How to Care for Ranunculus
The editor introduces you to the care and cultivation techniques of ranunculus, as well as related information about green plants and flowers. Let's take a look together.
Ranunculus is native to Southeast Europe and was introduced to China in the 1990s. It is also called "celery flower" because its leaves resemble celery. The flowers of ranunculus resemble peonies and come in a variety of vibrant colors, making them highly ornamental. Below is an introduction to the cultivation methods and precautions for ranunculus.
1. Light
Ranunculus prefers shade and does not tolerate strong light. It should be placed in a gentle diffused light environment for growth, requiring more than four hours of light exposure per day. Insufficient light will affect flowering. Sufficient light can make the flowering period earlier, promote lateral branch growth, and ensure the quality and quantity of flowers. In late spring and early summer, it should be gradually shaded for ranunculus to avoid direct sunlight.
2. Water
Ranunculus enjoys growing in a humid environment. Excessive drought can lead to poor root quality, so it should not be in an extremely dry environment. During the seedling stage of ranunculus, water should be controlled to prevent the branches from becoming too long; after planting, the first watering must be thorough, and then it should be watered in time during the growth process, especially before the flowering period to ensure thorough watering, otherwise it will affect the flowering.
3. Temperature
Ranunculus prefers a cool environment, with a suitable growth temperature of 15-20 degrees Celsius. When cultivating ranunculus, it should be moved to an environment with a suitable temperature and little day-night temperature difference, otherwise the plant will consume too much nutrients, affecting the quantity and quality of flowers. If it is grown in a greenhouse, the temperature inside the greenhouse should be controlled within 0-22 degrees Celsius.
4. Fertilizer
Before planting, choose to apply decomposed organic fertilizer, and when the plant starts to grow, use compound fertilizer for top dressing, with a frequency of once a week; in winter, use nitrogen-containing compound fertilizer, avoiding chlorine-containing compound fertilizer.
5. Soil
Ranunculus is suitable for growing in acidic soil. When potting, prepare soil rich in humus, requiring fertile and loose soil with good ventilation and drainage. Peat, perlite, garden soil, and other different substrates can be mixed in a suitable proportion.
6. Propagation Methods
The propagation methods of ranunculus mainly include bulb division, seed propagation, and tissue culture. Bulb division is usually done in early autumn, by digging up the dormant roots and then separating the rhizomes. After separation, they are disinfected in a potassium permanganate solution and dried before planting; if using seed propagation, the seeds should first be soaked in clean water for seven hours, then disinfected with a diluted carbendazim solution before germination, and then the seeds can be sown in suitable soil.
7. Precautions
White rot disease, blue mold disease, and root rot disease are the most common diseases of ranunculus. White rot disease is caused by fungal infections, leading to stem necrosis, preventing the plant from absorbing water, and causing the branches and leaves to wither. Infected branches and leaves should be removed promptly to prevent the spread to healthy ones, and fungicides such as carbendazim should be sprayed for treatment. Blue mold disease mainly occurs during the storage period of the tubers, sometimes during the growing period, with the symptoms of blue mold covering the stored tubers, often caused by storing the tubers in a humid and poorly ventilated environment. Therefore, during the harvest and storage of the tubers, root damage should be minimized, and they should be kept in a low-humidity and well-ventilated place, promptly removing and cutting off infected tubers. Root rot disease is caused by soil alkalinity and excessive moisture, leading to bacterial growth and root rot. Therefore, during storage, the tubers should be soaked in a potassium permanganate solution for disinfection before drying. When the disease occurs, diluted thiophanate-methyl solutions can be used for treatment, or the potting soil can be replaced immediately.
The above is[] the complete introduction to how to care for ranunculus and the cultivation techniques of the plant, hoping it can be helpful to you. Don't forget to visit more often for more flower care experience and knowledge!