Fertilising guide
How to fertilise Angel's Tears Narcissus (Narcissus triandrus)— schedule & NPK
Also called Angel's Tears, Angel's Tears Narcissus, Triandrus Daffodil.
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.
Growth habit: Bulbous perennial; clump-forming, naturalizing in suitable conditions
What fertiliser angel's tears narcissus actually wants — and why
Angel's Tears Narcissus feeds for next year, not this one — the critical window is after flowering, while the leaves are still green and recharging the bulb.
A low-nitrogen, potassium- and phosphorus-leaning bulb fertiliser (something like 5-10-10) or bonemeal at planting. High nitrogen grows floppy leaves and rots stored bulbs.
For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for angel's tears narcissus: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.
How often to feed angel's tears narcissus, and which months
Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For angel's tears narcissus:
Feed with a balanced bulb fertiliser (e.g., 10-10-10) at planting in autumn and again in early spring. A post-flowering liquid feed of high-potassium fertiliser (e.g., tomato food) while leaves are still green encourages strong bulb development for the following season. The rhythm: a bulb feed at planting, a light feed as leaves emerge, and — most important — a potassium feed straight after flowering while the foliage is still green and feeding the bulb. Never cut the leaves off early.
The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when angel's tears narcissus is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.
What strength to mix for angel's tears narcissus
Use the bulb-feed label rate for angel's tears narcissus; the timing (post-bloom, leaves still green) does far more for next year's display than the concentration.
Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water angel's tears narcissus first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the angel's tears narcissus watering schedule.
Signs you are over-feeding angel's tears narcissus
Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for angel's tears narcissus:
- Tall, floppy, soft leaves that flop over (too much nitrogen).
- Soft or rotting bulbs lifted at the end of the season.
- Lush foliage but few or poor flowers.
Signs you are under-feeding angel's tears narcissus
- Progressively fewer or smaller flowers year on year ("going blind").
- Small, weak bulbs and thin foliage.
- Bulbs that fail to come back at all after a few seasons.
If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full angel's tears narcissus care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.
Flushing and leaching the salts
Bulbs are not container-flushed like houseplants; the equivalent is not over-feeding and lifting/dividing congested clumps of angel's tears narcissus every few years so they are not competing for nutrients.
Organic vs synthetic feeds for angel's tears narcissus
Organic options
Bonemeal worked in at planting plus a mulch of garden compost or well-rotted leaf-mould is the traditional, reliable approach for angel's tears narcissus. UK: blood, fish & bone or Westland Bulb Food; US: Espoma Bulb-tone or bonemeal.
Synthetic / liquid feeds
A proprietary bulb fertiliser at planting and a high-potash liquid (tomato feed) after flowering — UK: Westland Bulb Food then Tomorite; US: Miracle-Gro Shake 'n Feed Bulb or a bloom booster post-flower.
Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.
Fertilising angel's tears narcissus — frequently asked questions
What fertiliser does angel's tears narcissus need?
A low-nitrogen, potassium- and phosphorus-leaning bulb fertiliser (something like 5-10-10) or bonemeal at planting. High nitrogen grows floppy leaves and rots stored bulbs. Angel's Tears Narcissus feeds for next year, not this one — the critical window is after flowering, while the leaves are still green and recharging the bulb.
How often should I feed angel's tears narcissus?
Feed with a balanced bulb fertiliser (e.g., 10-10-10) at planting in autumn and again in early spring. A post-flowering liquid feed of high-potassium fertiliser (e.g., tomato food) while leaves are still green encourages strong bulb development for the following season. Feed with a balanced bulb fertiliser (e.g., 10-10-10) at planting in autumn and again in early spring. A post-flowering liquid feed of high-potassium fertiliser (e.g., tomato food) while leaves are still green encourages strong bulb development for the following season. The rhythm: a bulb feed at planting, a light feed as leaves emerge, and — most important — a potassium feed straight after flowering while the foliage is still green and feeding the bulb. Never cut the leaves off early.
What strength of feed for angel's tears narcissus?
Use the bulb-feed label rate for angel's tears narcissus; the timing (post-bloom, leaves still green) does far more for next year's display than the concentration.
What does over-feeding angel's tears narcissus look like?
Tall, floppy, soft leaves that flop over (too much nitrogen). Soft or rotting bulbs lifted at the end of the season. Lush foliage but few or poor flowers. Cutting or tying off the leaves of angel's tears narcissus as soon as the flowers fade is the great bulb mistake — the bulb recharges through those leaves for weeks afterward, and removing them early means a weak or blind display next year.
Should I flush the soil of angel's tears narcissus?
Bulbs are not container-flushed like houseplants; the equivalent is not over-feeding and lifting/dividing congested clumps of angel's tears narcissus every few years so they are not competing for nutrients.
Keep reading
- Angel's Tears Narcissus care — the full brief (light, soil, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water angel's tears narcissus — the watering schedule
- The houseplant fertiliser schedule — feeding through the year
- NPK ratio explained — what the three numbers on the bottle mean
- How to fertilise creeping woodland phlox
- How to fertilise meadow phlox
- How to fertilise downy phlox
- All 6887 fertilising guides in the Growli library