If you've decided to grow ranunculus at home, planting and caring for it outdoors is not at all difficult. Choose a sunny site, not in direct sunlight, with some shade. The soil should be loose and well-drained, and avoid weeds and other plants growing too close. Because the Asian buttercup's root system is weak, damage can occur. Water and feed it sparingly. Your ranunculus will delight you with long-lasting, beautiful blooms.
Just remember - the plant is poisonous, you need to be careful with it so that it doesn’t accidentally end up in your food.
When to buy tubers
Experts advise against buying tubers in the fall, as they require very delicate care during the winter, including specific humidity and temperature conditions, and turning every few days. You might not be able to properly care for the tubers before planting in the spring. However, in the spring, around March, you can buy tubers and plant them in a suitable location chosen in advance.
How to plant
If the weather has warmed up somewhat (around April), soak the tubers in water for about four hours. You can also add a little potassium permanganate to prevent any infections. Then plant them. Germination will take a long time, from one to two months, so mid-April is ideal, and flowers will appear in about a month.
See also: When to sow petunias for seedlings in 2016 according to the lunar calendar .
How to care
Caring for the plant is easy: gently loosen the soil every week, water frequently but sparingly, and ensure the soil doesn't dry out or become too wet. Carefully remove faded flower buds with a sharp knife to allow new ones to emerge. If this isn't done, the plant may stop blooming altogether. And watch: if the buds fall off, it's too much water, and if yellow spots appear, it's dry soil.
After flowering
Ranunculus is a perennial plant that hibernates like a bear after flowering, waking up only when temperatures reach 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). So, after flowering, it needs to be stored for the winter. Cut off the dried stem no later than early October, and dig up the tubers immediately, carefully, to avoid damaging them. This should be done on a warm day, when the temperature is at least 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). Then, treat it with a fungicide, let it dry thoroughly, and hang it in a linen bag in a cool basement, or wrap it in newspaper and place it in the bottom of the refrigerator.
You can also transplant the tubers into pots and place them on a windowsill, alternating between south and east exposures, moving the pot periodically. Water and feed with organic matter, and your plant will delight you with beautiful, delicate blooms for up to 10 years.
Reproduction
Ranunculus tubers are funny-looking, resembling goose feet. Choose larger specimens; if there are any baby plants, separate them, treat them with a stimulant, soak them in moisture for a couple of hours, and then transplant them to the garden. Be sure to plant the tubers with the claws facing down in a hole no deeper than 8 cm. The place where the claws meet should be facing up, otherwise the flower won't germinate.
Borders decorated with Asian buttercups look very beautiful; they can be grown in pots and displayed in different parts of the garden during the summer, creating a wonderful palette of colors.
Also check out: Perennial phlox: planting and care, photos.