Harvesting
As with all flowers, it's best to harvest when the temperatures are cooler, typically in the morning or early evening. Fortunate for us, daffodil season occurs in early spring and we usually have cool daytime temperatures, so any time of day is fine for picking.
It's tempting to pick wide open flowers. I understand, I do it too ;) But for the longest vase life, pick daffodils when the bud has full colour and has started to bend over (the "gooseneck" stage). I like to mix a couple of freshly opened daffodils with the remainder in the gooseneck stage. Daffodils open quickly, so your gooseneck stems will likely open within a few hours.
There are a couple of ways to harvest your daffodils. The first is to reach down to the base of the plant and pull the stem instead of cutting it with scissors. This provides a longer stem and releases less sap. The other method is to cut your stem at the base, as close as possible to the earth. Either way, please don't cut the leaves - they die back over a few weeks and feed the bulbs, crucial for next season's flowers.
If you have sensitive skin you'll want to wear gloves, as the sap can cause irritation.
Conditioning
If you plan to mix daffodils with other flowers, you'll want to "bleed" the sap first. The sap is toxic to other flowers. Place the daffodils alone in a separate container of cool water for 2–6 hours, or until the sap stops bleeding.
Don't recut the stems after the bleeding has stopped, as a fresh cut will release more sap.
You can also briefly sear the bottom of the cut stems with a flame or boiling water to seal the stems.
Trim your stems to different lengths (long, medium, and short) to create depth and a more interesting bouquet.
Daffodils are top-heavy so supports will hold the daffodils more upright. My favourite way to provide support is to use spring branches (like forsythia, pussy willow, fruit trees, whatever you can find) inside the vase to create a natural framework.
You can also create a grid with florist tape across the vase opening to hold your stems upright.
Use cool, fresh water and change the water every 2 days to prevent bacteria buildup. You'll also want to keep your bouquet away from sunlight and drafty areas in your home.
Enjoy your gorgeous daffodils!
