Information on Planting Ranunculus Mix

Soil Requirements

• Ranunculus need moist but well-drained soil. The small tubers will rot if water does not drain quickly from the soil. At the same time, they will not grow if they are allowed to dry out. Amend the soil, if necessary, to add organic matter like peat moss and compost, which help to hold moisture in the soil.

Sun Exposure

• Ensure the site you choose to grow ranunculus has full sun exposure. A site is considered to have full sun exposure if it receives at least six to eight hours of unfiltered sun per day. Ranunculus will grow with six to eight hours of full sun a day, but they will grow and bloom much better if they receive even more hours of direct sun each day.

Planting Procedure

• Plant ranunculus bulbs individually, placing them 2 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. When placing the small bulbs into the ground, orient them so that the tiny spikes coming off them are pointing down toward the ground. Firm the soil gently over the bulbs. Water the newly-planted bulbs very well, ensuring that the planting bed is thoroughly soaked. Apply a mulch about 3 to 4 inches deep to the planting bed. Do not water them again until shoots appear in approximately 15 to 20 days, according to the National Gardening Association website.

Care

• Let the foliage die down naturally after ranunculus finish blooming. The top growth will produce food for the bulbs, which they need in order to produce flowers the following year. Dig the bulbs after the foliage dies down in areas where winter temperatures fall below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Store them in a frost-free location over winter for planting in mid to late spring the following year.