Why Do My Daffodils Fail To Produce Flowers?

Did you remove or knotted the foliage soon after flowering in the last season?

Did you planted daffodil bulbs in the late fall?

are your daffodils planted in a shady spot?

Did you feed your daffodils with high-nitrogen fertilizer?

Did you leave last seasons blooms on the stalk after they have faded?

Are there any visible pests on your daffodils?

Does your daffodils look unhealthy in any other way than just missing blooms?

Removing or knotting the foliage too soon after flowering last year can contribute to why daffodils didn’t bloom this year. Nutrients must be stored for daffodil blooms. These nutrients develop in the foliage after flowers bloom. Cutting down or folding the leaves before they have yellowed and started to deteriorate is a reason for poor blooms on daffodils.

Bulbs that were planted too late in fall may be the reason why daffodils didn’t bloom. Your plants may have produced small foliage and poor blooms. If the bulbs are still in the soil and healthy, they will continue to grow and flower in the next season.

Many flowering blooms need six to eight hours of full sunlight to complete the blooming process. If the area in which bulbs are planted is too shady, this can be why daffodils won’t bloom.

If there is an excess of nitrogen in the soil the plants will develop lush foliage, but they will not bloom. Organic matter that is rich in nitrogen can have the same effect unless worked into the soil gradually. To correct an issue of poor blooms on daffodils and other bulbs, use high-phosphorus fertilizer, before the anticipated time of flowering.

If you didn't cut off faded flowers you have allowed seed capsules to form. Allowing seed capsules to form after flowering means that energy is diverted from the process of bulb rebuilding. Deadheading daffodils and allowing leaves to stay for at least six more weeks will ensure blooming in the following season.

Narcissus bulb fly and narcissus eelworm may damage bulbs leading to poor flowering. Adult bulb flies like warm sheltered places, so daffodils growing in shaded and exposed places are less likely to be affected. You can avoid bulb fly and eelworm by buying firm, good quality bulbs from reputable suppliers.

Diseases such as narcissus basal rot or daffodil viruses may cause bulbs to die or decline in vigor and flowering. Maintain good growing practices to minimize the chances of diseases.

Poor blooms on daffodils that have bloomed profusely in years past usually indicate bulbs that are crowded and need division. These may be dug up and separated in spring following bloom time or in autumn. Replant in groupings, allowing further room for growth.