Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 5/9/2004

Question
I planted daffodil bulbs three years ago and they have done well, however, this year a lot of them did not have buds, only leaves, they don't appear to be crowded but I'm afraid that last summer I may have cut off leaves before they yellowed enough, does this mean that I will never have blooms again?  If I let them die down will they bloom next year, or should I just dig them up and start over in the fall?  I live in Wareham, Mass. the last town before entering Cape Cod, zip 02538

Thank you in advance, I'm so angry with myself!  I look forward to their bright sunny faces every spring as do my neighbors.

Sincerly,
Dinah Clark

Answer
Dinah,
daffodils deplete most of their stored resources during a flowering season and rely on their green foliage to conduct photosynthesis which will improve the bulb size to ensure flowering the following year. If you pre-maturely cut the foliage before the bulb has had a chance to reconstitute itself, it may not reach "flowering size". Next year you typically end up with green leaves, but no flowers.

What you can typically do, is to grow the bulbs on green and make sure you fertilize regularily. The following year the bulbs should be mature enough to flower.

However, in other cases, the daffodils will have produced offsets (e.g. split into two medium sized bulbs). These bulbs roots are inter-twined and compete for nutrients making it difficult to produce enough carbohydrates to grow the bulbs adequately.

Therefore, it is generally recommended to dig the daffodils every 2-3 years, or when decrease in flowering is noted, and seperate them. This simply means that you dig the bulbs. dischard the smaller bulbs and replant the larger bulbs spaced about 5 per sq foot. Replant in soil to which you have added fresh compost or other organic matter.

E.g.
this year, I recommend that you dig up the bulbs (do so while the leaves are green so you can find the bulbs). Seperate the smallest bulbs and replant the larger bulbs spaced about 5 per sq foot. Mix some compost or humus (available in bags at garden centers) into the soil. Plant the bulbs same dept they were growing before. Do not cut foliage.

every year:
- fertilize the bulbs in early spring when the plants poke their head above ground, and then again just as they are about to flower. Also scatter some fertilizer over the area in late fall for rooting.
- when the daffodils have finished flowering and the blooms wither, cut the spent blooms off the stalk ("deadhead"). also make sure you remove the seed pods which form right behind the flower (e.g. the green puffy sacks).
- let the main leaves (foliage) stay until they turn yellow on their own and wither. do not braid, cut or otherwise restrict them for best repeat results.

even so, you may still need to dig and divide bulbs every 2-3 years. It is quite common.

I doubt you have permanently hurt the bulbs. they are very good at comming back even if you take a one year break.