Ranunculus bushes are known for their strong desire to reproduce. Anyone who plants them without knowing how they form runners will soon be close to despair. In addition to the negative aspects, the plant impresses with its pretty flowers. What care does it need?
How do I care for a ranunculus bush?
A ranunculus bush requires moist soil, regular watering with lime-free water, minimal fertilizer and occasional pruning after flowering. It is frost hardy down to -20 °C and sometimes suffers from fungal diseases that appear as brown spots.
Can the ranunculus bush tolerate drought or does it need to be watered?
A ranunculus bush should have moist soil. The reason: This plant cannot tolerate drought because it has shallow roots. You should water this plant, especially in summer when there is no rain and it is hot. The following applies: water evenly and regularly. Lime-free water (rainwater) is used for watering. The ranunculus bush doesn't like lime at all.
How does fertilization affect the plant?
While regular fertilization has a predominantly positive effect on other flowering shrubs, fertilization on the ranunculus bush can also be detrimental. A moderate amount of fertilizer stimulates growth and thus the flowering. But too much fertilizer also stimulates the development of runners.
Don't fertilize your ranunculus bush too much! It is enough if you plant it in nutrient-rich soil. If necessary, you can provide it with some compost every spring. In addition to compost, manure is suitable, for example: B. from nettles.
What should you pay attention to when cutting?
Here are tips for cutting:
- Topiary cutting leads to baldness from below
- instead: thin out regularly (remove old shoots)
- Time: directly after flowering (June/July)
- cut off too many runners
- regenerates well after cutting errors
Does the ranunculus bush have to be overwintered?
Since the ranunculus bush is frost hardy down to -20 °C, you don't have to overwinter it. Only specimens that are cultivated in a bucket should be protected from frost. It is enough to place them in a cool but frost-free place.
Are there any specific diseases or pests that occur?
Brown spots on the leaves can indicate a disease attack. Sometimes ranunculus bushes are attacked by fungal pathogens. Ulcers on the wood can also occur. This is usually fire blight.
Tip
In order to protect the ranunculus bush from drought, it is advisable to provide it with a thick layer of mulch as a precaution.