Growing and caring for Ranunculus

How To Care for Ranunculus
Watering
Water in containers when the soil feels dry. Overwatering can cause the tubers to rot. In the ground, there’s no need to water them after the initial planting.

Fertilizer
If you’re growing your ranunculus in the ground and amended the soil with organic material, you may not need extra fertilizer. If unsure, apply a liquid fertilizer as the plants begin to grow in spring. If growing ranunculus in containers, use a similar fertilizer and apply it to the ranunculus following the instructions on the label.

Pruning
Ranunculus do not need to be pruned. As temperatures warm, the foliage will yellow as the plants go dormant. Cut the foliage off at that time.

Overwintering
If you live in Zones 8, 9, or 10, your ranunculus will likely overwinter in the ground just fine. However, if the plants are growing and you get an unexpected spell of freezing temperatures, cover the plants to protect them.

If you garden in colder zones, dig up the tubers once the plants go dormant. Allow them to dry, then store them until the following spring when you’re ready to replant them. This is not always easy to do, so many gardeners treat their ranunculus as annuals and let them die in the ground.

Can I Just Buy Ranunculus Plants in the Spring?
Yes. If growing ranunculus from tubers seems like a lot of work or you’ve missed the chance to start yours, look for potted ranunculus for sale about the time garden centers begin selling violas and pansies. Ranunculus look great in containers with these other cool season annuals.

Cutting Ranunculus for Bouquets
If you’re growing ranunculus to enjoy as cut flowers, look for varieties with longer stems. Cut the flowers just as the color begins to show on the buds. They should last about two weeks indoors.