When your potted daffodils have finished blooming, place them in an area that receives plenty of bright, indirect sunlight and stays relatively cool. Continue providing water sparingly to nourish the foliage.
When the leaves ultimately die back, do the following:
- Trim the leaves off.
- Then, remove the bulbs from the pot and shake off excess potting soil.
- Place the bulbs in a shady area where they will get good air circulation, and allow them to dry out for a day or two.
- Store them loosely in a paper sack in a cool, dark place (e.g., a basement) until autumn.
- At the right time for your area, remove the bulbs from the bag and plant them in pots for indoor use or outdoors for spring blooms.
8 Care Tips For Potted Daffodils
1. If you have forced your daffodil bulbs to bloom indoors, be aware that they may bloom a second time after the initial bloom.
Keep them in an area conducive to good houseplant health and continue to care for them after the first bloom. They may very well give you another show.
If not, care for the foliage until it dies back, and then store the bulbs as described above.
2. Daffodils that have been forced to bloom one season indoors may not bloom outdoors in the following season, but be patient.
Once they are settled in, they should bloom reliably in subsequent seasons.
3. Choose suitable bulbs to grow indoors or in a greenhouse.
You will see “hardy” and “half-hardy” bulbs when you go bulb shopping. Hardy bulbs are for outdoor growing.
4. Half-hardy bulbs don’t necessarily need to be chilled. For example, among daffodils, Paperwhite Narcissus are half-hardy.
These will not need a chilling period to spur blooming because they are native to a warm climate.
You can plant them in pots indoors at any time, keep them warm and care for them as houseplants, and they should do well.
5. If you don’t have a basement, tuck your sack of daffodil bulbs in the back of your refrigerator or your hydrator drawer until you are ready to plant them.
Remember to turn the sack occasionally to keep the bulbs from pressing against each other and potentially bruising or developing fungal problems.
6. To avoid bulbs damaging each other in storage, you may wish to wrap each bulb lightly in tissue paper or newspaper before placing it in a paper sack.
7. You can use net bags to store your daffodil bulbs, such as those used for onions and oranges. You might also keep them in a cardboard box with ventilation holes.
Don’t store them in a plastic bag or tote. These bulbs need good air circulation while in storage.
8. Dispose of daffodil bulbs that have any rotten or soft spots. These indicate damage or fungal infection and cannot be treated or cured.
Do You Have To Remove Daffodil Bulbs From Their Pots?
If you don’t want to remove your outdoor daffodils from their pots, you could allow them their chilling time in the pot.
Ensure that the pot is big enough to house the bulbs for up to three years. Depth is critical.
To keep your daffodils potted for several years, follow these:
- Provide feeding of bone meal or fertilizer after they have finished blooming.
- Then, continue moderate care and light watering until the foliage has died back.
- Lay the pot on its side and allow the soil to dry out completely.
- Then, place the pot in a cool, sheltered place to chill until spring.
