Anemone Growing Guide
Wake Them Up
Anemone bulbs often benefit from a pre-planting soak to get them ready to grow. Soak your anemone bulbs for 2-4 hours in a cup or small bowl of water. This will encourage them to sprout faster and get growing.
Outdoor Beds
- Find a location where the soil drains well. If there are still water puddles 5-6 hours after a hard rain, try another site. Or amend the soil with the addition of organic material to raise level 10cm to improve the drainage. Peat moss, compost, ground bark or decomposed manure all work well and are widely available.
- Site your anemones where they will receive sun for all, or most, of the day. Don't plant too early. They like cool conditions to start growing, so wait until the cooler autumn conditions arrive before planting.
- Soak your bulbs for a few hours in lukewarm water to give them a little wake up call. While they are in the water you can prepare the soil, design you planting layout, run errands or simply relax.
- Dig holes and plant the anemones 5cm down. Don't worry about which side of the bulb needs to face up. However the bulb is positioned, it will still grow and figure out which way is up. (Clever, huh?)
- After planting, water anemones well, thoroughly soaking the area. Roots will form in the autumn, followed shortly by the foliage. Flowers will develop in the spring.
- When in bloom, feel free to cut anemone flowers for bouquets. This will not hurt the plants.
- After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. The lacy leaves will gather sunlight and provide nourishment for next year's show. Water as needed.
- At the end of the summer the leaves will yellow and die back as the plant slips into dormancy. Foliage many be removed at this point. Your anemones will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle.
Pots, Tubs & Urns
- Fill your containers with good quality, well-drained potting mix. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes; anemones must never sit in waterlogged soil or they will rot.
- Site containers where they will receive sun for all, or most, of the day. Don't plant too early. They like cool conditions to start growing, so wait until the cooler autumn conditions arrive before planting.
- Plant your anemones close to each other, an a few cm apart, for the most brilliant display. Don't worry about which side of the bulb needs to face up. However the bulb is positioned, it will still grow and figure out which way is up.
- After planting, water anemones well, thoroughly soaking the soil in the container. Roots will form in the autumn, followed shortly by the foliage. Flowers will develop in the spring.
- After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. The lacy leaves will gather sunlight and provide nourishment for next year's show. Water as needed.
- At the end of the summer the leaves will yellow and die back as the plant slips into dormancy. Foliage many be removed at this point. Your anemones will rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle.
