem arises from the bulb which bears the single or cluster of flowers. The dark green arises around this stem in circles. The flowers are mostly yellow or white in color. They flower mostly during spring and are dormant in summer.

Usage and Advantage of Daffodils

Grown as a ornamental plant.
Used in traditional medicine.
The extracts are said to have anti microbial properties.
The essential oil is used in making perfumes.

General Care for Daffodils

Soil

They can be any kind of well draining , rich, fertile soil. A well draining potting mix for growing bulbs suits best for daffodils. They prefer a neutral to slightly acidic pH soil which has an ability to maintain enough moisture.

Water

Water the plants regularly during the growing period. The plants are mostly dormant during summer and does not require much water. Reduce the watering to ones or twice a week after the blooming.

Sunlight

They prefer bright direct sunlight. The plants can also thrive in partial shade. But intensive blooming is seen when they are placed in bright direct sunlight.

Temperature

The requirement of cold or warmth for bloom depends mostly on the species. However, most of the species can tolerate mild heat and cold conditions. They are not affected much by the change in humidity.

Special Care

Deadhead the flowers of Daffodils Plants ones they dry. Do not cut off the dying plant. Letting the plants stay attached to the bulbs helps in adding enough energy to the bulbs for next bloom. Cut and divide the rhizomes when they outgrow the pots. Add fertilizer to the soil before planting the bulb.

Fertilization

Daffodils Plants do not require much feeding. In case of poor soil quality, Feed the plants with any fertilizer or manure ones the leaves emerge. In cases of late bloom or no flowering, feed the plants with a fertilizer ones a month. The daffodils can thrive in a fertile soil without addition of any fertilizer.

Pests and other problems for Daffodils

Daffodils Plants are not prone to much infection and pests. The chemicals released by the bulbs keeps most of the predators at bay. Excess moisture can lead to rot. They are also attacked by some of the pests like slugs, bulb scale mite and narcissus bulb fly.

Leaf Scorch

It is a fungal infection caused by Stagonospora. The infected leaf tips turn reddish brown in color with yellow border. The infection can also spread to the flowers and it can develop spots and causes the premature die back. Use a mild fungicide or neem oil to get rid of the the infection.

Basal rot:

It is a fungal disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum F.sp. narcissi. The symptoms include premature dying back of the foliage, rotting of the bulb leading to soft mummified bulbs which spreads upward. Avoid providing the plant with excess nitrogen or fresh manure. Spray fungicide at the initial stages of infection. In case of severe infection, discard the plant.

In case of any fungal diseases, use a mild fungicide or spray neem oil. The pests can be easily gotten rid off by spraying water or neem oil.

Propagation of Daffodils

Propagation of the Daffodils Plants are done through bulbs. Select a healthy, large and firm bulb. Plant the pointy end facing upwards. The bulb should be planted at least twice deep as its height. Plant them at least 3-6 inches apart. Cover the bulbs with soil and place the growing tray in a place where it receives ample sunlight. Plant them right after winter. Water them whenever the soil dry till they sprout. If the bulbs are planted during winter, cover the tray and leave it in a dark spot till the temperature raises.

Daffodils plants can also be grown by division of tubers. Uproot the plants after bloom and divide the roots and plant them separately to develop into a new plant.