Due to its decorative effect, the coneflower is one of the most popular perennials in domestic gardens. There are 4 methods you can use to effectively increase your inventory on your own.
sowing
The sowing of Echinacea is a variant that can be easily implemented. Compared to the common coneflower (bot. Rudbeckia fulgida), with which they are often confused due to the name, the hedgehog heads reproduce much better via seeds. In addition, the flowers form enough seeds that you can use for the project. To do this, you must first harvest the seeds and prepare them for sowing. Harvesting is done during or after the flowering period from July to September, after the inflorescences have dried up:
Source: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, Zaaddoos Echinacea purpurea (zonnehoed) 05, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- fade away
- Cut back perennials
- Remove hedgehog spines
- Remove tubular flowers
- harvest seeds
The seeds are recognizable by their color. They are dressed in a light beige and sit directly on the base of the flower. Ideally, when the flowers have dried well, you can simply shake out the seeds. If that doesn't work, just pull them off. Since the seeds have already dried, you can save them until next spring. But you need a cold stimulus. To do this, store the seeds in a freezer bag filled with moistened sand and place this in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator.
Sow in pots or outdoors
The timing of sowing coneflowers is determined by the variant:
- Pot: February to March
- Outdoors: April to May
Source: Don McCulley, Echinacea purpurea IMG 4818, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
If you want to sow the plants in the bed, you simply have to sow them at the appropriate time. The distance between the rows of plants is between 20 and 40 centimeters, depending on the final size of the variety. After sowing, the seeds are covered with two centimeters of soil. You then have to wait 21 to 30 days for the first seedlings to appear. A nutrient-rich soil is recommended. Pre-growing in tubs succeeds in the following way:
- Fill the seed tray with seed substrate
- distribute seeds
- Lightly press
- do not cover
- moisten
- put in mini greenhouse
- alternatively cover with cling film
- Germination temperature: 20°C to 22°C
- Germination time: 14 to 18 days
The irregular germination of the individual seeds is characteristic of the purple coneflower. This means you have to prick out the individual specimens as soon as they have formed enough pairs of leaves. Don't wait until all the seeds have germinated. The seedlings are then planted in seed pots with nutrient-rich substrate and placed in a bright and cool place. Well suited are:
- staircase
- unheated rooms
- unheated greenhouses
Coneflower young plants are only planted out after the ice saints, as they are still quite sensitive to frost. The young plants still have to be accustomed to the outside world. To do this, place the pots in a sheltered place outdoors during the day when the temperatures are suitable. Bring the plants back in in the evening. Do this until the coneflowers are planted out.
Notice: Don't worry if your home-seeded specimens flower late in the year or as late as the 2nd season. This is perfectly normal as plants like to take their time to flower.
division
Division is a popular method of propagating Echinacea, as the perennial can easily continue to grow on a smaller scale. At the same time, the division has a positive effect on the vitality of the plants. The best time to divide a coneflower is after flowering. From September to October you can grab a spade to propagate coneflowers:
- Cut back coneflowers vigorously
- remove organic material at site
- Expose root ball
- Plant does not need to be dug up
- Sharpen and disinfect spades
- Divide root ball cleanly
- two to three pieces per root ball
- remove pieces
- Prepare a planting hole for each section
- enrich with compost (rotted).
- mix well with excavated soil
- Plant root pieces
- moisten well
Winter protection is not necessary for the sections because they are completely underground. After the division, you no longer have to worry about the plants until the next spring. In total, the plant needs up to four months until growth is in full swing.
Tip: Divide your sun hats every four years to rejuvenate them. The division has a particularly good effect on the flowering power of the plants.
cuttings
Source: S.G.S., 'Cheyenne Spirit' echinacea IMG 7600, Edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cuttings are just as effective as division. Each coneflower forms a large number of shoots that can be used as cuttings. This way you can get many new specimens from a single plant if the plants are healthy enough. If you want to continue propagating your coneflower in this way, you must select a cutting that is of the following type:
- without bloom
- a minimum of 3 leaf pairs
Since cuttings can only be used for propagation without flowers, you must do the project before flowering. Cut them carefully with a sharp and disinfected knife to avoid infections that could negatively affect the success of the propagation. Now prepare a seed pot for each cutting. This should contain nutrient-rich potting soil, because this substrate has a positive effect on root formation. Keep the soil sufficiently moist and pay attention to the optimal watering and general care of the species over the next few weeks.
lowering
Another way to propagate coneflowers is to use sinkers. A sinker is ideal if you want to grow young plants directly in the bed and not in the pot. This method is ideal for precisely this case, as the new seedlings are grown right next to the mother plant. For the sinker you have to create a little space next to the mother plant and then follow these instructions:
- choose a healthy shoot
- get rid of green leaves
- gently bend down
- the sinker must not kink
- Set sinkers in the ground
- fix with hooks in the ground
- Spread soil over the bent area
- Flower must look out of the ground
- Fix the end of the shoot with a bamboo stick
- moisten well
Roots will form on the coneflower shoots over the next few weeks. This makes it possible to use the sinker for further cultivation. The soil must remain moist the entire time, but no waterlogging should form. The success of the rooting can be recognized by a new shoot. From this point on, carefully separate the sinker from the mother plant with clean scissors. Depending on the project, plant the rooted shoot in a new and suitable location or leave it next to the mother plant. Then care for the young plant as usual.