Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 4/26/2005

Question
I know you have to leave foliage on the bulb until it turns brown....question is.. I have been told that you can tie a knot in the long leaves so it doesn't look so unkept....is this a good solution or does it injure the plant? Also had many leaves with my daffodils but few flowers...why? I live on the SF peninsula 94030  

Answer
The reason the plants need their leaves after flowering is to conduct photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process by which the plants harvest the energy of the sun and turn it into plant energy, e.g. recharge the bulbs for next year's bloom.

If the leaves are cut back prematurely, you remove the tissue which should recharge the bulb. It can be compared to covering your windows with black plastic. The bulb has no way of getting energy from the sun.

If you tie a knot, braid, or put an eleastic band around the foliage, you allow the plants to recharge because of the foliage will still receive sunlight. However, I do not recommend this. I suggest you "tough it out" and leave the foliage for the 3-6 weeks it takes to die back. The plants should not be stressed during this period: e.g. continue to fertilize, water (if necerssary.. probably not required in SF) and provide as much sunlight to the leaves as needed. Tying, braiding, etc is the next best thing, but is still not comparable to just letting the plants recharge naturally. You can do it, but you get better result if you let the leaves alone for the few weeks it takes.

Reasons for daffodils not flowering
- winters not cold enough (I dont think you have that problem, but people to the south of you in LA may)
- daffodils should be fertilized 1-2 times during the growing season: in early spring and again in late spring after the blooms wither
- deadhead (cut spent blooms) off from the daffodils after flowering. the removal of the spent flower heads will ensure that energy is directed into bulb improvement and not into producing seeds. seeds in daffodils are swollen green round bags just behind where the flower used to be. Also deadhead hyacinths, tulips, etc. Crocus does not matter.
- every 3-4 years, dig the bulbs, seperate them, replant the larger bulbs 5 per sq feet and dispose of the smaller bulbs. Daffodils multiply underground every year, and a very full root system and many bulbs competing for the same water, nutrients and soil will flower poorly. Digging and seperating (also commonly called digging and dividing) will rejuvinate the bulbs. Now would be a good time to do this. Simply dig down and use the green foliage to lift the bulbs out of the ground. Replant at same dept as they grew.Then apply a layer of fertilizer over the top and water well once to settle the soil around the roots. Dischard any bulbs smaller than a strawberry. Use about 5 bulbs per sq foot.

e.g. standard yearly ritual with flower bulbs:
- fertilize twice: in early spring as they poke their head above ground, and again in late spring just as they flowers.
- deadhead (remove spent flowers) after bloom is finished.
- dig and divide the bulbs every 3-4 years
- let the foliage mature and die back naturally making sure not to the plants dry out (if you have a very dry spring). Once the foilage die back naturally it can be removed. Until such time, do not cut, braid, tuck, twist, or knot the foliage in any way. The bulbs prefer that the foliage be left alone.

Good luck