Anyone else wondering “can you keep daffodils in the fridge?”
Interestingly a refrigerator can, on occasion, be a useful tool when it comes to ensuring your daffodils grow their vibrant yellow blooms.
But there are a few things you need to know first.
So let’s take a closer look.
Can You Keep Daffodils In The Fridge?
You definitely can keep daffodils in the fridge. It is especially useful for winterizing them if you live in an area that has mild winters, or if forcing them to bloom early if you fancy a bit of color in your home in January or February. Make sure you don’t put any fruit or vegetables in your fridge with them though, as they can kill your daffodils.
You Can Keep Your Daffodils in the Fridge if You Live in a Warm Climate
Daffodils need to winterize each year before they flower.
If you live in a milder climate, where you rarely get temperatures that are freezing or near freezing over a prolonged period, then this won’t happen if you leave them outside.
So essentially if you don’t have a cold winter, daffodils will require a chilling period to produce blooms.
And where is a great place to chill them?
Yep, you guessed it, the fridge.
You will need to wait until the foliage has died completely then remove the bulbs from the ground.
Put them in a paper bag and chill them for eight weeks in your fridge.
We will go into more detail on the dos and don’ts of this later in this article.
You Can Keep Your Daffodils in the Fridge if You Are Trying to Force Bloom Them
If you want something to brighten up your winter then you might be wondering if you can force your daffodils to bloom early.
That way you get the benefit of their beauty in January or February, rather than from March or April onwards.
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The good news is you can.
And to do this you need to trick your daffodils into thinking winter is over sooner than it is.
A 12 to 16-week spell in the fridge is one of the best ways to do this.
Keep reading and we will explain all.
How Do You Store Daffodils In The Fridge?
Storing Daffodils in the Fridge If You Live in a Warm Climate
If you live in an area with a year-round mild climate, firstly I am jealous, secondly, these are the steps to take when storing your daffodils in the fridge.
STEP ONE
When your daffodil has stopped blooming, reduce and stop watering them and then wait until its foliage has dried up completely.
We covered this in more detail in our post on what to do with daffodils after flowering in pots but it should take around six weeks.
Then remove them from the ground, clean them off and allow them to dry out.
STEP TWO
Place the bulbs in an opaque paper or plastic bag that is open at the top and store them in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
The bag needs to be opaque to protect the bulbs from the light that will inevitably pour into the fridge whenever you open the door.
It also needs to be left open at the top to keep air flowing to the bulbs.
The temperature in the fridge should be as low as possible without freezing the blooms. Something in the 36° to 40° (2 to 5°C) should work.
IMPORTANT: Do not store any fruit or vegetables in the same refrigerator as your daffodils. They produce a gas called ethylene which can kill daffodils.
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STEP THREE
When the bulbs have been in your fridge for around 6 to 8 weeks, they should have experienced enough cold to bloom in the spring.
Replant outside towards the end of December or the beginning of January, with around three inches of soil covering them.
If you are keeping them in pots place them in a location with low light and a temperature of around (50°F/10°C).
Gradually move the pot towards a sunny window and turn regularly for even growth.
Storing Daffodils in the Fridge to Force Bloom Them
If you want to force your daffodils into blooming early, then the process is very similar to that outlined directly above.
There are however a few subtle differences.
STEP ONE
As above, place the bulbs in a plastic or paper bag that is opaque, and open at the top.
Place the bag in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. You will be wanting to keep them in cold storage for a total of around 15 or 16 weeks.
Keep the temperature of your refrigerator somewhere around 36° to 40° (2 to 5°C).
Again, as mentioned previously, make sure no fruit or vegetables are in the same refrigerator, as the ethylene gas they release can kill the embryonic flower inside the daffodil bulb.
STEP TWO
After the bulbs have been in cold storage for around 4 or 5 weeks, plant them in pots.
Then water and put the pots back in the refrigerator. Cover the pots with an opaque plastic or paper bag with holes punched in it to allow for continued ventilation.
Don’t water them again, unless the soil feels very dry. If that is the case just add enough water to make the soil damp, not saturated.
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STEP THREE
Around three or four weeks before you want your daffodils to bloom, remove them from the fridge.
Place them in a warmer area (around 50°F/10°C), with low to medium light and water them and care for them as normal.
After 4 or 5 days the shoots should turn green.
Then you can move them to a warmer location (60° to 70°F/15° to 21° C), with more light.
Keep watering and turning the pots and wait for them to bloom!
Final Thoughts
If you live in a place that gets mild winters, or if you want your daffodils to bloom early, then a fridge can come in very handy.
Placing your daffodils in the fridge can trick them into believing winter has come and gone and it is time for them to bloom again.
The process is pretty easy and surprisingly effective.
There are really only a couple of vital things you want to remember:
- Keep your daffodils in an open opaque paper or plastic bag to protect them from the light and give them some air.
- Make sure you don’t leave fruit and veg in your fridge with them as they produce a gas that can kill daffodils.
Aside from that, there is very little else you need to remember.
So yes, you definitely can keep daffodils in the fridge.