A Detailed Guide to Growing Ranunculus from Seed and Points to Note

Ranunculus is also known as celery flower; its flower colors are rich, but the flower shape closely resembles that of a peony, so much so that when friends see it, it is like looking at “someone else's” shadow. But this similarity not only fails to make people dislike it, it instead makes them love it even more, attracting a large group of true fans. Ranunculus is a perennial bulbous flower; next, follow the editor to learn its planting method.

How to plant ranunculus seeds

1. Sowing time

The best temperature for ranunculus seed germination is between 10-15°C. Sowing is generally chosen for October; to extend the growing period, sowing can also begin in September.

2. Sowing box

For ease of management, ranunculus is often sown in a sowing box. Ranunculus likes sandy soil rich in humus, loose and fertile, with strong permeability, so the sowing soil must be prepared before sowing.

At the bottom of the sowing box, which has drainage holes, cover the bottom with broken tiles and then spread a 1 to 2 cm thick layer of coarse sand, then fill with the prepared sowing soil until it is 2 to 3 cm from the box rim, and use a wooden board to scrape it level and press it firm.

3. Sowing

Use fresh seeds for sowing, because fresh seeds have relatively high viability, then broadcast them over the sowing box and cover with fine soil; the soil covering thickness should be such that the seeds are no longer visible. Then press gently with a wooden board, and place it into a water container (or into a pre-dug ground trough, adding water to the trough), so that water seeps into the box from the bottom and moistens the soil. Note that when soaking the box, the water level must not be higher than the surface layer of the box soil, so as not to wash away the seeds.

Ranunculus seed planting method and points to note

I. Planting method

1. Soil: Ranunculus likes well-drained, fertile, loose neutral or slightly alkaline soil, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied when planting. Potted cultivation requires a sandy culture soil rich in humus, loose and fertile, with strong permeability; 2 parts garden soil, 1 part leaf mold and 1 part barnyard manure can be used as the potting soil.

2. Light: Ranunculus is not tolerant of strong light and likes a semi-shaded environment. In winter, light should be sufficient; in spring, as temperatures rise and light intensifies, moderate shading should be provided and ventilation strengthened. In addition, ranunculus is a long-day plant, and its flowering period can be controlled according to this characteristic.

3. Watering: Ranunculus likes moisture and fears waterlogging; it is relatively drought-tolerant, but should not be overly dry. After planting, the first watering should be thorough; afterward, watering should be timely and balanced, and it must not be too dry or too wet. The degree of watering should be based on the soil surface being dry while the leaves do not show wilting.

4. Fertilizer: Before planting ranunculus, decomposed cake fertilizer or livestock manure and other organic fertilizers should be selected as base fertilizer and spread evenly. After transplanting, start topdressing when the plant clearly grows or new leaves appear; in the early stage, mainly urea, and in the later stage, mainly compound fertilizer, applied once every 7 days.

5. Temperature: Ranunculus likes a cool environment; the optimum growth temperature is 15-20°C during the day and 7-8°C at night. The temperature must not be too high or too low, and the day-night temperature difference must not be too large, otherwise the growth and development of ranunculus will be affected, leading to a decrease in flower number and quality.

II. Points to note

1. Pests: During the growing period of ranunculus, if it is hot and humid, it is easy to cause leggy growth, yellow leaves and stem base rot. The main pests are root maggots and leaf miners, which can be sprayed with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution; for root rot, irrigate with 50% benomyl wettable powder at 1000 times dilution.

2. Pruning: Ranunculus is a flower plant with a beautiful plant shape and bright flower colors, and it grows relatively quickly. In the early bud stage, select and keep 3-5 robust buds per plant, remove the remaining ones, and at this time the potting soil should be slightly dry. After flowering, if seeds are not needed, the spent flowers should be cut off in time.

Ranunculus sprouting method

1. Preparation stage

First spread 1-2 [lin mi] of perlite or sand on the bottom of a container, place the ranunculus upside down on it, then spread a layer of perlite until the ranunculus is completely out of light. Then use a spray bottle to spray water, wetting both the perlite and sand; water may accumulate in the container, but the accumulated water must not cover the claw part of the ranunculus.

2. Water absorption stage

Place the container in the refrigerator with the temperature set at about 5°C, letting the ranunculus absorb water in the moist stems for 3 days; generally after 3 days, the ranunculus tubers will be plump and round. If the perlite is too dry during this period, spray some water appropriately, but do not soak the ranunculus in water.

3. Sprouting stage

Take the container out of the refrigerator and place it in a 12-18°C environment to sprout; after about 7 days, the central bud and white roots will grow. Then it can be planted; the white fibrous roots should not exceed 1 cm, otherwise it will not easily survive when planted. In addition, during the sprouting process, the bulbs can be checked frequently; any rotten parts need to be cleaned up in time and a little plant ash added for disinfection.

Post-flowering handling methods for ranunculus

First handling method: After the above-ground part completely withers, stop watering, let the potting soil become relatively dry, then move the flowerpot to a cool place with strong air circulation; if placed outdoors, be careful to avoid rain. From September to October, the root tubers can be dug out and replanted. This handling method is very simple, but it also has a drawback: it is prone to rotting.

Second handling method: After the flowering period, the leaves will gradually turn yellow; at this time, directly dig out the entire root tuber, rinse it clean and dry it in the air. Then store it in a dry environment without sunlight. Plant it in autumn; during this period, if it shrivels due to lack of water, there is no need to worry.

Although the appearance of ranunculus is similar to that of a peony, it is actually more compact than the peony. It is very beautiful when blooming, with large flowers and rich, bright colors. After learning the planting method above, why not try growing a pot yourself and place it at home for viewing.