How to Grow Narcissus (Nargis) Bulbs: Depth, Pots and Storing
To grow narcissus (Nargis) at home, plant the bulbs in October or November, pointed end up, at a depth of about three times the bulb’s height, roughly 10 to 15 cm for a typical bulb, in sunny, well drained soil. Water lightly, and the white, scented flowers usually open around January and February on the plains. After flowering, leave the leaves until they yellow: that is what feeds next year’s bloom.
Nargis bulbs at a glance
- Plant on the plains: October to November; Karachi November
- Hills: September to October, before the ground freezes
- Depth: about three times the bulb’s height, nose up
- Spacing: 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 inches) in groups
- Pot: 8 to 10 litres (10 inch, deep) holds 5 to 7 bulbs
- Sun: full sun to light shade
- Toxic: the bulb is poisonous; never store it with onions
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Nargis bulbs look a lot like small onions or shallots, and the bulb is the most poisonous part of the plant. NC State lists nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in large amounts, convulsions, and notes that handling bulbs and stems can irritate skin. Store bulbs in a labelled paper bag far from the kitchen, wear gloves when handling, and keep them from children and pets. If anyone eats a bulb, call a doctor or poison centre at once. Our Nargis flower guide covers names, season and the onion mix up in more detail.
How deep and which way up do I plant narcissus bulbs?
RHS guidance is to plant at a depth of three times the bulb’s height. Measure your bulb: a 4 to 5 cm bulb goes 12 to 15 cm deep to its base. The pointed end (the nose) faces up, the flat, slightly hairy root plate faces down. If you truly can’t tell, plant it on its side; the shoot will find its way.
- Choose bulbs: firm, heavy, no soft or mouldy patches. Bigger bulbs usually give more flowers.
- Mix for pots: 2 parts garden soil, 1 part compost, 1 part coarse sand. Drainage matters; bulbs rot in wet soil.
- Fill the pot to the planting depth, set bulbs nose up 5 to 8 cm apart.
- Cover and water once thoroughly.
- Wait. Water only when the top 3 cm is dry until shoots appear, often within a few weeks.
When to plant nargis in each zone
| Zone | Plant | Flowers |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi | November | January to February; may skip some years |
| Lahore, Faisalabad, Delhi | October to November | January to February |
| Multan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur | Late October to November | January |
| Islamabad, Peshawar | October | February to March |
| Hills | September to October | March to April |
Can narcissus grow in pots?
Yes, and on a roof or balcony it’s the easiest way. Use a deep pot with a good drainage hole, keep it in full sun through winter, and water when the top layer dries, usually every 5 to 7 days in December. Don’t let it sit in a saucer of water; NC State lists bulb rot in wet soil as the main problem. A pot left out on frost nights is fine; the bulbs are hardy. Our watering guide for potted plants gives a season by season routine.
Pebble bowl for the dining table
For a fragrant indoor display, fill a glass bowl with 5 to 8 cm of washed pebbles, sit bulbs on top nose up, and nestle them in so they stand. Add water only up to just below the base of the bulbs, so the roots reach down to it but the bulb never sits in water. Keep the bowl in a cool, bright spot. Bulbs forced this way usually spend themselves; plant them out in the ground afterwards and don’t expect much for a year or two. Keep the bowl out of reach of toddlers and pets.
What do I do with narcissus after flowering?
Snip off faded flowers so the plant doesn’t waste energy on seed. Then leave the leaves alone. RHS advises keeping the foliage until it yellows, usually about six weeks after flowering, and not knotting or tying it, because the leaves refill the bulb. Keep watering lightly until the leaves start yellowing. RHS also suggests a high potassium liquid feed from when shoots appear until the foliage dies back; on our plains, a little compost or a potash rich feed in February is the simple version.
How do I lift and store narcissus bulbs?
- When: once leaves are fully yellow and dry, usually April on the plains.
- Lift carefully with a fork, wearing gloves.
- Clean: brush off soil, trim dead leaves, discard any soft or rotten bulbs.
- Dry in shade for a week, never in direct summer sun.
- Store in a labelled paper or net bag in a cool, dry, airy place away from the kitchen, until October.
In the hills or in a cool, shaded bed, bulbs can stay in the ground. NC State notes they can stay undisturbed for several years. On a 45°C roof, lifting is safer: a pot of damp soil in June can rot them.
How do narcissus bulbs multiply?
Healthy bulbs make small offset bulbs attached at the side. When you lift in April, gently break off offsets that come away easily and store them with the rest. Plant them in October; small ones may take a year or two to reach flowering size. Growing nargis from seed is possible but slow, so offsets are the practical route.
Why is my narcissus not flowering?
- Leaves cut early last year: the bulb didn’t refill. Leave foliage until yellow.
- Too shallow or too crowded: crowded clumps decline; NC State suggests dividing them after foliage dies back.
- Too much shade or warmth: bulbs in hot, humid Karachi pots or deep shade often make only leaves.
- Small bulbs: offsets need a season or two.
Grow it or skip it?
Grow it if you can plant in October and wait patiently; the January scent is worth it. Maybe in Karachi, where warm winters make flowering patchy. Skip it if you can’t store bulbs safely away from food and children. Pots or ground both work. See our potting mix ratios, and more bulbs and winter flowers in Phool aur Paudhe.
Narcissus bulb questions
When should I plant narcissus bulbs in Pakistan?
October to November on the plains, November in Karachi, and September to October in the hills.
How deep should I plant narcissus bulbs?
About three times the bulb’s height, which is roughly 10 to 15 cm for most bulbs, with the pointed end up.
Which way up do narcissus bulbs go?
Pointed nose up, flat root plate down. If unsure, plant the bulb on its side.
What should I do with narcissus after flowering?
Remove faded flowers but leave the leaves until they turn yellow, about six weeks, so the bulb can store energy for next year.
How do I store narcissus bulbs over summer?
Lift them when the leaves die, dry in shade for a week, and keep them in a labelled paper bag in a cool, dry place away from food.
Why is my narcissus not flowering this year?
Usually the leaves were cut too early last spring, the clump is crowded, or the bulbs got too much shade or warmth.
Can narcissus grow in water?
Yes, on pebbles with water just below the bulb base. Bulbs grown this way are usually exhausted afterwards.
Is a narcissus bulb poisonous?
Yes, the bulb is the most toxic part. Never store it near onions and get medical help if anyone eats one.