The daffodil It is a whole genus of plants of the Amaryllidaceae family that come from Europe and the Mediterranean area, as well as Asia. These are plants highly valued by gardening enthusiasts thanks to their large flowers, as beautiful as they are fragrant. In fact, these plants are named after Narkissos, the beautiful demigod of Greek mythology who fell in love with his own reflection in a lake and drowned when he jumped, where one of these flowers grew.
If you want to learn how to grow large and healthy daffodils, keep reading this EcologíaVerde article where you will find a gardening guide to caring for daffodils.
Daffodils: characteristics
Most daffodils are bulbous plants They bloom between the end of winter and spring, although some of them can also bloom in autumn. Its flowers are very striking and, in addition, there are a large number of species, varieties and hybrids. Some daffodils can reach heights of up to 50cm, although most are somewhat smaller. The most common daffodils used in florists are the trunk and the large cup daffodils, which bear a single flower, in the latter case of large dimensions, and the small cup daffodils, with double flowers and jonquil, which bear several smaller flowers. size.
In all cases, their flowers have a characteristic trumpet shapevery easy to recognize, and tend to be yellow flowersalthough they can also be found in orange and white tones. These flowers last about 20 days when kept in the right conditions, although the heat does not do them any good.
If you like this type of plants, we recommend you to know these 15 plants with bulbs.
How to care for daffodils – basic care guide
Daffodils are fairly hardy plants with enormous adaptability, thanks to which they are so widespread. However, if you want yours to look healthy and beautiful, there are some cares that you should take care of them. These are the things you should keep in mind about the basic care of daffodils to keep them in an optimal state:
- Climate: They prefer somewhat cold climates and do not do well in hot areas.
- Location: half shade.
- Substratum: light so that it drains well and somewhat enriched with organic matter or fertilizer.
- Irrigation: moderate but every so often to maintain a good level of humidity, without flooding.
- Pruning: you just have to remove the dried flowers and leaves. Remember to leave the bulbs in the ground so they can grow the next season.
Also, if you get the bulbs of this plant, instead of buying the full-grown plant, we recommend this guide on When and how to plant daffodils.
Climate and location
Daffodils prefer slightly cold climates, and excess heat is one of its worst enemies. If you live in an area with very high temperatures for much of the year, you probably shouldn’t attempt to grow daffodils.
With this in mind, it is easy to see that we should locate our daffodils in cool places, regardless of whether we plant them outdoors or in an indoor pot. They need some moisture in the area, and they appreciate the semi-shade locationswith a large amount of ambient light but without receiving the direct incidence of sunlight.
In fact, if we have our daffodils in an indoor pot, the usual thing is to move them according to the season: when the plant is in flowering season we will have the pot inside the house, while when it is finished, it will be taken outside again so that continue with its natural cycle.
When daffodils are in bloom, it is important to keep them away from heat sources, such as heaters and radiators, which will cause the plant to lose its leaves much more quickly. Outdoors, on the other hand, the plant must be protected from frost, since although it appreciates cold climates, temperatures below zero can freeze the flowers and kill it.
Soil or substrate
These flowers are not demanding with the type of soil or substrate in which they are going to be, being able to adapt to practically any. Therefore, a general substrate that has been enriched with organic compost will be able to support the daffodil adequately. It is advisable to ensure that the mixture offers a good level of drainage since, as in all bulbs, it is very necessary to avoid waterlogging of the soil.
When in doubt, we recommend using a universal substrate mix with a part of coconut fiber, a part of peat and one of earthworm humus. These proportions guarantee a light and airy substrate, very rich in nutrients and with optimal drainage. In addition, earthworm humus provides the soil with a large number of beneficial microorganisms.
Watering the daffodils
The daffodil is a plant typical of humid climates, so it requires very constant watering. To provide the plant with an adequate level of humidity without having to resort to excessive watering that could flood the soil, it is best to give the daffodil moderate watering but every so oftenup to 2 and 3 times a day.
It is about providing the soil with some water to keep it moist, in a reduced amount. By doing it this way, we replicate the ideal humid climate for the plant without ever suffocating it. In this other article we talk about when to water plants.
Daffodil Pruning
The daffodil will appreciate the pruning of its Dead flowers, which must be carried out when they change color and it is evident that they have long since dried. By pruning them, we prevent the plant from losing nutrients in a dead part, or from being affected by necrosis, thus facilitating its growth again.
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