Daffodil

Season

Winter-Spring

Care

Your potted daffodil should be kept away from direct sunlight and any type of heat source, such as heaters, fire places and so on.  The heat causes the plant to bloom more rapidly and, while this can feel very rewarding at first, it actually shortens the lifespan of the plant. 

You should only water your potted daffodil when you notice the soil is getting dry. Pour approximately one quarter cup of water over the soil at a time. Wait until the water has had a chance to filter through the soil before you add any more water. When you notice some water drain from below, you should stop watering immediately and monitor the soil every day. Do not let the soil become too dry but also avoid over watering. It is best to take off the wrap or non-draining container and place in a sink when watering to allow it to drain from the bottom of the pot. Once the pot has drained, replace it to its original spot.

Home to Garden

Once the plant has stopped blooming, discontinue watering and allow the foliage to die back until it is dried and brown. Remove it from the pot by gently tugging on the leaves until they break from the bulb and come out of the ground. If the leaves do not pull away from the bulbs easily you haven’t waited quite long enough for the foliage to die. It is very important to not remove the foliage prematurely as it helps to put energy back in the bulbs for the next year’s blooms. (Forcing bulbs like daffodils to bloom out of season is relatively easy, although it takes quite a bit of time and it takes a lot out of a bulb so keep in mind that they might not have the energy to flower for two or three years.) 

Dig up the bulbs from the pot and store them in a paper bag in a cool, dark place until Fall. If you don’t have any place to store the bulbs, plant them directly into the garden. Plant them about 8 inches (20 cm.) deep, and keep the ground moist to encourage strong root production. Once the bulbs have chilled for the correct period and may even have started to sprout, they are ready to be replanted either in the outdoors or in a pot.

Flower Meaning

The natural significance of the daffodil is that it represents the coming of spring. However, the flower has many other meanings, too. It can symbolize creativity and renewal, as well as inspiration, memory, and forgiveness. In many cases, the daffodil can be used to represent a sense of awareness and inner reflection. The daffodil is the perfect flower to give someone if you are interested in reviving an old relationship with them. It’s also uplifting and energizing, making it a good flower to give someone who needs to get well soon. Daffodils are appropriate flowers to give at births, housewarmings, and other happy occasions – especially those that take place in the spring!

Fun Facts

The garden daffodil's ancestors come from the regions around the Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain and Portugal and the Middle East, such as Turkey. The earliest record mentioning daffodils was around two or three hundred years B.C. They were brought to Britain by the Romans, who thought that the sap had healing powers. This sap actually contains crystals that can irritate the skin. During the days of the American expansion westward, daffodils were established as a "must-have" in the garden.