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Daffs - issues

Dilip_UKDilip_UK Posts: 114
in Plants
First time planting bulbs - Planted both daffs and tulips in pots, seems they are doing well. However, noted on one of the daffs have leaf stems with brown tips. Is it lack of water or perhaps something else. Also another daff with droopy flowers, seems the stems are not strong enough. Welcome any thoughts. Thank you. 

 
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2023
    Many daffs have nodding heads. Some are like that and straighten up, and some don't. It depends on the variety. 
    Never had daffs with browning tips, but I'd guess it's probably due to the fluctuating weather - mild, then frost, then sun etc. However - they look as if they've been planted rather shallow. Did you plant them around three times the height of the bulb? The deeper the better for daffs  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    The ones that are drooping are fine. Possibly February Gold? The leaf damage could be cold as @Fairygirl mentions. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Dilip_UKDilip_UK Posts: 114
    @Fairygirl, @GardenerSuze, thank you for your posts. Yes indeed the weather has fluctuated a lot. On reflection perhaps twice as deep if not 3 times. Droopy ones are Tete a Tete and brown tips are Martinette. First time planting daffs and tulips, so going up another learning curve. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited March 2023
    You could certainly top up the pots which will help a bit. Soil levels often drop over winter too, so that will benefit them  :)
    I wouldn't worry too much about the brown tips. They look healthy enough apart from that. Is the drainage good in the pot?
    Not a variety I've grown though, so it's worth having a look on the bulb specialist sites to see if it mentions anything else. As long as they start producing flowering spikes, they should hopefully be ok.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dilip_UKDilip_UK Posts: 114
    @Fairygirl, yes drainage is good, the soil felt a little dry last week, so gave it some water. Thanks for the tip, will top up with the compost. Good idea will check specialist site. Thank you.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited March 2023
    Bent over is how many daffs go before opening fully.  

    My tete-a-tete never have multple flowers in the succeeding years.  Yours look like they are underperforming the first year.

    Brown tips is something that happened in the early stages of grwoth.  Perhaps growth had started before you planted them.  Perhapa frost when the tips were first showing.  If it offends you, just trim the tips.  But they should be showing buds at this stage.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Just remember to feed them a few times when they're dying back @dbhattuk. It helps give them a boost when they're potted, and helps to feed the bulbs for the following year's flowers. If you're planting them out in a border or similar, it doesn't matter so much, as they'll usually get enough sustenance from the soil, assuming it's in good health.  :)

    Tulips are a bit trickier as they need more specific conditions, and many aren't reliable returnees the way daffs are. The species/botanical ones are easier and will multiply if they're happy, but the bigger ones tend to be more hit and miss, with a few exceptions. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dilip_UKDilip_UK Posts: 114
    @bédé, thanks for the note. Lots to learn for me, first time planting blubs. Will keep a look out on the Martinettes. Brown tips don't bother me but if the browning progresses down the stem, then that maybe concerning and will need to figure out what it could be the cause.

    @Fairygirl, as always. love your suggestions and tips. Will give it some feed as you suggested. I plan to keep them in containers and not in the ground. The tulips are perennial, as stated by the supplier but time will tell, from what I read. perennial does not necessarily mean perennial when it comes to tulips.  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you know what the tulip varieties are @dbhattuk?

    I wouldn't worry too much about the browning just now. Probably the weather as I said earlier, and the problem for many bulbs has been mild weather and therefore lots of growth, followed by sudden  cold - ie frost/ice, which often affects fleshy stems and foliage more.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dilip_UKDilip_UK Posts: 114
    @Fairygirl, I got a mixed bag of perennials bulbs and a bag of Triumph Red and White. Hopefully I will venture wider once I am happy I can grow tulips with a degree of success. Thanks
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