How to Avoid Daffodil Bulb Rot?
If your daffodils are not thriving and multiplying year after year, you may be experiencing bulb rot.
What Is Bulb Rot?
Bulbs that are damaged are susceptible to several common fungi and bacteria species that infect the roots of plants, including Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, and Rhizoctonia. Pathogens seek weakened and damaged bulbs for an entry point. Bulbs may have already been damaged prior to planting or may have become damaged through wounds caused by insects, improper handling, or overly wet conditions created by lengthy wet periods of weather, improper watering, or poor drainage conditions. [“Floriculture: Diseases,” ipm.ucdavis.edu]
These pathogens infect the plant, and the surrounding soil and can spread to surrounding plants.
How Do I Know if My Daffodils Have Bulb Rot?
Plants that have bulb rot will not thrive well. Many will not emerge, and those that do may look stunted, wilted, or yellowed. To confirm the presence of bulb rot, you will need to dig up an infected plant to inspect the bulb. The bulb may appear moldy, soft, waterlogged, or may have a foul smell. [Flynn, ipm.iastate.edu]
How Do I Get Rid of My Bulb Rot Problem?
Don’t attempt to save a diseased plant. These diseases spread quickly and have the potential to infect your thriving, healthy plants. You will need to dig up and remove any infected plants as well as the surrounding soil hosting the fungi.
Can I Prevent Bulb Rot?
Purchase only healthy bulbs with no visible cuts or bruises where the fungi can easily gain entrance. Handle the bulbs carefully during planting to avoid creating any cuts or bruises.
Daffodils require moist but well-drained soil. If you suspect that your soil conditions are not optimal, consider planting in raised beds with good drainage.
Don’t plant your daffodil bulbs too deep. Bulbs should be planted at a depth that is two to three times as deep as the bulb is long. For daffodils, this is generally eight inches. [“Bulbs and More-Planting and Care”, urbanext.illinois.edu]
Resources
“Floriculture: Diseases: Root, stem, bulb, crown rots—UC IPM.”Managing Pest in the Garden – UC Statewide IPM Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FLOWERS/DISEASE/rootstemrot.html>
Flynn, Paula “Bulb Rot.” Department of Plant Pathology | Integrated Pest Management at Iowa State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2003/5-9-2003/bulbrot.html>.
“Bulbs and More-Planting and Care.” University of Illinois Extension. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <urbanext.illinois.edu/bulbs/planting.cfm>
