Friday, November 13, 2009

Does anyone else have a Peruvian Daffodil ? Mine only bloomed once in 6 years. Is that normal?

Latin: Hymenocallis Narcissiflora, Advance variety pure white with green in throat,4 blossoms 3 out of 4 opened by July 4rth.Also called basket flower.Almost 3 ft tall , flowers as big as my hand when it's spread out.Awesome looking like a cross between a day lilly and a daffodil. The bulb is huge will it multiply? Everyone wants one if it does, Is there a trick for getting it to multiply maximally? If I cut the flower will it affect it's ability to come back or multiply? I only have one.

Does anyone else have a Peruvian Daffodil ? Mine only bloomed once in 6 years. Is that normal?
Hi,





You should divide the bulbs to propagate them. It is my experience with daffodils and bulbs that you should have gotten more blooms in 6 years. Your Peruvian (should) multiply readily when given weekly water and fertilizer in the summer. I have also been told that these bulbs can be forced into bloom indoors in the winter. Lift the bulb in the fall before the first frost, give it a couple months of dormancy in a cool, dry spot, then repot it, start watering again, and place it in a sunny window.





The flowers of the Peruvian daffodil are noteworthy both for their intricate design and fragrance. These 4-inch flowers are borne atop 2-foot, leafless flower stalks in midsummer. Each stem may hold 2 to 5 flowers, which are white with green stripes. The leaves are straplike and may be up to two feet long. Depending upon the species, it may be deciduous or evergreen.





Peruvian daffodils are hardy in zones 8 to 10, but can be grown outside this range if the bulbs are dug and stored in a frost-free location over winter. Choose a location in full sun or very light shade, and enrich the soil with well-rotted cow manure. Plant the bulbs outdoors in spring or fall, spacing them 12 to 15 inches apart and covering them with 3 to 5 inches of soil. In zones 8-10 dig up and divide the bulbs in spring every four or five years.





From zone 7 north, plant the bulbs in spring after night temperatures average above 60°. In areas with a short growing season, you will want to start them in pots indoors. When frost threatens, dig up the bulbs and put them in a well-ventilated shady place on their sides until the leaves wither. Cut off the leaves and store the bulbs upside down over winter in dry peat moss or vermiculite at 65° to 70°.





Peruvian daffodils grow well in containers. Keep the soil moist and feed monthly with a slow-release fertilizer from spring to fall. Move the plants outdoors when night temperatures average above 60°. Over the winter, keep the plants in a well-lighted room, and water sparingly.





Propagate in fall from the small bulbs that develop at the base of large ones.





Best wishes!
Reply:I'm glad that it helped you! :-) thanks very much for the vote, and I hope all grows well for you. Report It

Reply:Were you a flower child in your youth? Report It

Reply:I didn't see a notation that bulbs in general need bone meal-- I put some in the hole when I first plant and sprinkle more during the dormant season so the winter rains will help the stuff get to the roots. I have not had a Peruvian daff but have had scads and scads of multi types-- took a bouquet to work in a vase with a 8 inch throat-- totally full-- and had enough to do it again.


good luck


1 comment:

  1. I Love the details about the flower. I just planted a few myself in my flower bed in front of my house. It get full sun and I water regularly (daily) It has bloomed once then they all died. Are they going to come back anytime soon. The bloom is so pretty. Let me know if I should cut the top of flower of like some of my other flowers need debudding from time to time.

    Thanks again guys for the help

    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete