Question:
My daffodils produce foliage in spring, but no longer bloom. Why?Answer:
Cutting the Foliage Off Early
If the daffodils aren’t blooming, the plants weren’t able to store enough food in their bulbs in the previous year. Daffodil foliage typically persists for four to six weeks after blooming. During this time, the daffodil foliage is manufacturing food. Much of the food is transported down to the bulbs. In order to bloom, daffodils must store adequate levels of food in their bulbs.
Cutting off the foliage before it has died back naturally may prevent the plants from storing adequate food in the bulbs. Allow the daffodil foliage to die completely before removing it.
Too Much Shade
Plants in partial shade in May and June may not be able to store enough food in their bulbs because of insufficient sunlight. Dig up daffodils growing in partial shade when the foliage has died back and plant the bulbs in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sun per day.
Overcrowding
Large clumps of daffodils may stop flowering due to overcrowding. Large daffodil clumps can be dug after the foliage has died. Separate the bulbs and replant immediately. Bulbs can also be dried for several days, placed in mesh bags, stored in a cool, dry location, and then planted in the fall.
Other Reasons
Over-fertilization can produce abundant foliage growth with little flowering. Regular fertilization is not typically needed for daffodils. If they are planted near regularly fertilized areas, like the lawn, they may be getting too much fertilizer from their proximity.
When bulbs are planted too deeply, they may produce foliage, but fail to bloom. Dafodils need to be planted at approximately three times the bulb's height. This means most daffodils should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep
Learn more about growing daffodils and other spring-blooming bulbs in this article:All About Daffodils.