Home » Plants & Animals » Daffodil Growing & Showing » Growing Daffodils in Pots

Growing Daffodils in Pots

© Clay Higgins

Growing Daffodils in Pots

The subject of forcing daffodils and growing daffodils in pots are very similar. The difference is primarily the "use" of the daffodils. Forcing of daffodils are for having flowers in the early season which in some Home Shows are a competition into themselves. Growing in pots can be used for a number of reasons: as forced daffodils; to just having early daffodils for the home; or festive occasions, or to salvage some bulbs that were too late to plant in the ground; or as an art form into themselves.

Growing daffodils in "pots" is a process similar to last week's subject of "forcing." As I said last week, my climactic environment in metropolitan Washington, DC., is not considered a good area to force or for growing daffodils outside in pots. I don't have a refrigerator large enough for inside forceing, but by using advise from others, have had some success with growing daffodils in pots.

Before anyone takes on forcing or growing daffodils in pots, I highly recommend learning as much about the art as possible, and one of the best sources is Home Forcing of Daffodil provided by North Carolina State University Extension Service. This link provides a very detailed regiment and procedures for the home forcing of daffodils. Just about every thing they say there is applicable to growing daffodils in pots, the only difference is the lack of a refrigerator. Clemson University also provides excellent resources for daffodil growing and forcing at Crop-Specific Guidelines for Growers.

My daffodils that I grow in pots are usually two or three weeks earlier than my garden grown daffodils. Therefore, when I get spring fever anxiously awaiting my daffodils to bloom in the garden, I will just settle for the daffodils in my pots.

There are a lot of similarities between raising in pots and forcing daffodils. They are:

• 1. The selection process to obtain the right bulbs for forcing and potting are the same.

• 2. Thirteen weeks is the minimum cold-moist treatment that is required. Fifteen weeks is preferred. The bulbs must be planted, rooted, and kept in temperatures ranging from 35 to 48 degrees F.

• 3. After being rooted and cooled, they must be placed in sunny 60 to 63 degree F area in the home, or along the base of the house. The bulbs will take about 3 to 4 weeks to flower.

• 4. Bulbs for potting should be included with your spring bulb orders to ensure that they will be ready to begin the forcing process in the fall.

The copyright of the article Growing Daffodils in Pots in Daffodil Growing & Showing is owned by . Permission to republish Growing Daffodils in Pots in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.