Daffodils - Knowledgebase Question

Harwinton,, CT
Avatar for marieknudse
Question by marieknudse
May 17, 2007
HI There..
I am most anxious to find the answer to this queston as are many of my friends with the same problem. We have over 200 daffodils have bloomed for several years after planting. However, throughout the past 10 or so years, the green leaves come up but no blooms. Last Spring, I dug the up, divided the


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Answer from NGA
May 17, 2007
Some varieties of daffodil naturalize better than others (meaning they can be left in place for many years and will continue to bloom heavily) while others need more frequent dividing so it may be partly due to the specific varieties you planted. It is also important to grow them in full sun. Sometimes, over the years the planting spot becomes shaded as nearby trees grow larger. Premature removal of the foliage can also weaken the bulbs to the point where they don't bloom. The foliage must be left in place until it has browned; this process renews the bulbs so they can bloom again. After dividing, it usually takes the bulbs another year to regain their strength so they can bloom again. This is especially true if they were very crowded or very weak or very undersized before being replanted. To encourage growth, you can fertilize lightly in early fall when the roots begin to grow, and again in early spring just as they begin to come through the soil. Use a general purpose granular fertilizer such as 10-10-10 or a bulb fertilizer. If the spring is very dry, you may want to water them to keep the foliage growing actively and maximize its ability to recharge the bulbs. I hope this helps.

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