There are many factors that contribute to the failure of Narcissus to flower after growing in the garden for a few years. The basic problem is that bulb size was reduced below the minimum size required for flowering for the specific cultivar. Generally, this is 12 cm, in circumference. Some of the factors leading to this failure are:

• Cultivar is not adaptable to specific climatic zone or microclimate.
• There was poor drainage in the planting site.
• pH was outside of the 6 to 7 range.
  
• Site had high salt content and roots were burned.
  
• Bulbs were not properly fertilized to maintain or increase bulb size.
  
• Site had too low a light level for adequate photosynthesis to take place.
  
• Large, shallow rooted trees were in the same area and the tree roots were too competitive.
• Foliage was not allowed to senesce for at least ten weeks before it was removed, leading to decline in bulb size.
  
• Foliage was tied and leaf area for photosynthesis was reduced.
  
• There were serious diseases or very heavy frost damage.
  
• There was a prolonged spring drought that caused early leaf senescence.

Consumer Horticulture | Bulletin 41: Narcissus