Ranunculus plants are absolutely beautiful flowers that you can add to your plant collection. Maybe you’ve already grown your Ranunculus plants successfully and now, you’re on this “what to do with Ranunculus after flowering” phase.
Well, you can leave the corms on the ground over winter or you can keep them in a mesh bag so you can plant them again next fall season.
Keep reading because we’ll share with you what you can do once your Ranunculus has completely bloomed, and more!
What Should I Do With My Ranunculus Plant After Flowering?
Once your plant has finished flowering, you can either leave them on the ground over winter or store the Ranunculus corms so you can plant them next spring or fall season.
Overwinter Ranunculus Plant
The Ranunculus corms can survive winter in the ground as long as they are a few inches under organic mulch. If you plan to leave your Ranunculus over the winter, here’s what you can do:
1. Snip and Deadhead
Cut the dead leaves in the Ranunculus plant. Afterward, deadhead the remaining flowers by cutting them at the bottom of the stem to encourage new flower growth.
2. Continue Watering
It’s essential to keep watering the plants even if it has finished blooming. Leave the foliage intact until it has died off naturally.
By allowing the Ranunculus plant to die on its own, it’ll be able to store enough energy it’ll need to survive the winter.
3. Fertilize the Plant
Make sure to fertilize the Ranunculus plant with bulb food. This will help produce the corms that will carry them to the next blooming season.
Users Also Read: What Colours Do Ranunculus Come in?
Store Ranunculus Corms
If you’re growing annuals, you can store the Ranunculus corms so you can plant them next spring or fall season.
Storing corms is easy, but there are a few rules you need to follow, or else the corms won’t have enough energy to bloom next year.
To store Ranunculus corms:
1. Dig Out The Corms
Dig out the Ranunculus corms when the foliage is dry and dead already. After that, cut off the leaves from the plant.
2. Dry the Corms
Allow the Ranunculus corms to dry completely for several days. Afterward, put them indoors in a warm, low-humidity room. You may place them out in the sun too.
3. Store the Corms
Store the Ranunculus corms in a mesh bag with dry moss. When the cold season is over, start pre-sprouting the corms indoors and plant them outside when the soil is warm.
What Should I Do With My Indoor Ranunculus Plant After Flowering?
If you’re growing your Ranunculus plant indoors and it has completely finished flowering, here’s what you should do:
- Wait for the leaves to turn yellow entirely
- Cut the leaves away
- Keep the Ranunculus corm in a cool, dry place
- Replant it in the following fall or spring season
What to Do With Ranunculus Flowers?
With its beautiful, vibrant colored petals and straight stem, anyone would be captivated by the Ranunculus flowers.
Proper flower cutting is the key to prolonging the Ranunculus flower’s life.
Before cutting the flowers, make sure that their petals have colored. The flowers should also feel squishy when you touch them, like a marshmallow. If so, it means they’re ready for cutting.
To cut the Ranunculus flowers properly, snip them while they’re still a bud and haven’t fully opened. If you cut them when they’ve already opened, they’ll just last for seven days.
Make sure to use sharp, sterile scissors when cutting.
Flower Display at Home
Ranunculus flowers are perfect as house decoration. You can put them in a vase and display them in your living room. If you cut them properly, these flowers can last for up to 10 days or more.
Ranunculus Bouquet
Who wouldn’t love to receive Ranunculus bouquets? These elegant flowers come in a range of beautiful colors.
Whether you’re congratulating someone for their new milestone or just letting them know that they’re in your thoughts, that person would definitely fall in love with the Ranunculus bouquet.
Related: When (And How) To Plant Ranunculus Bulbs in Different Zones
How Can I Prolong the Flowering Season of My Ranunculus Plant?
Since Ranunculus is a beautiful plant that grows annually, waiting for its blooming season is definitely worth the wait.
There are ways you can prolong the blooming season of your Ranunculus plants.
1. Keep Watering
Continue watering the Ranunculus plants to prevent root diseases such as fungus. Make sure that the soil is moistened at all times. It should be moistened, not wet.
2. Snip Flowers
Trim out flowers from the stem. Cutting the flowers signals the corm to produce more Ranunculus flowers.
3. Provide a Shade for the Plant
It’s essential to provide shade for the Ranunculus plants during the afternoon sun. Exposing them to high heat can shorten their blooming season.
It’s best that you plant your Ranunculus in an area that has good air circulation.
4. Fertilize Your Plant
Give a mild fertilizer to your Ranunculus plant every week. Apply it near the roots of your plant.
Just a quick tip: It’s recommended to use a fertilizer that has a high amount of phosphorus.
You can also use organic mulch to prolong the blooming season.
Are Ranunculus Plants Toxic?
All species of Ranunculus are poisonous to both humans and animals.
When the leaves of the Ranunculus are trampled on or even bruised, they release a compound called ranunculin. It breaks down into a toxic oil called protoanemonin.
When in contact with the protoanemonin, this can cause a burning sensation and itchiness with the appearance of rash and blisters.
Furthermore, avoid chewing the Ranunculus leaves because this can cause serious complications such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, and even paralysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will Ranunculus plants bloom more than once?
When you plant Ranunculus in late winter, they will start to bloom in mid-spring and will continue to bloom for four to six weeks.
Ranunculus corms planted in the fall will begin to flower in the early spring season and usually blooms continuously for a period of six to seven weeks.
2. Can I leave Ranunculus plants in pots?
People who are residing in zones four to seven prefer to grow Ranunculus plants in containers such as pots. This is because their area is where Ranunculus isn’t wintered hardy.
In addition, growing them in a container makes it easier to control light and soil moisture.
3. How many flowers does one Ranunculus corm produce?
The number of flowers a corm produces depends on the type of Ranunculus and the size of the corm. However, you can expect each corm to produce 5 to 10 flower stems.
The Ranunculus is a cut-and-come-again type of plant. If your Ranunculus plant is in bloom, you can cut as many stems as you want. Besides, cutting the stems stimulates more flower growth.
4. Why are Ranunculus flowers so expensive?
Flowers with short growing windows, such as Ranunculus, means the supply is more limited. If the Ranunculus are high in demand, this affects the price tag of the flowers.
To Wrap Up
What to do with Ranunculus after flowering? Once your plant has finished blooming, you can either leave them in the ground over winter or dig out the Ranunculus corms and store them for the next fall or spring season.
Either way, you can grow new beautiful plants next year as long as you care for them or store them properly.
Ranunculus plants produce evidently elegant flowers that anyone would adore. However, you should also be aware that these plants are poisonous and you need to be extra careful when growing them in your own home.