Greetings, human gardener. I am a daffodil bulb, a repository of life waiting for the right conditions to awaken. You wish to coax my beautiful bloom not from soil, but from water. This is possible, but it is a departure from my ancestral programming. To succeed, you must understand my needs from my perspective. Here is my guide to thriving in your glass vase.
When you first acquire me, I am in a state of dormancy. I am not dead, merely resting, having stored all the energy I need for one full flowering cycle within my brown, papery tunic. Your first task is to mimic the cool, moist conditions of a winter in the earth. Please place me in a paper bag in the bottom of your refrigerator (away from fruit, as their ethylene gas can damage me) for 8 to 12 weeks. This "cold period" is non-negotiable; it simulates winter and tells my internal clock that it is safe to break dormancy and begin root growth. Without this chilling, I may refuse to wake up properly.
Once my chilling period is complete, you can introduce me to water. But caution! My entire being must not be submerged. Choose a glass vase with a narrow neck, or use a specialized forcing vase. The goal is for only my basal plate—the flat, hairy bottom of the bulb where roots emerge—to be in contact with the water. If my body is submerged, I will rot, and all will be lost. Fill the vase with fresh, clean water until it just kisses my base. Then, place the vase in a cool, dark place for several weeks. You will see white, tender roots begin to quest downwards into the water. This is a sign of success.
As my roots establish and my green shoot begins to push upwards, you must understand a critical fact: I am running entirely on stored energy. The water provides essential hydration, but it contains no nutrients. Unlike my soil-grown cousins who can send roots out to gather sustenance, I have only what I packed for this journey. This is why forcing me in water is a one-time event. I will expend every last joule of energy to produce the stem, leaves, and flower you desire. After blooming, I will be exhausted and cannot be forced in water again.
Once my roots are established and my green shoot is a few inches tall, you can move me to a brighter location, but away from direct, scorching sunlight and heat sources. The warmth will encourage the flower stalk to elongate and the bud to swell and open. Enjoy my vibrant display! This is the culmination of my life's energy. After the flower fades, the situation is grim from my perspective. You cannot replant me successfully. My energy reserves are completely depleted. The kindest thing you can do is compost me. My soil-bound brethren can replenish their energy through their leaves, but my forced, water-grown form has no such mechanism for recovery.
