Daffodil Plant Care Instructions by Climate

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• Daffodils do best in bright sunshine for six to eight hours every day, regardless of growing zone. Choose a place where the bulbs and plants will get full sun in spring and summer, with quick drainage and at least 3 inches of space per bulb. Daffodils will self-propagate, and each bulb will sprout multiple plants, so avoid crowded plantings.

Soil

• Daffodil bulbs always require quick, free drainage in their soil, as bulbs that sit in standing water will rot. Mix 3 to 4 inches of organic compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil at planting to warm, loosen and nourish the soil, and to encourage quick drainage and allow room for root growth.

Care

• Daffodils bloom in early spring and through summer, depending on cultivar. Gardeners in all regions should keep their daffodils in full sun and give them 2 inches of water a week. As daffodils complete their blooming season, the flowers fade and the foliage turns yellow and then brown. Allow the foliage to yellow and die on its own, as it continues to gather nutrition for the bulb's next growth season at this time.

Zones 3 and Below

• Daffodils are hardy bulbs, and can grow throughout the U.S. to the Canadian border. Gardeners in U.S. Department of Agriculture growing zones 3 and under, though, might maintain a different planting and care routine than those in the rest of the country. In these regions, where winters are especially harsh -- below zone 3b -- plant the bulbs in spring, one month before the last frost. Care for the plants through spring and summer and let them foliage die back naturally before digging up and replanting them in a storage box with topsoil. Store the bulbs in the garage or basement to protect them through the winter, and replant them in spring.

Zones 4 to 6

• In the seasonable climates of zones 4 to 6, put daffodil bulbs in the outdoor garden after the first frost, or when night time temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the bulbs time to develop roots before cold weather sets in. They will be among the first bulbs to flower in the spring -- often before snow fully melts.

Zone 7 and Up

• Gardeners in the warmer areas of the country can plant daffodil bulb year round and leave them in the ground to flower in the spring. Leave the bulbs to their own devices through the winter, with 1 inch of water a week during dry times.