Shallow Pots

• For strong growth, daffodils need to be potted to a depth of 6 inches with at least a 3-inch layer of soil beneath the bulbs. Bulbs not planted to this depth will have weak growth and may topple over before the blooms open. To solve this problem, plant your daffodil bulbs to the proper depth in a pot that is at least 10 inches deep.
  
  

Crowded Bulbs

• Each year, daffodil bulbs put out daughter bulbs as a means of propagation. If you keep your daffodils in the same pot year after year, the pot will soon become crowded. Overcrowded bulbs compete for water and nutrients, leading to smaller and fewer flowers. To avoid this problem, remove the bulbs from your pot after the daffodils' foliage has died back. Separate the bulbs and replant a few of them, leaving 1 inch of space between each bulb. The remaining bulbs can be put in other pots, the ground or given away to friends.
  
  

Fertilizer Problems

• Container-grown plants need regular feeding because they quickly use up the available nutrients in their potting soil. However, giving your potted daffodils a high nitrogen fertilizer isn't what they need. Nitrogen helps plants produce foliage and limits flower production. While daffodil foliage looks nice, you'd rather have the bulbs bloom. Instead, feed your bulbs with compost tea or provide them with a fertilizer specifically intended for bulbs.
  
  

Human Problems

• One of the miscellaneous problems with keeping daffodils in containers is that the plants die back by early summer. This leaves you three seasons to forget what is in that pot. Seeing the dirt-filled pot, you may put it away for storage and forget about it. One solution to this is to plant other bulbs that will bloom over several seasons in the same pot -- use a large pot if you do this. Another solution is to clearly label the pot with a daffodil-shaped marker. You may even want to mark on your calendar to locate that pot in late winter.
  
  

Animal Problems

• Squirrels enjoy digging up and eating spring bulbs. A container of daffodils makes it easier for these rodents to locate and snatch a meal without having to root around in the garden. Planting your bulbs deeply may help solve this problem. If this doesn't help, layer down a section of chicken wire in the pot to discourage the squirrels. Cover the wire with a little soil to keep it out of view.