How to Grow Narcissus (Daffodils)? Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Narcissus is a plant with a very elegant character, usually appearing in people's homes and public places in the form of water culture. Although there is plenty of experience and information about growing narcissus, most people are not very familiar with the specific cultivation details of narcissus.
How to Grow Narcissus
1. Soil culture means planting it in soil in a flower pot. The bulb you buy may not have sprouted yet. First bury the bulb in the flower pot, then cover it with about one centimeter of soil, water it thoroughly, and place it in a cool, airy place to wait for it to sprout. After sprouting, it can be exposed to normal sunlight.
2. Another planting method is sand culture, which means growing narcissus in pure sand. Place the narcissus bulb in the sand and cover it with some sand as well. The water still needs to be sufficient. After that, follow the same method as above and place it in a shady, ventilated place to wait for sprouting.
3. The most common method is water culture of narcissus. Prepare a flower pot specifically for water culture, fill it with water, and place the bulb inside so that the whole bulb is submerged in the water, but there should not be too much water. If the water reaches the sprout, it can easily cause the sprout to rot. First place it in a place without much sun to let it sprout. After sprouting, it can be exposed to sunlight.
4. What these cultivation methods all require attention to is this: never let the narcissus run out of water. As soon as you see that the soil is dry or the water is low, replenish it immediately. For water culture especially, the water should be changed frequently. If the water is not changed, there will be an odor inside, and dirty water can easily cause the narcissus bulb to rot. Also, after sprouting, make sure it can get sunlight every day. But excessively high temperatures are also not good.
5. When growing narcissus, if you think its shape is very ordinary, you can also make use of your own craftsmanship and reshape it. Carve out some interesting and fun shapes, and the narcissus will look even more beautiful.
Narcissus Cultivation Methods and Precautions
1. Care Methods
During the day when there is sufficient sunlight, it should be placed in a spot exposed to sunlight, and at night it should be put back indoors (one point is very important: all the water in the pot should be poured out, and in this way the growth of the leaves is controlled). The next morning, add clean water again, and be sure not to move the bulb.
When it has just been potted, narcissus should have its water changed once a day, and later once every 2-3 days. When it forms flower buds, it can be watered once a week. Make sure the narcissus blooms in about 45 days, so that the flowering period can last more than a month.
2. Precautions
1. Control the flowering period
Grown in water in autumn and winter, it blooms in spring, over a period of about 40-45 days.
2. Prevent excessive growth
During water culture, remove the brown outer membrane, cut vertically and horizontally into the narcissus bulb, and place it in a shallow pot for cultivation. (Be sure not to damage the flower buds.) Sufficient light avoids leggy leaf growth.
How to Prevent “Blind Flowers”
“Blind flowers” refers to the phenomenon in which, during water culture of narcissus, the flower scape dies midway, the flower buds wither, or the flower buds decline before opening. The “blind flower” phenomenon is mainly caused by the following reasons:
1. Poor quality narcissus bulbs: the bulb is small and the flower buds are poorly developed; the bulb has suffered from pests and diseases, the basal plate is dry and decayed, few roots develop, and the constitution is weak.
2. Improper care: infrequent water changes, insufficient light, excessively high room temperature, and poor ventilation cause leggy leaves and weak flower scapes. In addition, bumping and damaging the roots and flower scapes when changing water can also lead to “blind flowers.”
3. Improper season for water culture: for example, if the bulb is in dormancy before Frost's Descent or if water culture is carried out after Pure Brightness when temperatures rise, “blind flowers” will appear.
To prevent “blind flowers,” first choose high-quality bulbs for cultivation. When growing in water, use clean water, and tap water should be stored for one day before use. Also, make sure the narcissus gets sufficient light, no less than 6 hours per day. Also pay attention to indoor ventilation, keep the temperature at 12-15 degrees, and when the weather is dry, spray the narcissus plant with water every day.
Is Narcissus Suitable for Indoor Planting
Narcissus is not suitable for indoor planting. The reasons are as follows:
1. Narcissus is somewhat toxic. Its toxin is located in the narcissus bulb and is called lycorine. If eaten by someone, in mild cases it causes vomiting, enteritis and other illnesses; in severe cases it can cause fainting, and in even more serious cases it can be life-threatening.
2. At present, the basic narcissus varieties in China are all domestic narcissus. The two most important are Yulinglong and Jinzhanyintai. Their floral fragrance drifts about, and they are fragrant and elegant, yet they carry a large amount of toxins. Domestic narcissus usually blooms during or after the Spring Festival, so family members must be prevented from eating it by mistake.
3. Pay attention to indoor ventilation. When narcissus blooms, its pollen is extremely harmful to pregnant women. The sap of the flowers and leaves can cause skin redness and swelling, and care must be taken that children do not eat it by mistake. Pay attention to safety.
4. Narcissus is best placed in a high location so that children cannot touch it. It would not be good if they were poisoned out of curiosity. Remember, if there is a wound on your hands, you must not touch narcissus or carve narcissus, so as to avoid infection and poisoning from the toxin.
5. The fragrance of narcissus fills the air. If only one pot is placed indoors, it will not cause any harm or effect to the human body. But if someone feels dizzy after smelling the fragrance of narcissus, then it is best to grow this flower outdoors.
It is widely known that narcissus is toxic, so when planting narcissus we usually hope to place it outdoors for cultivation. If it must be placed indoors for cultivation, then care must be taken not to eat it by mistake. At the same time, the pollen of narcissus is somewhat harmful, so indoor ventilation should be ensured.