Brighten up your usual daffodil container display by adding a few low-growing flowers around the edges.
Small pansies and primroses are perfect for growing in containers, and they look stunning against the bright yellow daffodils.
Daffodils are one of the most popular spring blooming bulbs, with their cheerful yellow flowers being a welcome sight after a long winter. Many gardeners like to plant daffodil bulbs in pots in order to bring them indoors or display them in ideal spots around their yard. But what should you do with the bulbs after the blooms fade and the pots finish flowering? Here are the main options for caring for daffodil bulbs in pots after they are done flowering.
Leave the Foliage
It is essential not to cut off or remove the daffodil foliage immediately after flowering. The leaves need to fully die back naturally in order to replenish the bulb with nutrients for next year’s blooms. The foliage transports nutrients from the soil back into the bulb. If you were to trim the leaves too soon, the bulb would not get what it needs to store energy and bloom again.
Allow the foliage to yellow and wither naturally, which takes 4-6 weeks on average. Once the leaves are completely dried up and brown, then you can snip them off if desired. But resist the urge to cut anything while the leaves are still green.
Repot Into Larger Containers
One way to improve the chances of your potted daffodil bulbs reflowering is to repot them into larger containers This gives the bulbs and roots more room to grow Place some fresh potting mix in the bottom of the new pots, set the bulbs on top, and cover with more soil.
Water the newly repotted bulbs well. Then allow them to die back naturally before storing them in a cool place until fall planting time.
Fertilize the Soil
Replenishing nutrients in the soil will also help your potted daffodil bulbs to keep flowering year after year. After all of the foliage has died back, you can work some bulb fertilizer or compost into the top few inches of soil. This will provide food for the bulbs to start growing again next season.
You can also top-dress containers with compost or slow-release fertilizer before storing them. This will give the soil a boost of nutrients when you take the pots back out in fall.
Store Bulbs Properly
Once the foliage has died back completely, you can remove daffodil bulbs from their pots and store them in a dry, cool spot until fall. Gently dig them up and shake off excess soil. Discard any bulbs that are soft, damaged, or show signs of rot.
Spread the bulbs out to dry for a few days before placing them in paper bags or open crates. Make sure they are kept in a spot with temperatures between 60-65°F. Check them periodically and remove any that get moldy.
In early fall, the bulbs can be replanted in their pots or in the ground. Storing them properly ensures they have enough energy to bloom beautifully again next spring.
Add New Bulbs
If your potted daffodil bulbs haven’t bloomed well for a couple years, it may be time to replenish them with some new ones. You can plant fresh bulbs alongside the existing ones and mulch well with compost. The old and new bulbs will flower together for a fuller display.
Planting new bulbs every 2-3 years will help provide a continuous show of flowers each spring. Combine this with proper watering, fertilizing, and care for the best results.
Plant Bulbs in the Ground
You also have the option of planting potted daffodil bulbs in the garden after they bloom. Replant them as soon as the foliage starts yellowing in spring. Choose a spot with well-draining soil and full sun. Plant the bulbs 4-6 inches deep and 6 inches apart.
Mix in some bulb fertilizer or compost and water the area well after planting. Mark the spot so you remember where they are! The bulbs will resprout on their own next spring.
Naturalize Daffodils
One benefit of planting daffodil bulbs in the garden is that they will naturalize over time. Naturalizing means the bulbs will multiply and spread to form large drifts, creating a beautiful spring display.
If you want this look, simply leave the bloomed bulbs from pots in the ground instead of digging them back up. Don’t deadhead spent flowers so they can form seed pods and drop seeds. The original bulbs will multiply and seeds will sprout for more flowers each year!
Other Tips for Post-Bloom Care
Here are a few more useful tips for taking care of daffodil bulbs after they finish flowering in pots:
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Stop watering once blooms fade to allow foliage to die back naturally.
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Potted bulbs may only rebloom for 2-3 years before needing replanting.
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Check stored bulbs occasionally and discard any that are diseased or damaged.
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Oak leaves, shredded paper, or vermiculite make good packing materials for bulb storage.
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Add compost, manure, or bulb fertilizer when replanting stored bulbs.
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Plant bulbs at the proper depth for the variety when moving to the garden.
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Protect bulbs from rodents like squirrels and voles with screens after planting.
With some simple post-bloom care, you can ensure your potted daffodil bulbs put on a colorful display year after year. Just be patient with their needs and provide a little TLC!
Step 1[image id=”28048″ size=”landscape_thumbnail” align=”none” title=”Planting the daffodil bulbs” alt=”Planting the daffodil bulbs” classes=””] Planting the daffodil bulbs
In autumn, half fill the pot with compost and plant bulbs on the surface. Cover with compost to almost fill the pot, water thoroughly and leave until spring.
When to plant daffodils in pots
Plant daffodil bulbs in autumn, typically between September and November. However you can plant them as late as December as long as the bulbs are still firm and have no signs of mould, you may find they just flower later than usual. Use peat-free, multi-purpose compost and plant your bulbs around three times the depth of the bulb itself. Then, once the daffodils have started to flower in spring, fill around the edges of the pots with flowering plants to add further interest to the display – you should find a good variety at the garden centre.
After your display is over, wait for the daffodils to die down completely so the nutrients in the leaves can be returned to the bulbs. This is a good time to feed the bulbs, as they will store nutrients until they are needed the following spring. Once the foliage has died down completely you can remove it, along with any other plants in the display. If you want to replant the pot with a late spring or summer display, simply replace the top few centimetres of compost and add the plants of your choice, taking care not to disturb the daffodil bulbs beneath. The daffodils will then grow and flower the following spring.
If you want to use the pot for something more permanent, empty it and replant the daffodils in the garden. Separate the bulbs as they will have been planted closely together in the pot and will benefit from a little extra space. Plant the bulbs up to three times their own depth, and water well.
- Daffodils, e.g. Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’
- Pansies
- Crocus plants
- Glazed pot, 25cm
- Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
- Broken crocks or polystyrene
Total time: 20 minutes
Aftercare For Daffodils Grown In Pots! What To Do When Flowering Is Over | Balconia Garden
FAQ
How to save bulbs from potted daffodils?
Allow the bulbs dry out on a piece of paper. A cool, dry, and dark place is ideal for drying and storing the bulbs.
Will daffodils in pots come back every year?
Daffodils planted in containers can bloom for about 3 years in a row, but it’s better for the bulbs to put them back in the ground after one season in a container, and pot up fresh bulbs every year.
Can I leave bulbs in pots for next year?
This means that you should remove your bulbs from pots once they have died back after first growing season and either replace the compost before replanting …