- 1). Prepare the soil. Daffodils do best in rich, well-drained soil. Sandy loam is preferred. Remove debris, roots and weeds.
- 2). Elevate the planting bed if your soil does not drain well. Daffodils will rot in wet soil. Spread compost, sand or pine bark to lighten clay-like soil. According to the Florida Daffodil Society, 1/2 inch to 1 inch of small gravel in the planting hole will also improve drainage.
- 3). Pick a location that gets full sun. The next best choice is a half day of sun. If you're able to grow centipede grass in your yard, the conditions are right for daffodils.
- 4). Dig a hole that is two to three times deeper than the depth of the bulb. Shallower planting will cause the flowers to multiply faster. If they are too shallow, the bulb roots will grow into the ground more, pulling the bulb down. Place the bulb in the hole and cover with soil.
- 5). Space the flowers out so there is one hand-length between each one. Aim for four to five bulbs per square foot.
- 6). Fertilize newly planted bulbs with super phosphate in October or November. Apply a balanced fertilizer at the beginning of December, before the bulbs sprout and foliage comes out of the ground. Lightly broadcast the food over the planting bed. Follow up each December with a light application. Add mulch to the garden bed to keep Orlando's sun from baking the bulbs. Two inches is sufficient.
- 7). Water the garden in the fall, which is when Orlando daffodil bulbs are growing their roots. There is usually a drought in the Panhandle in October, so check your soil to make sure it is kept damp, but not soggy.
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