Growing Conditions for the Narcissus Daffodil

Soil

• The narcissus is adaptable to a variety of soil types but grows best in soil that is a bit acidic and rich in organic matter, such as compost or manure. Increase the value of the soil by adding special fertilizer for bulbs. The American Daffodil Society suggests that you spade your soil a foot deep to prepare for planting the bulbs. When you plant, place the base of an average 2-inch bulb about 6 inches deep. Smaller bulbs can be planted a bit less deeply.

Water

• Plant your narcissus bulbs in a well-drained bed, since soggy feet are detrimental to this flower. Raise any beds that may become waterlogged so that the bulbs don't suffer from bulb rot. Water the planted bulbs and subsequent flowers regularly to keep moist and to encourage growth of roots. Nature will tend to most of your watering needs in the spring.

Sun

• Your daffodils are sun-loving flowers, but, as the University of Illinois points out, the bulbs of early-spring flowers such as these may be planted underneath trees and other foliage, since these larger plants will not leaf until later in the season. Full sun is good, but morning or afternoon sun should be sufficient.

Temperature

• Plant narcissus bulbs in the fall so that they have plenty of time to produce roots, as advised by the Purdue University Department of Horticulture. Plant bulbs in September through November, when the temperatures have dropped after the heat of summer.

Additional Considerations

• Plant small bulbs about 3 inches apart, but separate larger bulbs by up to 7 inches.
  The narcissus' dormant period occurs in the summer. To store bulbs, wait to dig them up after the blooms die and foliage has taken on a yellowish hue and has begun to die off. The plants are not at their most attractive, but even though the flowers are gone, the bulbs need the nourishment that is manufactured in the foliage during this time.