From my perspective as a daffodil, the showy flower you admire is merely the finale of a long energy-building process. Once my petals fade, the real work begins. Do not remove my foliage! My green leaves are my solar panels. Through photosynthesis, they are absorbing sunlight and converting it into carbohydrates. This energy is not for immediate use; it is being transported down to my bulb, my lifeline, to be stored for next year's performance. Cutting my leaves short the moment the flower dies is like unplugging a battery at 10% charge—it leaves me without the resources to power a new bloom. Allow my leaves to remain until they turn yellow and wither naturally, which signals that the energy transfer is complete.
While my leaves are busy above ground, my roots and bulb are active below. The post-bloom period is my time for bulking up. The stored energy from the leaves causes my original bulb to enlarge. Furthermore, I often produce small offsets, known as bulblets, which will eventually grow into full-sized bulbs themselves. This entire underground operation requires consistent, but not excessive, moisture. Keep the soil lightly moist to facilitate this growth. Allowing the potting mix to become bone dry will halt the process and stress my system, while soggy, waterlogged soil will cause my bulb to rot, which is a death sentence.
I am not a tropical plant; I have a physiological need for a cold winter. This period of chilling, or vernalization, is a non-negotiable trigger that tells my internal clock that it's safe to initiate flower development for the next spring. Without this cold signal, I may produce leaves but no flowers. Simply keeping me in your warm living room after blooming will not work. After my foliage has died back, I need a simulated winter. This involves moving my pot to a cold, dark place like an unheated garage, a cellar, or even the bottom of a refrigerator (away from ripening fruit) for a period of 12 to 16 weeks. The ideal temperature for this dormancy is between 35°F and 45°F (2°C and 7°C).
After my mandatory cold period is complete, I will begin to sense the change in seasons. You can bring my pot back into a cool, bright location. I will soon send up new green shoots, eager to grow. This is also the perfect time for repotting, as I am emerging from dormancy. Gently remove my bulb from the old soil. You will likely find that I have multiplied. You can carefully separate any bulblets that are large enough to handle. Replant us in a pot with fresh, well-draining potting mix, ensuring the tip of the bulb is just below the soil surface. Water us in and place us in a sunny spot. With my energy reserves full and my chilling requirement satisfied, I will be primed to reward your care with a new display of blooms.
