How to Care for Cut Daffodils

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Daffodils are the first sign that spring is on its way. Even on a gray day, daffodils make you feel like everything is right with the world.

 

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Narcissus, the botanical name for daffodils, can be a little tricky to care for.

 Here's What You Need to Know About Caring for Cut Daffodils:

1) Buy your daffodils when they're still a bit closed. They will begin to open after being in the water for a while.

2) Daffodils give off a sap that can be deadly to other flowers.  So it's best to arrange them with other daffodils only. Feeling adventurous? Want to include them in a mixed flower arrangement anyway? Then let the daffodils stems soak overnight in cool water to release some of that sap.

3) Partially fill a clean vase with room temperature water. Half way should be good. Daffodils prefer shalow water 

4) Add some of the floral preservative from the little packet. A few shakes, not the whole thing.

 

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5) Stand the daffodils next to the vase to see how long or short you want them to be.

6) Cut each daffodil stem on an angle with a sharp knife or flower shears. When in doubt, cut them longer than you think you actually want them. You can always re-cut them later. If you cut them too short the first time though...

7) Gently remove the protective husks or you can leave them on.

8) Repeat steps 3 - 6 every other day to help the daffodils last longer.

 

For more info on daffodils:

How to Arrange Daffodils - Video

 Different Types of Daffodils  

 

How do daffodils make you feel? I'd really like to know.

Mimi

 

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Comments

[Mimi]

Jace, I'm glad you found this post on caring for daffodils easy. Caring for most cut flowers is relatively easy. Sometimes people just don't know what to do. That's why I always teach people how to care for the flowers they buy at our shop, Fly Me To The Moon Florists.

[Mimi]

Maisyn, I'm so glad you find First Come Flowers so helpful. Your comment is greatly appreciated.

[P. Johnson]

Daffidols make me so happy, they add sunshine to the house and to my life. They remind me of loce!

[Mimi]

I love daffodils too. They are true harbinger of spring I think. thanks so much for your comment

[LlamaCake]

I have 2 questions. First, Is there a alternative to the flower preservative that I could use? And secondly, what are the protective husks? Thanks!

LC

[Mimi]

Thanks so much for your questions: 1) If you don't want to use packaged preservative, you can simply change the water daily, cut the flowers every other day or so or when the water looks murky to cut down on bacterial growth which prematurely kills flowers. 2) The protective husks on some daffodils are like a leaf covering the bloom. Removing it may help the flower bloom a bit more quickly.