Planting Ranunculus and Anemones: an overview of how to plant corms and have gorgeous spring flowers!
OCTOBER 03, 2024
October is SUCH a busy month in the Houston garden.
Top of my October list every year: plant ranunculus and anemone corms!
This week's deep dive details the exact steps I follow to plant my corms.
01. Pre Soak
Corms are stored and transported in a dehydrated and dormant state.
In order to rehydrate them, you need to soak them in water:
dump your corms into a bow or cup
cover dried corms with cool or room temperature water
set a timer for 3-4 hours. after 4 hours the corms MUST be removed from the water and planted into soil
this is also a great time to write you labels! corms all look the same when combined, so if you plan to plant certain varieties in groups, label them and soak them in separate bowls!
02. Pre Sprout or Direct Sow
After 4 hours of soaking, your corms will have nearly doubled in size! They are ready for planting.
At this point you CAN plant them directly into the garden, pointy side down. Ranunculus need 9" of space and anemones need 6" between plants.
Planting directly into the garden is my favorite way to do it!
However, you can also grow your corms indoors for a few week to allow them to “wake up” in a more controlled environment.
In a large tray (or you can do individual small pots), place 1-2" of damp potting soil. Place your corm, pointy side down and cover with soil. If you're pre sprouting in a large tray you can place all of your corms, giving just 2" of space between. If you're doing small pots, put just one corm per pot!
03. Wait!
Now that your corms are planted, it'll look like nothing is happening for a few weeks. Be patient!
Within 3-6 weeks tiny leaves will start to poke through the soil and you're on your way to blooms!
While you wait - keep corms damp but NOT SOGGY. I usually turn my irrigation off and hand water twice a week (unless it rains, then I skip!)
04. Prep for Cool Weather
Both ranunculus and anemones like cool weather, but they DON'T LIKE frosts and freezes.
Stock up on frost cloth now, and beat the rush this winter!
If we'll have temps at or below 33 degrees, I cover my corms!
Recent FAQ’s
CAN CORMS BE PLANTED IN POTS?
Yes, as long as they have the adequate spacing required (anemones 6” + ranunculus 9”)
CAN CORMS BE SAVED + REPLANTED NEXT YEAR?
While it is feasible, there are both legal and logistical factors that may prevent you from saving corms year after year. Many varieties are patented and cannot ethically be saved (a quick google search will help you find the rules on any variety you have in question).
If you corms can legally be saved, you’ll need to allow all the foliage to die back naturally and then dig and store the corms - corms must be kept at room temperature (not in a shed/outdoors or in a fridge/cooler), and completely dry for the entire off season. Also note that saved corms may harbor fungal diseases that will stunt or prevent growth in the following year.
WILL CORMS REBLOOM THE FOLLOWING YEAR IF LEFT IN PLACE IN THE GARDEN?
In Houston, since we don’t experience deep and prolonged freezes, it is possible your corms will resprout the following year, if you allow them to die back naturally in place! Note this is most likely if corms are planted in well-draining soil and not overwatered, particularly through the season they are dormant. During the time they are dormant, you should leave the area they are planted undisturbed.
In my personal opinion, a single corm costs just a few dollars and will give you 5-10 blooming stems in a season, so it’s worth it to invest in fresh corms each year and guarantee they are viable and you have the very best chance of success!
HOW MUCH SHOULD I WATER MY CORMS AFTER I PLANT THEM?
Corms need to remain in damp, well drained soil to push green growth. Your weather, including rain, sunshine hours, and temperature, will determine how much water your corms need. Letting the soil dry out for a day or two is BETTER than allowing them to sit in soggy soil, since they are prone to rot in overly damp conditions!
That's it folks!
If you’re more of a visual learner, click the link below to see a quick video of me planting both anemone and ranunculus corms!
I can’t wait to see your garden grow!
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