Brilliantly coloured flowers of Ranunculus flowers are beloved for their coloured double-ruffled petals, tall stems, bushier foliage and long vase life and produce many flowers per bulb. All they ask is for plenty of sunlight, rich soil, and light watering. Ranunculus flowers look too delicate to be real, they also make long-lasting cut flowers and you can grow them very easily in your landscape or container garden for beautiful flower arrangements.
The Ranunculus flower is a genus of about 600 species of plants in the Ranunculaceae. Members of this group include the buttercups, spearworts, water crowfoots and the lesser celandine. They come in many colours, including white, yellow, orange, purple, red, and pink. This flowering plant is used for ornamental purposes. These lightweight flowers are also used as the cut flowers because they can have a vase life of 7-10 days indoors after cutting. Buy the best Quality Ranunculus Flower Bulbs Online at the best price from www.biocarve.com and beautify your garden with pretty colours.
When to Plant Ranunculus Flower Bulbs:
Ranunculus is a cool-season flower plant and usually grows from bulbs or tubers. In plain areas, plant ranunculus in fall (September-October) for flowers in late winter or early spring (December or January). Whereas in hilly areas plant the bulbs in spring (February-March) for late summer blooms. Ranunculus are cool season flowers that grow best in spring-like temperatures of about 55°F. Ranunculus are available at many retailers when the weather is not too cold. They are most commonly available in fall and early spring. These are also the best times to plant ranunculus. It usually takes 2-3 months for ranunculus to bloom after planting. Spring to early summer is the time when it blooms.
How To Grow Ranunculus Flower From Bulbs :
Sowing: Plant the ranunculus bulbs directly in pots/grow bags or gardens when the night temperature is between 18-20°C. Soaking the bulbs for a two hours before planting is recommended by most gardeners to make the bulbs less brittle, but this process is not necessary. Plant 1-2 bulbs per pot for healthy growth and to avoid crowding. Pot or grow bag of at least 9-15 inches is good for it. Ranunculus are cool-season flowers that thrive in full sun to partial shade and in moist, well-drained soil. For outdoor landscape planting, select a location in bed, borders, or cutting gardens, anyplace with good soil drainage. If you notice that water still puddles 5 to 6 hours after a hard rain, it's best to find a different spot or amend the soil with organic matter to improve drainage. For outdoor landscape planting, dig holes and set your Ranunculus bulbs 2–3" deep and 4–6" apart. Cover the bulbs with soil and water thoroughly.
And for outdoor container growing, be sure to choose a container that’s the right size for the number of bulbs you intend to plant and has a drainage hole at the bottom. Also, set your Ranunculus 2" deep and 3–4" apart in good-quality, well-draining potting soil (not garden soil). The eyes or bud of the bulb should be facing up, keep the claws facing down while planting. Refrain from watering again until you notice sprouts. Put the pot in a sunny place. After about 2 weeks you will see that the bulbs have developed roots and have begun to sprout. Each corm has several buds that will produce multiple flowers, and spacing them out will allow the plants to flourish. Mulch is good for protecting the ranunculus from extreme heat and retaining moisture in the soil.
Watering: Keep Ranunculus moist without over watering while the foliage is green and the flowers are in bloom. Too much moisture and poor drainage can cause bulbs to rot. Clip off foliage and stop watering when the leaves start turning yellow and die back. Allow your Ranunculus bulbs to dry out when they go dormant and the foliage is gone. Water ranunculus after leaves emerge when necessary to maintain a moist planting area but do not saturate soil. Ranunculus tubers rot very easily in wet soil. Use a soaker hose or other form of ground irrigation to avoid wetting flowers once ranunculus begins to bud. The best course of action is to water deeply but infrequently, letting the soil dry out in the top 1 to 2 inches between waterings. Do not let it dry out but do not drown them. Water only if we are not getting substantial winter rains.
Sunlight: Ranunculus plants need full sun and rich, well-draining soil. Prepare the planting area by incorporating several inches of compost into the soil. Ranunculus thrives in full sunlight but also grows well in partial shade. If you plan to grow indoors, put the pot on a window sill where it will get maximum hours of sunlight. The one environment that ranunculus do not tolerate is hot and wet. The cool soil of fall and early spring offers some protection from rotting, but soil that is never soggy gives extra insurance.
Fertilise: Ranunculus plants do not require special fertiliser; just use a liquid fertiliser (N.P.K. 19:19:19) every few weeks once the plant is established. Sow in compost or vermicompost , compost and Coco peat 75% with 25% normal garden soil. Apply fertiliser to the planting bed after foliage dies down. Water immediately after fertilising.
Temperature: Not more than 25°C - 30°C during the day and 20°C or less at night. Ranunculus bulbs will not germinate above 25C. Ranunculus flower plants grow best in temperatures between 15-24°C.
Common pests and diseases: Aphids are the pests that attack Ranunculus plant. You can use neem oil to control pests. Whereas powdery mildew disease infects the plant due to high humidity and the continuous wetting of leaves. You can control this disease by removing the infected part of the plant.
Ranunculus Care Tips:
Amend soil with compost, fine-ground bark, or composted manure as needed to improve drainage and avoid water logging your plant.
Pair with other spring flowers such as Primroses, Pansies, and Larkspur in warmer regions.
Expect blooms to arrive 2–3 months after planting in the spring and last for 4–6 weeks.
Start your plants indoors in containers if you live in a colder climate and move them outside to a spot with full sun after the danger of a hard frost has passed.
Sowing season of Ranunculus bulbs is in the rainy and early winter season
Dig a hole about three times as deep as the height of the bulb
Set the bulb in the hole, then covers with soil and press firmly
Planting space of bulbs 10-15 cm apart
Water thoroughly after planting
Use the potting mix for bulb plantation
Garden soil + Compost + Perlite + Sand (2:2:1:1) or
Soil + Coco Peat + vermicompost (2:1:2)
Do not store bulbs for more time as they can lose their viability
Water a plant when the soil feels dry to touch
Try to water the plants in the morning around 8-10am
Remove dead, infected or damaged plant parts and throw in the garbage collector
Fertilise the plant during planting and growing season with organic fertiliser
Store the bulbs away from sunlight in a cool and dry area and check regularly
Ranunculus buttercup plants require temperatures of no more than 60 F.
Soak the bulbs for 2-3 hours in tepid water before planting outside to give them a head start.
Enjoy bountiful blooms for up to 10 days in a vase by cutting the stems when the flower buds show colour but aren't yet open. Strip off lower leaves and re-cut the bottoms of the stems when you bring the flowers indoors and change the water every other day.
Lay them in a cool, dry place to evaporate all the moisture from the bulbs.