How to Keep Narcissus Bulbs After Flowering

Keep narcissus bulbs in the ground after flowering in climates where narcissus are winter hardy, typically in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 to 8. Allow the foliage to remain green throughout the summer, and when the tops yellow in the fall, cut them back. Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch, such as straw or pine needles, on top of the bulbs after the first freeze in the fall to keep the ground insulated and to prevent heaving.

Dig up bulbs with a garden fork in the late summer or early fall after the foliage dies back in climates too cold for narcissus. Remove the foliage and store them in an open paper bag in a dry location that is approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant them when the ground is workable again in the spring.

Dig up bulbs in climates with winters that are too warm for narcissus. Dig them up in the fall and refrigerate, away from fruit, in an open or perforated bag for 12 to 16 weeks. Plant them again in the late winter or early spring.