How to Care for a Narcissus Tazetta

Fertilize the narcissus in early fall and again in early spring. Use 1 tbsp. of an all-purpose granular fertilizer, such as 10-10-10. Sprinkle the fertilizer around the plant and avoid getting the granules in the foliage. Water to a depth of 6 inches after fertilizing.

Avoid watering the Narcissus tazetta while it is dormant in the summer. The bulb needs to be kept dry to remain dormant and avoid rot. During the growing season, the plant requires little water unless there is no rain. In that case, supply it with 1 inch of water per week.

Remove the flowers from the narcissus as they fade. This prevents the plant from going to seed and lengthens the blooming season.

Allow the fading foliage to remain on the narcissus. The longer you leave it the more food it supplies to the bulb. Cut it back to the soil when it has completely died.

Lay a 2-inch layer of mulch, such as straw or leaves, over the Narcissu tazzeta bed in the winter. Remove 1 inch of the mulch in the spring and allow the rest of it to remain to insulate and conserve moisture in the soil.