How to plant narcissus bulbs
A guide to the knowledge of planting narcissus bulbs and the steps for growing narcissus, here is a comprehensive introduction.
Narcissus is usually planted in winter, and you can buy bulbs to cultivate, or buy potted seedlings after the weather warms up. It's best to buy bulbs that have already germinated, as they are cheaper and have a higher success rate of growth.
1. Several benefits of growing narcissus
There is a significant difference between narcissus and Chinese narcissus. Narcissus has one flower per stem, while Chinese narcissus has multiple flowers per stem.
Narcissus flowers have no fragrance, but the advantage is that the flowers are very large, with rich colors, and there are various single and double-petaled varieties, offering a wide range of options. You can find over 50 different varieties online.
One special feature that makes many people fall in love with narcissus is its good reblooming ability. Planting in winter allows for blooming in spring, and with proper care, it can rebloom the following year. Chinese narcissus bought from the market, on the other hand, are usually discarded after blooming once, as they have poor reblooming ability.
2. Planting bulbs in the first year
When buying narcissus, choose bulbs that are plump and large, and it's best to purchase from reputable sellers.
Narcissus bulbs are usually planted in winter. For the first year of planting, it's fine to plant around the Spring Festival because the bulbs we buy are generally 5-degree bulbs, which have already undergone vernalization. Planting them directly in potting soil at home and caring for them for a while will allow them to grow leaves and bloom, which is very convenient. As long as the weather hasn't become hot, narcissus can bloom normally.
Narcissus definitely needs vernalization to bloom, and a 5-degree bulb has already been placed in a 5-degree environment for a long time, so planting it at home will make it bloom. If you want it to rebloom the second year, you need a low-temperature environment of 5-10 degrees Celsius in winter, and maintain it for more than 30 days to help it develop flowers.
3. Potting soil and fertilizer combination
Planting narcissus is possible before the weather gets hot. The soil for planting narcissus must be loose and breathable. You can use a common peat soil mixed with perlite in a 3:1 ratio; you can also use decomposed leaf soil mixed with coarse sand in a 3:1 ratio.
When planting narcissus bulbs, you can add some well-rotted sheep manure to the pot or sprinkle some slow-release fertilizer on the soil surface. Slow-release fertilizer can also be mixed into the soil, and you can use some slow-release fertilizers with high phosphorus and potassium content, such as Ogreen A2.
Plant the narcissus bulbs as soon as you buy them, making sure the芽眼 (eye of the bulb) is facing up. After planting, water thoroughly and keep them in a well-ventilated and sunny area. Gradually expose them to light as the small buds grow, and later provide more sunlight, ensuring at least 6-8 hours of direct light per day to ensure better blooming.
If you can grow narcissus outdoors, especially in an environment with full sun from morning to night, it will be particularly beneficial for the plant.
4. Don't randomly cut the leaves after flowering
If you want narcissus to bloom again the second year, do not cut its leaves after flowering, as they are an important means of photosynthesis and nutrient absorption.
Just remove the flowers after blooming and leave the leaves to continue photosynthesis and absorb nutrients.
5. Watering techniques
In a sunny environment, water the narcissus when the topsoil is dry. Do not let the soil get too wet or overly waterlogged, and do not let the potting soil become too dry.