Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Angel's Tears Narcissus bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Angel's Tears, Angel's Tears Narcissus, Triandrus Daffodil (Narcissus triandrus).

More about angel's tears narcissus

About Angel's Tears Narcissus

Narcissus triandrus · also called Angel's Tears, Angel's Tears Narcissus · flowering

Narcissus triandrus is a graceful, nodding miniature daffodil bearing 2–6 pendant white or pale-yellow flowers per stem, with reflexed petals and a rounded cup. Native to rocky scrub and meadows in Iberia and northwest France, it is the parent of Division 5 triandrus hybrids. Plant in free-draining, gritty soil in a sunny or lightly shaded spot.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Failure to establish in heavy clay: Plants often fail to return in subsequent seasons in clay soils, even if they flower in the first year. Always amend planting spots heavily with coarse grit and incorporate organic matter to open up structure before planting.

The reasons angel's tears narcissus isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming angel's tears narcissus traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding angel's tears narcissus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get angel's tears narcissus to flower

Maximise sun. Give angel's tears narcissus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for angel's tears narcissus and get the feeding right with the angel's tears narcissus fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Angel's Tears Narcissus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full angel's tears narcissus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Angel's Tears Narcissus blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my angel's tears narcissus flower?

Angel's Tears Narcissus blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make angel's tears narcissus bloom?

Give angel's tears narcissus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does angel's tears narcissus normally bloom?