How to Grow Daffodils? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods
Daffodil, also known as trumpet narcissus, belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, genus Narcissus. Because the daffodil is a temperate bulbous flower, it prefers a cool climate and dislikes high temperatures and excessive moisture, with an optimal growing temperature of 10-15°C. In southern China, it is difficult to cultivate flowering bulbs, so bulbs are imported from abroad every year, grown for a short period to bloom, and after enjoying the flowers they can be discarded, with new bulbs purchased for cultivation the following year.
When purchasing bulbs, check whether they have been cold-treated. If the bulbs have not been cold-treated, after buying them place them in a refrigerator at 8-10°C for 40-50 days to break their dormancy, then cultivate them to effectively promote flowering. Many flower enthusiasts feel helpless when choosing bulbs, not knowing whether they are truly imported bulbs.
For cold-treated daffodil bulbs, plant them 50 days before Spring Festival. The growing soil is best as a slightly acidic, fertile sandy loam rich in organic matter. Bury organic fertilizer in the soil in advance, or use peat soil that has been composted with organic fertilizer mixed with a small amount of river sand for good results.
Usually, depending on the size of the pot, use a clumping planting style with 3-5 bulbs per pot, and the bulbs must be completely covered with soil. After planting, move them to a semi-shaded spot with about 50% sunlight, keeping the soil constantly moist. Once the leaf buds emerge above the soil surface, move the pot to an environment with about 70-80% sunlight for cultivation.
During the growing period, water once every two weeks with a dilute solution of monopotassium phosphate, and a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can also be applied. The optimal growing temperature is 15-20°C. Different light intensity, humidity and temperature can be used to regulate the flowering period, so as to achieve blooming exactly at Spring Festival.
Daffodils are commonly propagated by bulb division, with a natural propagation rate of up to 4-5 times. This is generally done in autumn. When propagating, twist off the small bulbs growing on both sides of the mother bulb to use as seed bulbs and plant them separately. To accelerate propagation, the mother bulb should be planted shallowly rather than deeply. If planted too deep, fewer daughter bulbs will be produced.
In addition, use a knife to make 3-4 vertical cross-cuts on a plump bulb from the basal plate toward the top, to a depth of about half the bulb. After cutting, place the bulb in clean dry sand to form callus tissue, then put it in a propagation box at 21°C for cultivation. When the temperature rises to 30°C and the relative humidity is 85%, many daughter bulbs will be produced in about 3 months, and the daughter bulbs can be removed and planted separately. The daughter bulbs need 3-4 years of planting to become flowering bulbs.
Seed propagation of daffodils is carried out in mid-September. The sowing soil is mixed with leaf mold, peat soil and coarse sand, and used for sowing after disinfection. After sowing, manage carefully; in the following spring they sprout to form small plants, and in early summer the leaves and roots wither, forming small bulbs. The small seed bulbs need 4-5 years of cultivation to flower.