With bright golden yellow trumpet blossoms, the daffodil heralds the approach of spring. Dubbed Yellow Daffodil or Trumpet Daffodil, it's clear where cultivation of this bulbous flower is headed. Unanswered questions about the right plants and professional care will be answered here.

Daffodils are simply a part of spring

Table of Contents

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  1. Plant daffodils properly
  2. care tips
  3. Which location is suitable?
  4. The right planting distance
  5. What soil does the plant need?
  6. What is the best planting time?
  7. When is flowering time?
  8. Cut daffodils correctly
  9. Water daffodils
  10. Fertilize daffodils properly
  11. hibernate
  12. Multiply daffodils
  13. How do I plant correctly?
  14. Easter bells in a pot
  15. Is daffodil poisonous?
  16. Yellow leaves
  17. How to care for daffodils after flowering?
  18. Are daffodils and daffodils one and the same?
  19. Beautiful varieties

    20. Plant daffodils properly

    Planted professionally, a daffodil bulb will produce a magnificent bloom up to 20 times. Therefore, attach particular importance to the following process:

    • Thoroughly weed and loosen the humus-rich, freshly moist soil in a sunny to partially shaded location
    • Dig small pits in the finely crumbly soil at a distance of 10-15 cm
    • Optimize the excavated soil with sifted compost and sand
    • Place 1-2 onions at a time, pointing upwards
    • The ideal planting depth is twice to three times the bulb size

    After each planting hole has been filled with the enriched substrate, lightly press down the soil and pour a sip of water over it.
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    care tips

    In order for the bright yellow spring flowers to develop their full beauty, they need the following care:

    • Water moderately when dry without causing standing water puddles
    • In early March and early April, fertilize organically with compost, horn shavings (€32.93) or guano
    • In the pot, fertilize every 2 weeks from March until the end of the flowering period
    • Cut off wilted flowers immediately
    • Do not remove the leaves until they are completely withered

    In the year of planting, we recommend a light winter protection in the form of a layer of leaves and needle brushwood. In the planter, daffodil bulbs ideally overwinter in a cool but frost-free room. From the beginning/mid-February, the flowers can be planted on the sunny windowsill.

    Which location is suitable?

    If you assign daffodils to a sunny location, the spring flowers will compete with the sun. The beauties only lose a little of their magic in a semi-shady place, as long as it is warm and sheltered from the wind. The bulbs take root quickly in loose, deep, humus-rich soil with a normal moisture content.

    The right planting distance

    If the planting distance corresponds to half of the expected growth height of 30-40 cm, create a lush appearance in the bed with daffodils. So put the bulbs in the ground at a distance of 15-20 cm. It can be 5 cm less in balcony boxes and tubs, so that you are right with a distance of 10-15 cm.

    What soil does the plant need?

    If daffodils had the free choice, they chose a soil with these attributes:

    • Humus and fresh-moist
    • Well drained with no risk of waterlogging
    • Preferably a neutral to slightly acidic pH value

    In case of doubt, soil additives optimize the soil. Compost improves a sandy-dry substrate in no time at all, while a handful of sand in loamy soil ensures the desired permeability.

    What is the best planting time?

    Autumn is the best time to plant flower bulbs. This applies to daffodils as well as to all types of daffodils. In September and October, the tubers establish themselves very well in the sun-warmed soil. After the first frost, the window for planting closes.

    When is flowering time?

    The daffodils, a member of the large daffodil family, are named after their flowering period from March to April. To ensure that the spring bloomers unfold their blossoming magic every year at Easter, cut off the withered heads at the end of the flowering period. The fed foliage is removed when it has completely yellowed and withered.
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    Cut daffodils correctly

    If you cut daffodils in two passes, this prudence contributes significantly to the vitality and willingness to bloom of the yellow beauties. Withered flower heads are cut off with a sharp, disinfected knife. Only cut off the foliage when it has completely retracted and withered. Until then, the onion, as a subterranean survival organ, assimilates all the remaining nutrients in order to create reserves for the next season.

    Water daffodils

    Only water daffodils when Mother Nature is stingy with the rain. If the surface of the soil dries, apply the water directly to the root area and avoid sprinkling. It is an advantage if you alternately use lime-free rainwater and lime-containing tap water. In this way, you prevent excess limescale build-up, especially in pots.

    Fertilize daffodils properly

    With organic fertilization you play it safe so that there is no excess nitrogen. Too much nitrogen only drives foliage growth, which is at the expense of the abundance of flowers. Give a portion of screened compost with horn shavings or granulated guano to start flowering. If you top up this supply of nutrients in April, the onion uses it to build up energy reserves for the following season. Cultivated in the limited substrate volume of balcony boxes and pots, daffodils receive a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 2 weeks in March and April.

    hibernate

    Freshly planted, daffodils are still trying to build up a robust winter hardiness. We therefore recommend light protection in the first winter. If you cover the planting site with leaves and needle brushwood until the middle/end of February, neither frost nor moisture can damage the spring flowers. In the following years, these precautions are only necessary in locations with harsh winter conditions. Pots and window boxes (€16.99) with yellow daffodils remain in the frost-free, dark winter quarters until February. In mild regions, pack the containers thickly in bubble wrap, place them on wood and cover the substrate with leaves or peat moss.

    Multiply daffodils

    As part of the uncomplicated propagation, the daffodil puts the right plant material into your hands. If you dig up a perennial in September/October, you will see several daughter bulbs at the base. Cut them off with a sharp, disinfected knife. In the further course you have the choice between two procedures:

    • Root the bulbs in pots with uniform soil before planting them out
    • Plant in the new location immediately after separation from the mother bulb

    Sowing seeds, on the other hand, is much more complex. Since these are cold germs, stratification is required. In addition, 3 years and more pass before the first blossom appears.

    How do I plant correctly?

    Experience has shown that the vitality of daffodils visibly decreases after about 5-6 years. Then the time is ripe to give the heralds of spring a makeover and transplant them. At least a month after flowering or in autumn, dig up the perennial to divide it into two or more segments. After the soil at the previous or new location has been enriched with compost, plant the bulbs again and water them a little. For daffodils in pots, this care measure is usually on the agenda every 2-3 years. Please consider the high level of poison when doing this work and wear robust work gloves at all times.

    Easter bells in a pot

    From February onwards, the daffodils in the shop will be shining towards us. Who can resist this temptation? So that the yellow daffodils spread a spring atmosphere in your home, it depends on this care:

    • Place in a bright window seat without the blazing sun at midday
    • Water regularly but moderately without causing waterlogging
    • Fertilizer is unnecessary in freshly potted daffodils
    • Cut off faded flowers with a sharp knife

    Leave the leaves on the flower until they have completely yellowed. Until then, the onion absorbs all the remaining nutrients in order to sprout vitally again next year.

    Is daffodil poisonous?

    As an amaryllis family, daffodils are among the poisonous garden plants. Toxicity is often underestimated given its magnificent trumpet flowers. In fact, various toxins flow through the plant pathways and are particularly concentrated in the bulb. Children and pets should therefore not be within reach of yellow daffodils. Wear protective gloves and long-sleeved clothing during all planting and care work to avoid triggering skin dermatitis.
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    Yellow leaves

    If daffodils develop yellow leaves at the end of the flowering period, it is a completely natural process. The discoloration indicates that the bulb is absorbing any remaining nutrients from the foliage. In the end, the enduring organ has a well-stocked depot of energy for the next season. Therefore, only cut off yellow leaves when they are completely withered.

    How to care for daffodils after flowering?

    If the golden yellow blossoms are coming to an end, you can make a valuable contribution to the abundance of flowers next year with the following care measures:

    • Cut off the faded flowers with a sharp knife
    • Leave the leaves until they are completely yellowed and withered
    • Never tear off dead leaves, but always cut them off with gloved hands

    It is an advantage if daffodils are spoiled with a portion of compost during this phase. At this time, the onion is requisitioning all the nutrients it can get hold of in order to build up energy stores for the next season.

    Are daffodils and daffodils one and the same?

    Every daffodil is a daffodil, while not every daffodil is a daffodil. Therefore, the daffodil is also known under the names yellow daffodil and trumpet daffodil. The spring flower can be clearly identified by its golden yellow colour, while other daffodils often have a nuance of whitish yellow. First and foremost, the flowering period from March to April defines the onion flower as a daffodil.

    Beautiful varieties

    The daffodil was involved as at least one parent in the varieties presented below.

    • Dutch Master: Large-flowered, golden-yellow daffodil with folded petals along the side crown
    • Primeur: The variety impresses with strikingly large and broad, golden-yellow petals
    • Spellbinder: The hybrid flowers in pure yellow, only to turn light yellow to whitish yellow as it progresses
    • Tenby: A robust classic from England, cultivated since the Middle Ages with a compact growth of up to 30 cm

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Vegetable garden