Rich, bright colors decorate the balcony railing. The flowers are reminiscent of roses. But it is the ranunculus that has spread here. What needs to be taken into account when it comes to culture on the balcony?
How do you care for ranunculus on the balcony?
Ranunculus thrive on north, east or west facing balconies, require slightly moist soil, regular watering, fertilization every 1-2 weeks and overwintering protected from frost (5-8°C). Before storing, separate brood tubers for propagation. Plant boxes and hanging pots are good for cultivation.
South balconies – less suitable
South-facing balconies are popular. But not with ranunculus. They like the heat less in summer. They prefer to thrive in sunny to shady locations. The location can therefore be an east, west or north balcony.
You can plant your ranunculus at the front of the balcony railing, for example. Hanging pots that can be attached to the railing are good for this. Conventional balcony boxes are also ideal. You can also plant the ranunculus in pots or buckets and, for example, place them on the protective wall of the house.
Water and fertilize abundantly
So that the balcony flowers (survive) for a long time, you should care for them extensively. First and foremost, this includes watering. In summer it may be necessary to water the ranunculus almost every day. The soil should be slightly moist. Fertilizing comes second. A conventional liquid flower fertilizer will do the trick here. Fertilize the plants every 1 to 2 weeks!
Bring in for overwintering in late autumn
A ranunculus in a pot on the balcony would freeze to death in winter because the pot with its thin walls does not offer sufficient protection. It is therefore better to remove the onion-like tubers from the ground, clean them and place them in a dry place.
Here are a few more tips on overwintering balcony plants:
- choose a cool, dark and dry place
- ideal temperature: 5 to 8 °C
- well suited: basements, garages, attics
- remove all above-ground plant parts before overwintering
- only bring it out again when night and late frosts are no longer expected
Before wintering, separate and propagate breeding tubers
Before the tubers are overwintered, it is advisable to examine them for so-called breeding tubers. These develop over the course of the summer and can help the ranunculus multiply. To do this, they simply have to be planted separately in spring.
Tip
It looks wonderful if you plant several different flowering varieties next to each other, for example in the balcony box!
