This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 111,566 times.
Daffodils bloom in the spring, but need to winterize each year before they flower. In warmer climates, you need to remove the bulbs from the ground to store them before planting them in the spring. But this is the only time it may be necessary. Any other time they can stay in the ground. With the correct preparation, you can have beautiful flowers next blooming season.
Steps
Removing the Bulbs
-
1Dig out the bulbs when the leaves are yellowed and dead. Keep the daffodils in the ground until the leaves are yellow and matured, otherwise, it may not flower as well next season.[1] The leaves usually die within 6 weeks of the flower dying.[2] Use a trowel or shovel to unearth the bulbs.
- Bulbs store energy for the next blooming season during the current season.[3]
- It is important to leave the plant until it dies on its own because the leaves will collect energy for next year’s blooms.
-
2Pull apart the bulbs from the root clumps. If you’ve had the daffodils for some years, there may be multiple bulbs in a single clump. Shake the soil free from the clump to see each of the bulbs. Gently pull the bulbs apart from one another to separate them.[4]
- Don’t leave the bulbs in direct sunlight once you have separated them. This will damage them or promote early flowering.[5]
Advertisement -
3Sort out any diseased bulbs. Daffodil bulbs are hearty and should feel firm and heavy. If the bulb is browning or starts to feel soft, it may be a sign of the fungal infection “bulb rot.” If these bulbs are planted, they may not bloom or they will develop prematurely.[6]
- Do not replant daffodils where you have found infected bulbs. There is a chance they may also get infected if you plant them in the same place.[7]
-
4Trim off the roots with pruning shears. Hold the shears where the roots meet the bulb and cut. Trimming the roots helps prevent early growth when you store the bulbs.[8]
-
5
Storing Daffodils
-
1Place the bulbs in a labeled paper bag. An opaque bag will help keep light out from the bulbs and prevent them from sprouting too early. Keep the bag open to keep air flowing to the bulbs. If you are storing multiple flower bulbs, write the name of which bulbs you are storing on the outside of the bag.[11]
- You can also use a netted bag to help regulate airflow, but it will not block light.[12]
-
2Store the bulbs in a cool, dry place for 6 to 8 weeks. The bulbs should be stored in a basement, cellar, or garage. The temperature should be between 60 °F (16 °C) and 65 °F (18 °C). Make sure the area they’re stored in does not drop below freezing levels or else the bulbs will not survive.[13]
-
3Keep the bulbs in the fridge if you live in a warm climate. If the bulbs are left out, the daffodils will not winterize and they may not bloom next season. Store the bag of daffodil bulbs in the crisper drawer so they are out of direct light.[14]
- Keep the bulbs in a separate drawer away from any food.
-
4Keep fruits away from your bulbs. Fruits like apples emit ethylene gas and can kill the flower inside the bulb. If you store the daffodil bulbs in a fridge, keep them in a separate fridge from the fruit.[15]
-
5Replant the bulbs in late December or early January. Once the bulbs have been chilling for 6 to 8 weeks, they have experienced enough cold to bloom in the spring.[16] Replant the bulbs with at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) of soil covering them.[17]
- When you dig the hole for the daffodil bulbs, add a handful bulb fertilizer to promote healthy spring growth.[18]
Community Q&A
-
QuestionHow and when do I plant?
NinoxTop AnswererThe best month to plant daffodil are September, October and November. Fist, dig a hole with a depth of 3 times the size of the bulb. If the dirt is compacted, add a bit of sand into it to avoid rotting. Then plant the bulb in the hole with the tip upside. You can plant several bulbs together, but you need to allow 5 cm (2 inches) between them.
Warnings
- Daffodil bulbs are toxic and should not be consumed under any circumstances.[19]⧼thumbs_response⧽
Things You’ll Need
- Shovel
- Garden trowel
- Pruning shears
- Paper bag
References
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/daffodil-bulbs
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/daffodils
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/daffodils
- ↑ https://fairegarden.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/how-to-divide-daffodils/
- ↑ https://extension2.missouri.edu/g6610
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=222
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=222
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=91
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=91
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=91
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=91
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=91
- ↑ http://pallensmith.com/2015/12/14/10-spring-bulb-questions/
- ↑ https://buffalo-niagaragardening.com/2014/12/16/do-you-need-to-refrigerate-daffodil-tulip-bulbs-before-forcing-them-indoors/
- ↑ http://pallensmith.com/2015/12/14/10-spring-bulb-questions/
- ↑ https://www.gardenia.net/guide/best-spring-blooming-bulbs-for-warm-climates
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/daffodils
- ↑ https://www.almanac.com/plant/daffodils
- ↑ https://www.poison.org/articles/2015-mar/daffodils
About This Article
To store daffodil bulbs, start by putting them in an open paper bag to let in air while keeping out light, which can make them sprout too early. Next, store the bag in a cool, dry place that stays between 60-65°F, like your basement or garage. Alternatively, if you live in a warm climate, store the bag in your refrigerator away from other foods, especially fruit, which emit gasses that kill the flowers in your bulbs. Store the bulbs for at least 6-8 weeks, then replant them in late December or early January so they’ll bloom in the spring. For tips from our Horticultural reviewer on how to remove your bulbs from the ground before storing them, read on!
