Narcissus players are increasingly diverse.
Mr. Luong Duong (32 years old, Thanh Hoa) is a person who loves growing plants and taking care of flowers. Long before he started learning how to cut narcissus, he was impressed and admired people who play with this flower. In 2017, he happened to know that among his acquaintances there was a person who had played with narcissus for a long time, so he wanted to buy some to play with during Tet. His friend did not agree to sell but wanted to teach Mr. Duong how to cut and play with it. From then on, his passion began.
Growing daffodils attracts many young people, including men. (Photo: NVCC)
Previously, narcissus players were usually in Hanoi, middle-aged or elderly. It was also because of the sophistication and meticulousness in each stage. But now, narcissus hobby no longer distinguishes age, gender, or region.
Mr. Duong also shared: "Daffodils are a seasonal flower. Due to the climate and soil not being suitable for growing in Vietnam, flower bulbs are often imported from Zhangzhou, Fujian, China to play during Tet and New Year. In other seasons, there are no flower bulbs and the flower bulbs do not have buds. However, with skillful hands, Vietnamese daffodil growers have trimmed and turned it into an elegant hobby."
For him, this flower has a special meaning as it helped him find his other half. He met his wife when he taught her how to trim and care for flowers. Narcissus is a passion that both he and his wife pursue. Therefore, every New Year, pots of narcissus are indispensable decorations in the family.
Peeling daffodils is a lot of work and requires meticulousness. But the end result is well worth it.
Narcissus flowers bring luck every spring.
Symbolizing luck and vitality in spring, bowls of narcissus are often displayed on the living room table or in important places during Tet. For Hanoians, playing with narcissus is considered a beautiful cultural feature.
Narcissus flowers can be found in Hanoi's ornamental plant streets such as Hoang Hoa Tham and Lac Long Quan, but the fun of growing narcissus begins with the rough bulbs still clinging to the ground. Flower growers will have to go through many steps such as selecting bulbs, peeling bulbs, peeling each layer, nurturing and caring for the flowers to get a satisfactory bowl of narcissus.
The fun of many daffodil growers includes cutting the flowers and calculating the days to make them bloom in time for the New Year. The flowers only last about a week from blooming to fading. From the day of cutting, there are about 20-30 days to enjoy the spring.
Flower growers will have to go through many steps such as selecting bulbs, peeling bulbs, separating each layer, nurturing and caring for flowers.
How to care for and trim daffodils
Getting started with daffodils is not too complicated. Players need to prepare a specialized knife, a terracotta bowl to nourish the flowers, and flower arrangements depending on the flower shape and the homeowner's preferences.
When peeling, players need to pay attention to peel cleanly and neatly. Peel and peel just enough to ensure that the flower cover is exposed without damaging the bulb too much, be careful not to peel the flower cover. The trimming and care requires a lot of effort and attention. However, this is a very strong flower species. If the weather is favorable, the flower bulb is of good quality, and for an experienced peeler, it is not too difficult to have a healthy, beautiful flower bowl.
Currently, there is a lot of information on the internet as well as groups that regularly organize offline to guide and exchange how to trim and grow narcissus every Tet holiday. Groups can be mentioned as "Quintessence of Vietnamese Narcissus", "Narcissus and Friends", "Group sharing experiences in trimming and growing Narcissus"...
Daffodils are hardy, easy-to-grow flowers for beginners.
There is no specific standard for evaluating the beauty of narcissus. But in terms of trimming, according to Mr. Duong, a beautiful narcissus bowl is a healthy bowl, ensuring the elements of green leaves without scars or cracks. The flower stalk is plump, the flower stem is sturdy. The surface of the cut is bright white. The roots are even, white and must have roots. The "dragon claw" sheath behind the leaves is white, slightly curved, and layered. The bowl must be harmonious in composition. Even leaves, whether flying or curled, must match the roots, flowers and rear leaves. Whether the flowers are clusters or high or low, or even high, they must ensure connection with the remaining parts so as not to break the composition.
After a hectic year, the hobby of carving daffodils is an elegant and delicate hobby that helps everyone slow down. It not only trains the player to be patient and meticulous, but also helps flower players feel relaxed and calm when entering the new year. Each person who carves daffodils learns to appreciate the beauty of life, not only from the flowers but also from the leaves and roots of this small and vibrant flower.
