Daffodil / Lent Lily
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
description
Daffodil is a familiar spring bulb with cheerful trumpet-shaped yellow flowers.
benefits
- Flowering
- Suitable for containers
warnings
- Toxic to cats
- Toxic to dogs
How to care for Daffodil
sunlight
In the wild, daffodils flower in open grassland and woodland before the canopy closes. Give potted bulbs the brightest spot you have while they are growing and flowering.
Full sun
A sunny south or west-facing window is ideal. Aim for several hours of direct sun daily to support sturdy stems and good flowering.
Light partial shade
They also grow well with bright light and a few hours of gentle morning sun, especially in warmer rooms. Low light can cause weak, leaning growth and fewer flowers.
watering
Water thoroughly while daffodils are growing, then let excess drain away. They need evenly moist soil in leaf and flower, but bulbs quickly rot in soggy compost.
Autumn to late spring
Water potted bulbs when the top 2-3 cm of compost feels dry, roughly every 5-10 days in cool weather and every 3-5 days in warm, sunny spring conditions. For garden bulbs, give a deep soak about weekly only during dry spells.
After flowering and summer dormancy
Keep watering while the leaves are green, as they feed next year's bulb. Once foliage has yellowed and died back, stop routine watering and keep pots on the dry side until autumn. Light, warmth, pot size, and a free-draining mix all change how quickly soil dries.
humidity
Indoor daffodils
Daffodils come from cool, moist temperate habitats, but they cope well with normal household humidity. Aim for roughly 40-60% while they are growing and flowering.
Air below about 35%, especially near radiators, can brown leaf tips, shrivel buds, and shorten the flowers. Move pots away from heating vents and keep the compost evenly moist, not soggy.
When the air is very dry
- Stand the pot on a pebble tray with water below the pot base.
- Group plants together, but keep good airflow around the leaves.
- Avoid misting the flowers, which can mark blooms and encourage rot in cool conditions.
temperature
Growing and flowering
Daffodils are cool-season bulbs from European meadows and woodland edges. They flower longest in cool conditions, while indoor warmth above 18°C (65°F) quickly shortens the display and speeds leaf yellowing.
Established bulbs can stay outdoors through winter in suitable cold climates, but containers need shelter from repeated freezing and thawing. After flowering, let the leaves grow in normal spring temperatures until they yellow naturally.
nutrition
March - May
Feed potted daffodils every 3-4 weeks while the leaves are green, using a balanced liquid fertilizer at about half strength. Established garden bulbs usually need only a light bulb fertilizer application as shoots emerge if the soil is poor. Stop feeding once foliage yellows and dies back.
Potassium
Potassium supports sturdy growth and helps the bulb replenish its reserves for next spring. A balanced fertilizer or bulb feed provides enough without pushing soft, leafy growth.
soil
Moisture-retentive, free-draining soil
Daffodil bulbs root best in loose soil that holds some moisture in spring but never stays waterlogged. Use a loam-based mix with compost, and add grit or coarse sand in heavy soil or containers to keep water moving around the bulbs.
pH 6,0 - 7,0
This is slightly acidic to neutral, which suits most daffodils. Ordinary garden soil or a quality bulb compost is usually suitable. Avoid strongly acidic mixes and improve very heavy soil with compost and grit before planting.