Daffodils are probably one of the most popular easter plants. In Sweden, we even call them "Easter Lilies".But daffodils are so much more than that. They are easy to grow, low maintenance, perennial and oh so beautiful.So in this guide, we are going to go over everything you need to know about daffodils, to help you get a vibrant and colorful garden.
Why should you grow Daffodils?
Daffodils are not only pretty, but an extremly durable and easy to care for plant. And pest resilient, since they are toxic to most animals. This does include pets, so make sure your furry friends keep away from them.
They also have a long blooming period, and can bloom from beginning of spring to early summer with the correct care.And as previously mentioned, it is probably the most iconic easter plant, so planting them in your garden can really bring that lovely easter feeling.
What kind of daffodil should I grow?
When it comes to daffodils, most of us think of the classic big yellow variety, but there are so many more varieties of daffodils!
- Trumpet daffodils - The most common variety, with a prominent, big, cup shaped flower. Perfect for planting in its' own pot, in your garden beds, and later to use as cut flowers.
- Double daffodils - A more ruffly kind of daffodil, almost resebling roses. As the name suggests, they grow double, ruffly flowers that give them a more round shape.
- Miniature daffodils- a smaller variety, ex Tête-à-Tête, that are perfect to squeeze in between plants or to use in rock gardens.
- Small-cupped daffodils - smaller, flatter flowers than trumpet daffodils, perfect for borders or as fillers in your garden.
When should I plant daffodils?
To get beautiful blooming daffodils for spring, planting should be done around September/October. This is so that your flowers get enough time to develop their roots before spring. And no need to worry, they won'y freeze or die, they can handle the cold if they have been pre-chilled.
If you live in a warmer climate, you might need to pre-chill your daffodil bulbs. To do this, simply place them in your fridge for 6-8 weeks before planting.
How do I plant daffodils?
Ok, enough about when and what kind, how do you actually plant daffodils?
To do so, you will need:
- A planting spade
- Garden Gloves
- Garden markers, to mark out where they were planted
And here´s how you do it:
- Start by picking your location, preferably a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
- Loosen the soil down to 12 inches, and add compost or other organic material to give better drainage.
- Dig some holes for your bulbs, about 2-3 times deeper than the size of the bulb. Usually this means about 6 inches deep. Give them about 5 inches between each hole, to give your daffodils proper space to develop roots.
- Place your bulbs with the pointy side up, cover with soil and water. And don't be stingy with the water, water plentifully untill the soil is moist but not wet. Just don't overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
How do I care for my planted daffodils?
After planting your daffodils, they really don't need that much care to be honest. They are sturdy, durable plants that only require the bare minimum of watering ocationally if the soils starts drying up completely. After your daffodils are done blooming, it is important to avoid over watering and excessive moisture in the soil, since the bulbs go dormant during summer and watering will only lead to root rot.
If you want to fertilize to help them out a bit anyways, use a slow-release fertilizer just as you start seeing shoots on your daffodil. And after bloom, you may use bone-meal or bulb food to stimulate future blooms.
You will need to remove the flowers of your plants when they are done blooming, to encourage your plants to develop new flowers instead of seeds. But don't cut the leaves until they yellow and wilt naturally, since the leaves store energy and nutrients your plant needs.
You may also need to divide your plants, since daffodils have a tendency to multiply on their own. If you notice your daffodils start to form clusters and that they don't bloom like they are supposed to, you need to divide the clusters. To do this, dig up the clusters and divide the bulbs during summer or fall. This isn't something you need to do every year, just about every 4 years.
Cut daffodils
When your daffodils are at their prettiest you might want to bring them inside as cut flowers, but how do you cut them and care for them while in a vase?
While planting outside, co-planting daffodils and tulips works just fine, they might even help protect your tulips, but don't put them in a vase together. The daffodils are a bit toxic to the tulips, and can clog the stems of your tulips, so use two different vases for your spring flowers.
Now that that is out of the way, lets get some daffodils inside!
- You should start when your daffodils are just about to bloom, to make sure they last a long time indoors.
- Cut at an angle, about 45 degrees a bit down the stem on the plant.
- Choose a clean vase, fill it with lukewarm water and put your daffodils inside.
- Change the water out every few days.
Common issues with daffodils
- No flowers - If you notice that your plants don't bloom like they used to, is usally because of lack of nutrients or the previously mentioned clustering your plants may do. Try dividing your plants or adding fertilizer to fix for next year.
- Root rot - One of the few things that can get to your plants, try watering less and stop watering during summer.
- Yellowing leaves- usually a sign of overwatering, try watering less or provide better drainage.
Now you know everything you need to know about daffodils! Do you have any tips or tricks, comment below!
