Prized for their brightly coloured, ruffled petals and long vase life, these brilliant bloomers stand tall on straight stems and produce many flowers per bulb. Soak the bulbs for 3 to 4 hours in tepid water before planting outside to give them a head start. Ranunculus needs well-draining soil that is watered often. If the soil in your garden is compact and hard, try digging up the bed to loosen and add sand and compost into the soil to a depth of 20cm. This will make the soil lighter with better drainage. When planting the tuberous root of ranunculus, the claws should be facing downwards and at a depth of about 5cm. Ensure that you water them every 3 to 4 days. We also recommend a mulch to keep the soil cool and moist.