Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 3/5/2006

Question
zip27203 zone 7
    Last year I planted summer blooming daffadil bulbs from Brecks. They came up and seemed healthy but never bloomed. They have not died but about halfway down after all winter. What should I do for them?  Should I cut the tops off or not? What do I need to do to help them bloom this year?

Answer
I believe the type of daffodils you have purchased are the so-called paperwhites (Erlicheer). They are sold by brecks (and others) as summer flowering daffodils.

They can survive outdoors in the ground but typically in zones 8-11 only. In zone 7, they may survive but it really is going to be hit or miss. It would have been beneficial if you had cut the green leaves back to ground level in November and had stacked 6-8" of evergreen branches, hay, or even shredded leaves ("mulch").

At this point in time there is nothing you need to do. If the bulbs will survive, you will know this summer. Let the leaves stay where they are. Sometimes, they can act as natural protection for the bulbs.

Give them some annual plant fertilizer in early summer after the new leaves have grown about 6-8" tall. There is no reason to fertilize right now.

This type of plant is really only intended to be grown as annuals in zone7. If you can get them to survive will depend on micro climates in which they are grown (e.g. even within a zone7, you may have micro climates which are zone8 and some which are zone6, etc. A southern exposure with protection from wind may be a zone warmer, whereas a northern exposure, or one without protection from wind may be a half to a full a zone cooler).