Tips for Growing Ranunculus Corms at Home

Ranunculus are cool loving flowers which thrive in growing temperatures between 37-68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Your growing zone determines when your corms should be planted. In zones 7-10, plant the corms in fall for late winter/early spring blooms. In zones 3-6, start soaking and pre-sprouting the corms in very early spring, about three to four weeks before the last frost. Then plant the corms in early/late spring when daytime temperatures are still cool and night temperatures don’t go much lower than 0 degrees.

FOR ZONES 3-6

PRE-SPROUTING

Submerge the corms under cool water and let them soak for four hours. Stir the corms every half hour and refresh the water. Placing your corms in a mesh or vegetable bag will help this process. After four hours, let your corms drain by placing them on a paper towel. Your corms should be much plumper and fuller.

PLANTING

Plant your corms with tuberous fingers pointing down in potting soil or high-quality growing mix an inch below the soil. The soil should be kept slightly moist but not over-saturated. Store planted corms in a cool place out of direct sunlight. They will start to sprout in approximately 10 days.

Transplanting

Once the corms show some roots, re-pot them into bigger pots, keeping the new leaves above the soil line, or transplant them to your garden if temperatures are above freezing. Plant the corms two inches deep and nine inches apart. Ranunculus can withstand a slight frost but should be covered if temperatures dip below freezing.

Blooming

Ranunculus will start to flower approximately three months after planting. To keep them blooming, cut the ranunculus at the base of the plant. Continue to give the plant consistent water and ensure the soil is well drained.

Enjoying

Florists love ranunculus because they have a long vase life. Display your stunning stems for up to 10 days.

RE-USING

Once these beauties have stopped blooming and the foliage has died back, pull the corms out and allow them to dry in the sun. Store the corms indoors in a dry location over the winter in order to restart the process the following spring.