Echinacea purpurea - a plant that everyone should have in their garden. And not too little of that either. So here is an explanation of how you can multiply the purple coneflower.
It blooms in bright pink, it's hard to imagine German gardens without it and, above all, it's a wonderful remedy for colds. The purple coneflower can also strengthen the immune system and contribute to better healing of injuries. So it's no wonder that just about everyone wants to have the purple coneflower in their garden.
» Recommended reading: Red coneflower - cultivation and care.
One plant alone is often not enough for most people, which is why they want to multiply it. You generally have three options for doing this. In addition to conventional propagation from seeds, propagation by division and propagation from cuttings are also possible. You simply have to try out which variant you like best.
How to propagate purple coneflowers
❃ Option 1 - Propagation by seeds:
» Best time for this propagation option: spring
If you decide on this form of propagation, you have to be very careful with the seedlings, because they are very delicate and sensitive. Before you start sowing, however, the seeds must first be soaked in water. Between March and July you can then sow them in a tray filled with soil. The distance between the individual seeds should then be one to two centimetres. Then cover only very lightly with soil, place in a warm room with temperatures around 20 degrees and make sure that the soil is always nice and moist.
The rounded cotyledons appear first. Only then does the formation of the actual leaves begin. As soon as these are developed, the seedlings are allowed to move to flower pots. After about six to eight weeks, the plantlets should have reached a height of 10 to 20 cm and developed several pairs of leaves. Then you can place the plantlets outdoors. Please keep a distance of about 30 cm between the individual plants.
Important:
The coneflower should only be put outdoors when there are noneLate frosts are more to be expected, i.e. at the end of April/beginning of May at the earliest. It is also important that you place the plants in deep soil, because the red coneflower does not do well either in waterlogging or in drought.
❃ Possibility 2 - Propagation by division:
» Best time for this propagation: Autumn
If you already have a well-developed, vigorous purple coneflower in your garden, you don't need to buy seeds if you want to propagate the plant. Finally, you can also share the sun hat. To do this, carefully lift the plant out of the ground with a digging fork and divide it into two or more parts (depending on how lush it is). Then replant the individual parts, keeping a minimum distance of 40 cm between each.
Important:
If the plants are still young and have very filigree roots, it is better not to divide the plants with a spade or a knife, but rather to pull them apart by hand.
❃ Possibility 3 - Propagation by cuttings:
» Best time for this propagation option: late summer
Propagation by cuttings is also possible with the red coneflower. In late summer, take a closer look at the flower stalks and select those that have at least three pairs of leaves and do not bloom. Then cut off these flower stalks and place them in a layer of potting soil about three centimeters high. Then water properly.
It takes about six weeks for the roots to develop sufficiently. Then you can move each plantlet into a flowerpot. After seven days, carefully cut off the tips of the shoots, then it goes into hibernation. During this time you should put the pots in a place where it is neither too cold nor too warm. In addition, the soil must never dry out. Strong seedlings should have developed by spring, which can then be moved outdoors.