How to grow narcissus? A complete guide to planting and care methods

Growing narcissus is actually not much different from growing some other flowers and plants. Usually the general process is to first select the bulbs, then cultivate roots, then sprout, grow, and finally bloom. But exactly how to make the growing process go more smoothly is our focus today.

How to grow narcissus

1. There are particular requirements for selecting bulbs. The three main points to note are shape, color, and feel when pressed. Shape: high-quality narcissus bulbs are generally large, flat, and hard, with relatively wide spacing between the longitudinal vein stripes on the surface, a very tightly stretched middle membrane, bright skin color, a broad and thick root plate, and symmetrical small daughter bulbs growing beside the main bulb. Color: from the outside, bulbs that are dark brown, with intact outer membranes, bright luster, and no signs of rot or pest damage are considered superior. Pressing: pressing is the main way to select and identify how many flower scapes a narcissus has. You can hold the bulb between your thumb and index finger and press slightly firmly. If the outline feels columnar, elastic, and relatively solid, it is a flower scape; if it feels soft, with a flat outline and slightly weaker elasticity, it is mostly a leaf bud.

2. Choose an appropriate growing environment. Narcissus likes sunlight and warmth, requires high air humidity, is not very cold-tolerant, and fears heat. During the vegetative growth period, it needs moist but not waterlogged sandy soil. Unlike other perennial herbaceous flowers that go dormant in winter, narcissus has the characteristics of beginning growth in autumn, blooming in winter, storing nutrients in spring, and going dormant in summer.

3. Correctly choose either water culture or soil culture for cultivating narcissus. Water culture means growing it in a shallow basin of water. Place the narcissus, after sprouting treatment, upright into a shallow narcissus basin, and add water until it covers one third of the bulb. Quartz sand, pebbles, and the like can be used in the basin to fix the bulb in place. During the day, the narcissus basin should be placed in a place with ample sunlight; at night, move it indoors and pour out the water in the basin to control leggy leaf growth. The next morning, add clean water again, and be careful not to change the direction of the bulb. During the water culture period, narcissus especially needs to be given sufficient light. During the day it should be placed in a sunny spot, and at night it can be placed under lamplight. This can prevent the stems and leaves from becoming leggy, making the narcissus leaves short, broad, thick, and strong, with deep green leaf color and fragrant flowers. Water-cultured narcissus generally does not need fertilizing. If conditions permit, applying a little quick-acting phosphorus fertilizer during the flowering period can make the flowers bloom better. As long as you master the conditions for narcissus care, you can make “flowers bloom as you wish”; otherwise, flowering will be delayed, or it may even only grow leaves and not bloom.

Soil culture is less commonly used by families, namely using the cultivation method for most moisture-loving flowers to grow narcissus. In mid-to-late October, use fertile sandy soil to plant large bulbs into a small flowerpot with holes, burying half and leaving half exposed. A little fine sand should first be placed under the bulb to help drainage.

How to plant narcissus

1. First, after buying the narcissus seeds, wash them clean.

2. Take out the hydroponic holder and put the narcissus in, with the roots at the bottom and the top facing up.

3. Take out a fish tank, fill it with water, and then put the prepared narcissus hydroponic holder on it.

4. After placing it, check whether the water reaches the roots. If it has not yet reached them, continue adding water until it reaches the roots, and then stop adding water. It must not exceed the roots. After that, take the hydroponic holder off and put in the colored stones. About the right amount is enough; do not put in too many.

5. Then you can drip in a few drops of nutrient solution, but do not drip too much, otherwise it will not be good.

Note: When the water becomes dirty, be sure to change it. Do not wait until it turns completely yellow before changing the water. Expose it to more sunlight. If you have time, change the water every day. Generally, it can bloom in about 30 days.

Narcissus propagation methods

1. Offset bulb propagation: This is the most commonly used method. Offset bulbs grow on both sides outside the mother bulb and are connected to the mother bulb only at the base, so they easily separate from the mother on their own. In autumn, separate them from the mother bulb and plant them separately, and new bulbs will form the following year.

2. Offset bud propagation: Offset buds are buds wrapped inside the bulb. Only when performing bulb scoring do they separate from the mother along with the cut bulb scales. Pick out the white buds and sow them on a seedbed in autumn, and new bulbs will form the next year.

3. Twin-scale propagation: Using a bulb plate with two scales as propagation material is called twin-scale propagation. The method is to first place the bulb at a low temperature of 4C~10C for 4~8 weeks, then at room temperature cut the bulb plate into small pieces so that each piece has two scales, and cut off the upper end of the scales, leaving 2 cm as propagation material. Then use a plastic bag containing vermiculite with 50% moisture or sand with 6% moisture, put the propagation material into the bag, seal the bag opening, and place it in a dark place at 20C~28C. After 2~3 months, small bulbs can grow, with a bulb formation rate of 80%~90%. This method can be carried out in all four seasons, but April to September is better. After transplanting, the survival rate of the produced small bulbs can reach 80%~100%.

4. Tissue culture: Use MS medium, with 30 grams of sucrose and 5 grams of activated carbon added per liter. Use shoot tips as explants, or use stem plates with twin scales measuring 5X10 mm as explants, at PH5~PH7, and culture at 25C. About 10 days after inoculation, small protrusions form; after 20 days, they become small bulbs; after 1 month, transfer them to medium containing NAA 0.1 mg 1/2MS, and after 6~8 weeks roots and leaves form. Transplanted to the field, they can achieve 100% survival.

What narcissus symbolizes

At New Year, narcissus symbolizes——longing, expressing reunion.

Narcissus symbolizes longing for loved ones. It has an icy pink heart and orchid-like fragrant leaves, with upright and elegant stems and leaves. At the end of the year when the weather is cold and flowers are fading, it opens flowers with icy flesh and jade-like quality, giving off a light, elegant fragrance that makes people feel relaxed and happy.

The care of narcissus is very particular. It always follows the principle that you reap what you sow, and good effort brings good rewards. So the more careful we are during planting, the better the narcissus is likely to grow. At the same time, narcissus is a flower with very good symbolism in our country, and planting it well is also very beneficial for improving the home environment.