The best time to cut daffodils for bringing indoors is when the flower buds are starting to show some color, but before they are fully open. This is often called the "gooseneck" stage, where the flower buds bend over and the petals start to unfold slightly. Cutting at this stage gives the flowers a longer vase life as they will continue to open indoors. It is recommended to cut stems as close to the ground as possible, taking care to leave the leaves intact to allow the plant to photosynthesize and store energy for the next year’s growth. For garden care, daffodil flowers can be cut off once they have bloomed and the blooms start to die back, but the leaves should not be cut until they have turned yellow and died completely. The leaves provide the bulb with essential nutrients for next year's blooms. This typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks after the flowers have faded. Cutting leaves too early can reduce the bulb's ability to bloom again the following year. So, in summary:

• Cut daffodils for indoor bouquets when buds show some color (gooseneck stage).
• For garden maintenance, remove spent flowers after blooming.
• Do not cut yellowing leaves until fully dead (about 4-6 weeks after flowering).
• Cut leaves near ground level once they have completely died back.

This approach ensures healthy plants and lasting enjoyment of cut daffodils indoors and in the garden.