Echinacea medicinal planting and care in the open field

Echinacea, planting and caring for which will be described in this article, is a rather unpretentious plant, but at the same time it amazes everyone with its beauty. It is a well-known honey plant. By planting it on your site, you will attract a huge number of beneficial insects. It is known that from one hectare of land planted with these flowers, bees are able to collect from sixty to one hundred thirty kilograms of honey. If you love a variety of bright flowers, echinacea, planting and caring for which, by the way, does not require much work, is just what you need. Today you can find a huge variety of colors of this plant.

Echinacea: planting and care in the open field

Before deciding to plant echinacea, you must clearly understand that in the first year the plant forms only a rosette of leaves. Flowers appear in the second year. The place for this plant must be chosen only sunny. Unfortunately, in the shade, Echinacea is likely to die. Calculate the place so that, for at least five years, a tree does not suddenly grow next to the echinacea or some kind of structure appears that blocks the sun. There will be no problems with the soil. The only soil that this flower does not like is light sandy. Growth and development on such soil is very slow.

If you have purchased an adult plant in a pot, and most likely you will, then dig a hole, the depth of which will be forty centimeters, and fill it with a soil composition of sand, earth and humus to a third of the depth.Echinacea roots should not be freed from the ground. The plant is carefully transferred from a container or pot into a prepared hole. Moreover, it is necessary to plant a bush at the same depth as it grew in a pot.

Remember to trim off all the stems as soon as the end of October arrives. Also at this time, the root collar is mulched, using compost, followed by covering with dry leaves. Such preparation for winter will allow Echinacea to survive, even if there is severe frost and little snow.

Watering mode

Echinacea is very fond of water treatments. It is necessary to water the bushes abundantly. You shouldn't do this during the day, but in the evening it's time. Such procedures induce grateful growth and development of the shrub, as well as profuse flowering. It is important to water regularly to prevent drying out and waterlogging of the soil.

Fertilizer

Any echinacea, including perennial echinacea, planting and caring for which will be discussed later in this article, responds very gratefully to the introduction of various nutrients. It is necessary to feed this plant annually. Two dressings are carried out in one season. First, a week after planting in the ground, and then - during the period when the buds will form.

Reproduction

Echinacea multiplies, planting and caring for which we discuss in this article, quite easily, with the help of seeds. They are planted either in specially prepared containers or in open ground.

Sowing seeds in pots is done at the end of February. The soil mixture is used for this purpose universal. But the seeds are sprinkled on top not with soil, but with a very thin layer of sand, which is moistened with a spray bottle. Seeds germinate for about one and a half months. In early May, sprouted seedlings are planted in open ground. And now all that remains is to regularly moisten and loosen the soil.

You can reproduce by dividing the bush. This is best done in April. Each part must be immersed in a solution of a stimulating substance and planted without deepening the root collars into the ground. But keep in mind that such reproduction can lead to long-term illness of the plant and even to its death. Therefore, this procedure should be done with the utmost care.

Diseases and pests

In general, echinacea is considered a plant that is quite resistant to various ailments. But still, if the summer was too rich in precipitation, and there was regular waterlogging, then you may well find rot or powdery mildew on your plant. In this case, immediately resort to treating the bushes with fungicides.

Medicinal echinacea

As you know, many plants have, in addition to decorative attractiveness, a number of useful properties. These include medicinal, or perennial echinacea, the planting and care of which will be discussed later. The juice of this plant can significantly increase the body's ability to resist various infections. And the roots contain a huge amount of nutrients. They are harvested at the end of summer, before the plant begins to wither completely, then they are crushed and an alcoholic tincture is prepared. And tea from the inflorescences of this plant is also very useful, which you can brew throughout the summer. In addition, by breaking off the inflorescences, you not only get a healing drink that strengthens the immune system, but also stimulate the echinacea to lay more and more new buds. This means that your bush is becoming more magnificent and more beautiful. The most popular variety of this medicinal plant is Echinacea "Purple". It is best to use plants that are at least two years old for medical purposes.

Echinacea purpurea: planting and care

To make your echinacea bloom in the first year, sow the seeds back in February. In May, the resulting sprouts should already be placed in the open field. Add manure and ash to the soil to provide nutrients. Remember that manure must be rotted.

Seeds are collected in late summer or early autumn. When all the petals are dropped, spiky balls can be seen on the peduncles. Once these balls are dry, simply shake them over a piece of paper or cloth and you have seeds that need to be stored until February.

In order to grow and develop well, a flower needs the sunniest place. But at the same time, it should be watered regularly and abundantly. If moisture is insufficient, the flower will grow weak and development will be very slow.

When preparing for winter, the echinacea bush must be cut so that cuttings about five centimeters in length remain. They should be well spud and hidden under dry leaves or any other natural material. In winter, it is periodically necessary to cover the plant with snow.

Beautiful and fluffy

With all the variety of varieties, echinacea terry is especially loved by flower growers. Planting and caring for it is carried out in the same way as for all more modest varieties. It is believed that these plants are a little more capricious, they survive the winter worse and are sensitive to the regularity of soil moisture. Echinacea planting and caring for which we discussed in the previous sections does not like transplanting. It happens that after this procedure the bushes get sick for a long time and bloom poorly.

Any echinacea, planting and maintenance of which should be regular, goes well with daylily and autumn asters. In addition, it is just an excellent compositing neighbor in landscape design for various cereal plants. That is why she is the favorite of many designers. A huge amount of medicinal raw materials is created from this plant. In this case, absolutely all of its parts are curative. And from the leaves of echinacea, you can even make a delicious and healthy salad, rich in a lot of vitamins.

Echinacea (Echinacea) is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. Translated from Greek, the name means "prickly like a hedgehog."

This is due to the shape of the inflorescence: the core consists of numerous tubular flowers (like a hedgehog), framed by petals of a bright color, like a chamomile. Echinacea was first described by Karl Linnaeus in 1753 and was attributed to the genus Rudbenkiya, but after about 40 years it was allocated to its own genus.

Botanical description

The plant is rhizome. Its height is 1-1.5 m. The stem is erect, rough. Basal leaves are wide, oval with serrated edges, attached on long petioles. Stem leaves are almost sessile or sessile, lanceolate, arranged alternately.

The inflorescences-baskets (typical for Asteraceae) are large. The marginal reed inflorescences (petals) are colored white, pink, red. The core has a dark red, red-brown color. The fruit is a tetrahedral achene. Blooms from about mid-summer to late September.

Growing echinacea from seeds

Echinacea seeds photo

Generative (seed) propagation is applied to varietal plants (hybrids do not retain varietal characteristics during seed propagation).

Sowing in open ground

How to sow echinacea in the ground photo

• Echinacea seeds are sown in open ground in early spring or late autumn.
• Dig up the soil, level the bed, make shallow grooves (seeding depth of 1-2 cm) at a distance of 20-25 cm, sow seeds less often, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil, water.
• The first shoots are cut to a distance of 7-8 cm, then - 10-15, as a result, bushes are left at a distance of 25-30 cm for low-growing varieties and 40-50 cm for powerful plants. excess plants can simply be transplanted to a new location as seedlings.
• In the first year, Echinacea builds up the root system, and flowering will begin the next season.

Sowing seedlings at home

Echinacea from seeds at home photo shoots

To obtain ready-made spring planting seedlings, it is necessary to grow seedlings.

Please note that the seeds have a hard shell, so before planting they should be soaked in warm water, or better in a growth stimulator. Even so, germination takes about 1 month.

• Sow echinacea seeds for seedlings at the end of February... Sow in wooden crates, containers, or individual cups - whichever you prefer.
• The soil should be light, water and air permeable.
• Deepen the seeds by 5-10 mm.
• The distance between the seeds is 5-7 cm.
• Moisten the crops, cover with foil, place in a bright place, maintain the air temperature at 13-15 ºC.
• When seedlings appear, remove the film. Maintain moderate soil moisture.
• In early May, start hardening, leaving it outside, starting from a couple of hours, and gradually increase the time to a full day.
• Plant hardened plants in open ground in May, when the soil is already warmed up and the threat of recurrent frosts has passed.

Planting echinacea outdoors

How to plant echinacea in open ground photo

Grows best in areas with bright sunlight.

The soil requires a fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Light sandy soils or too wet soils are absolutely not suitable. If the soil is acidic, add garden lime.

• For seedlings, dig holes about 5 cm deep, for cuttings - a little more than the size of the root system.
• Maintain a distance between plantings of about 30 cm. Place a small amount of compost at the bottom of the planting hole.

If you purchased a large seedling in a container, dig a hole about 40 cm deep. Cover it with a third of a mixture of garden soil, compost, sand in equal proportions. Cross the fathoms together with the earthen lump. The root collar should remain at the same level as when growing in a container.

How to care for echinacea in the garden

• Water the echinacea generously and frequently. Do it better in the evening.
• Remove weeds regularly, periodically loosen the soil.
• From the second year of life, start feeding. Apply organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer twice a season (in early spring and after flowering).
• If there is no need to collect seeds, cut off wilted inflorescences with a piece of stem to the first green leaf.

Echinacea propagation by dividing the bush

Most often, the plant is propagated by dividing the bush (thus the varietal characteristics are preserved). You can share a 4-5 year old echinacea bush. Perform the procedure in spring (April) or autumn. Carefully dig out the bush, divide it into parts so that each contains 3-4 buds of growth, transplant.

Echinacea diseases and pests

If the summer is rainy with temperature fluctuations, powdery mildew is possible: shoots and leaves are covered with a whitish bloom. It can also happen from an excess of nitrogen fertilizers. It is necessary to carry out the treatment with Bordeaux liquid or colloidal sulfur.

Cercosporosis, septoria are dangerous fungal diseases that manifest themselves in various spots on the leaves. The plant becomes weak and may die. Remove the affected areas, treat with a fungicide.

When viral diseases are affected, leaves turn yellow and dry, peduncles are deformed. Affected plants must be removed from the site and burned; treat the growth site with a strong solution of manganese.

Pests: bedbugs, drooling penny, slugs. Collect gastropods by hand, use traps. Insects will help get rid of insecticide treatment.

Seed collection

How to collect echinacea seeds photo

Seed ripening is uneven. When the center of the core darkens, these seeds can be harvested. Carefully remove them (it is better to put on a rag glove), peel off the remnants of inflorescences and dry. Seeds quickly lose their germination.

Echinacea wintering

Echinacea is frost-resistant. Young plants and, if a cold, snowless winter is foreseen, should be covered for the winter. At the end of October, cut off the stems, mulch the root collar with compost, cover with dry foliage and spruce branches on top.

Types and varieties of echinacea with photos and names

In the natural environment, there are only 9 types of echinacea. Echinacea purpurea is mainly cultivated with bred varieties and hybrids, less often - strange echinacea.

Echinacea purpurea Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea echinacea purpurea cultivar rubinstern photo

Plant height is about 1 m. Stems are erect. Basal leaves are wide, oval, attached on long petioles; stem - oblong, sessile. The ligulate flowers are about 4 cm long, have a purple-pink color, the core is red-brown.

Varieties:

Granatstem - plant height reaches 1.3 m. The ligulate flowers have two-toothed tops, are painted in a purple hue, the core is brown. The diameter of the inflorescence is 13 cm.

Zonnenlach - reaches a height of 1.4, the diameter of the basket is 10 cm. The tops of the reed inflorescences are divided into 3 teeth, the color is dark red, the core is brown.

Echinacea purple terry variety Cranberry Cupcake photo

Cranberry Cupcake is a very interesting variety. The core is massive, lush, consists of hundreds of small tongues, the color is dark pink, the petals are colored light purple.

The King - the stem rises by 2 m. The massive inflorescence reaches a diameter of 15 cm. The color is red-pink.

Echinacea purpurea white variety Echinacea purpurea White Swan photo

White Swan - white inflorescences.

Indiaca - colors from pale pink to light brown.

Echinacea purpurea cultivar Magnus Echinacea Purpurea ‘Magnus’ photo

Magnus - plant height is 1 m. Very popular variety. The core is light brown in color, the petals are pale pink.

Ruby star - echinacea 70-80 cm high, the diameter of the basket is about 14 cm. The core is brown in color, the petals are crimson.

Echinacea Sunset Echinacea x sunset

Echinacea Sunset Echinacea x sunset photo

A series of hybrids developed by Richard Skoll. They are notable for their large inflorescences. Reed inflorescences are bent, can have the color of mango, mustard, strawberry, peach, exude a wonderful aroma. Henna-colored core.

Popular varieties:

Julia (from the Butterfly Kisses series) - reaches a height of 45 cm. The flowers are bright orange.

Cleopatra - the diameter of the inflorescence is 7.5 cm. Petals are sunny yellow.

Echinacea Evening Glow Echinacea Evening Glow photo

Evening Glow - cone-shaped core, dark color. Reed flowers are yellow with an orange stripe and pinkish tint.

Musk Melon - color corresponds to the name. The ligulate flowers are arranged in 2 rows, have a pink-orange tint, the core is shaggy, of a darker shade.

Echinacea Passion Flute Echinacea Passion Flute photo

Passion Flute - ligulate inflorescences are twisted into a tube, painted in golden yellow, the core has a greenish-mustard tint.

Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry photo

Double Scoop Cranberry is a catchy cranberry echinacea.

Echinacea strange Echinacea paradoxa

Echinacea weird Echinacea paradoxa in garden design photo

Notable for the bright yellow color of long petals bent down. The plant forms powerful bushes, hardy in dry summers.

Echinacea in landscape design

Echinacea in landscape design photo with other flowers

Echinacea is good in group plantings, as a decorative element in the background and middle ground in mixborders. Combines with phlox, aster, monarda, blackhead, geyhera, antennae, salvia, aruncus, hydrangea, lilies, astilba, fescue, Japanese spirea, bells, catnip, veronica, look great against the background of coniferous bushes and trees.

With what to plant echinacea photo flower beds

An interesting combination of echinacea in group plantings with flowers such as decorative yarrow, physostegia, alder cage.

The healing properties of echinacea

The rhizome contains essential and fatty oils, enzymes, resins, various trace elements (silver, selenium, manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium). The ground part is rich in polysaccharides, tannins, flavonoids, organic and hydroxy brown acids, essential oils, and resins.

Echinacea preparations (plant juice, decoction, tincture) have antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, wound-healing effects, strengthen the immune system.

Contraindications for use are individual intolerance, pregnancy and lactation, diseases: leukemia, collagenosis, multiple sclerosis, progressive tuberculosis.

The genus Echinacea is represented by about 10 botanical species: Echinacea pallidum, Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea Tennessee, Echinacea paradoxical, Echinacea bloody, Echinacea simulating, Echinacea dark red, Echinacea dark red. The most studied species is Echinacea purpurea.

Echinacea purpurea Is a perennial herbaceous medicinal plant of the Aster family. The stems are simple, erect. The height of the stems is from 60 to 100 cm. In favorable conditions, the height of the echinacea stems reaches one and a half meters. Branched roots with numerous shoots that penetrate 25 cm into the soil.

Echinacea

The leaves of the plant are broad-lanceolate, collected in a rosette, basal on long petioles, and stem leaves are short-petiolate. It blooms all summer long, pleasing the eye with its bright flowers. Fruits are brown tetrahedral achenes 5-6 mm long.

The basket-shaped inflorescences are 10-12 cm in diameter and are located in the axils of the upper leaves and at the top of the stem. In inflorescences, flowers are dark or light purple. Dark-colored sharp and thorny bracts are located between the small tubular flowers on the receptacle.

Europeans learned about this plant after the discovery of America. In North America, Echinacea grows on prairies and along sandy river banks. Secondary ranges of Echinacea species are located in Europe: in Great Britain, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Greece, Poland. And also in the countries of the Eurasian continent: Lithuania, Estonia, Ukraine, Moldova, the Republic of Belarus, in the central regions of Russia, the North Caucasus, in the Urals, in Bashkiria and in the Primorsky Territory. Also, echinacea species are cultivated in Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, northern Africa, and Egypt.

Echinacea

Echinacea cultivation

Echinacea is grown outdoors in flower beds, borders and mixborders as cut flowers. Plants are planted in the ground at the end of spring at a distance of 50-60 cm from each other.
They prefer soils rich in organic matter, not acidic, not soggy. In late spring - in summer, once every 30-40 days, a complex mineral fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation in an amount of 20 g per bucket. During the growing season, peduncles with wilted flowers are removed in order to stimulate the formation of new flowers and thus lengthen the flowering period.

Location: Ideal for full sun, but echinacea also tolerates partial shade.

Temperature: Echinacea is resistant to high and low air temperatures.

Watering: On hot days with wind and during drought, water regularly, preferably in the early morning or late afternoon.

Maintaining appearance: Remove faded flower stalks and damaged plant parts.

Reproduction: Propagated mainly seeds... Sow in spring in greenhouses or in open ground. Seedlings usually bloom in the 2nd year.

By dividing the bush (in autumn or spring) rarely propagate, since the base of the stem and shoots quickly lignifies, and rooting is slow and difficult.

Echinacea

Echinacea seed propagation

Indoor ground

Echinacea seeds are harvested gradually as they mature. They are sown in spring, at the end of February - March in a box with earth to a depth of half a centimeter - a centimeter, the seeds are crushed on top with a very thin layer of washed sand and carefully moisten the earth.

They do not germinate quickly - from two to five weeks. Seedlings need warmth and moisture, so it is best to grow Echinacea purpurea with seedlings.

Taking care of your seeds means that the tiny seedlings on the windowsill do not dry out and become waterlogged. In early May, Echinacea seedlings are planted in open ground in a sunny place. Further, the sprouts need to be loosened and watered moderately.Echinacea loves spraying water in the hot summer in the evening.

Open ground

When sowing seeds in open ground, seedlings will appear in 2-4 weeks. Planting seeds should be done in May. Our climatic conditions force us to sow Echinacea purpurea seeds in greenhouses in February - March, and then plant the seedlings in the ground.

Echinacea propagation by dividing the bush

Echinacea purpurea can also be propagated by dividing the bushes. This is done in early spring, when the leaves are just beginning to appear on the plants. It is necessary to divide the bushes in early spring, until the leaves have opened and the bases of the echinacea shoots are not lignified. Delenders and root cuttings for better root development are kept for several hours in a solution of a liquid immunostimulant, when planting, they are powdered with rooting powder. The root collars of the cut are not deepened when planting, they should be at the level of the soil.

Many flowering plants in modern industrial conditions are propagated mainly by the meristem method. This method allows you to quickly and easily obtain any number of required specimens of the desired varieties. In nurseries, Echinacea purpurea is often grown meristemally, and the resulting tiny meristem plants are usually sold in early spring. If you purchased just such plants, then they must be transplanted into pots with nutritious soil and kept in the shade, not forgetting to water. After a month and a half, the plants are planted in a permanent place. Meristemic plants can be immediately planted in the soil, but then it is imperative to do something like a greenhouse for them, for example, cover them with large bottles without a bottom from under the water. Small "delenki" with good and proper care sometimes even try to bloom in the first summer, but they do not need to be allowed to do so.

In general, the cultivation of Echinacea purpurea is not overly difficult. And can be easily mastered by gardeners and gardeners.

Echinacea diseases and pests

If the ground is too wet, then two types of fungi of the genera Cercospora and Septoria can infect echinacea, which cause spots on the leaves, weakening and death. If the infestation is small, the leaves are removed, otherwise they are treated with appropriate fungicides.

Echinacea is susceptible to viral infections that cause deformation of the peduncles, yellowing of the leaves and the appearance of stripes on them. Affected specimens are removed.

Echinacea

Varieties and types of echinacea

There are about 10 species in the genus Echinacea. As a medicinal plant they grow Echinacea purpurea (Echinacea purpurea), Echinacea angustifolia (Echinacea angustifolia) and Echinacea pale (Echinacea pallida). In medicine, rhizomes are more commonly used, although flower heads, seeds and sap of the whole plant are also used.

Echinacea purpurea is best known as an immunostimulant and is often included in medicines for the flu, colds, inflammation and infections.

As an ornamental plant, they are often grown Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea strange (Echinacea paradoxa), modern plant varieties and hybrids were mainly developed on their basis.

Echinacea purpurea has large exquisite flowers (up to 12 cm in diameter) with a brownish, dome-shaped core.

Echinacea strange - the only yellow echinacea in the genus, its feature is lower frost resistance than other echinacea.

The following varieties of Echinacea are popular in modern garden culture:

Rose-crimson petals: Merlot, Hope, Magnus, Ovation, Pica Bella, Rubinstern (Ruby Star), Ruby Giant, Springbrook's Crimson Star, Raspberry Tart.

With white petals: White Luster.

Yellow Petaled: Harvest Moon (Matthew Saul) and Big Sky Sunrise are the new American hybrids.

Terry: Razzmatazz.

Low (55-60 cm in height): Bright Star, Little Giant, Fatal Attraction, After Midnight (Emily Saul), Kim’s Knee High with pink-crimson petals and Finale White, Cygnet White, Kim’s Mop Head with white petals. The compactness of these plants makes them suitable for front row mixborders and for growing in pots.

White Swan is a short plant (up to 1 m) with creamy flowers.

Summer Sky (Katie Saul) - new bicolor echinacea: peach petals with a pinkish “halo” at the center. Extraordinarily large and fragrant flowers. Plant height - up to 75 cm.

Prairie Frost is the first variety with spotted foliage.The history of the variety is interesting: in 1996, such plants unexpectedly appeared among the plantings of Bravado echinacea. Flowers with pink-purple petals and a bronze-brown center.

Art's Pride - echinacea with peach-orange petals.

The King is a giant in height (150 to 220 cm) plant with huge reddish-pink flowers (up to 15 cm in diameter).

Echinacea

The use of echinacea purpurea in medicine

In addition to its decorative qualities, as already noted, echinacea has medicinal properties. Echinacea of ​​any age is used for medical purposes, starting from two to three years.

Stems, flowers, plant leaves and rhizomes with roots are used as medicinal raw materials. Echinacea is used internally for flu, colds, ear infections, mononucleosis, diseases of the bladder, blood infections. Externally, echinacea is used for burns, furunculosis, wounds, abscesses, urticaria, insect bites, eczema, herpes and other skin diseases.

Echinacea purpurea preparations are used for diseases caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays, ionizing radiation, chronic inflammatory processes, chemical preparations, and prolonged antibiotic treatment. For liver diseases, diabetes mellitus, exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, fungicides, insecticides.

The medicinal plant echinacea not only strengthens the immune system, but also causes the death of viruses, bacteria and some fungi. Echinacea extracts inhibit streptococci, staphylococci, E. coli, herpes viruses, stomatitis, flu. Which means it's a really powerful herbal antibiotic!

Preparations from the plant are effective in the treatment of polyarthritis, rheumatism, gynecological disorders, prostatitis, diseases of the upper respiratory tract, trophic ulcers, microbial eczema, osteomyelitis. As a decoction lotion, it is used for eczema, psoriasis, streptococcal infections, all kinds of wounds, bee and snake bites.

Echinacea

The effect of echinacea polysaccharides has been studied most of all. Polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin and inulin were isolated from Echinacea purpurea, angustifolia and pale.

Plant polysaccharides stimulate the activity of human white blood cells, increase the production of T-lymphocytes. Which helps to remove viruses and cells affected by them from the body and prevent or weaken the disease.

Polysaccharides surround tissue cells and protect them from bacterial and pathogenic influences. This is the immunostimulating effect of the echinacea medicinal plant on the human body. In addition, they promote tissue regeneration.

Caffeic acid glycoside accelerates healing, increases the body's resistance to viral and infectious diseases. Echinacin - accelerates wound healing.

This effect is associated with the ability of these compounds to suppress the activity of the enzyme hyaluronidase, which causes an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect specific to echinacea. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect is enhanced by the contained hydroxycinnamic acids.

Another healing property of echinacea is the ability to prevent the destruction of hyaluronic acid in the body, a substance that fills the intercellular spaces and prevents the spread of viruses and bacteria from cell to cell.

Inulin, which is part of the composition, activates the immune system, increasing the mobility of leukocytes in areas with infection, increasing the solubility of immune complexes, as well as destroying viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms.

Although the composition of echinacea as a medicinal plant, it would seem, is not poorly studied, but it still hides many secrets. So, recently it turned out that echinacea contains antioxidants. Now many scientists are carefully studying the possibilities of the plant to fight other diseases.

Echinacea, planting and caring for which will be described in this article, is a rather unpretentious plant, but at the same time it amazes everyone with its beauty. It is a well-known honey plant. By planting it on your site, you will attract a huge number of beneficial insects. It is known that from one hectare of land planted with these flowers, bees are able to collect from sixty to one hundred thirty kilograms of honey. If you love a variety of bright flowers, echinacea, planting and caring for which, by the way, does not require much work, is just what you need. Today you can find a huge variety of colors of this plant.

Echinacea: planting and care in the open field

Before deciding to plant echinacea, you must clearly understand that in the first year the plant forms only a rosette of leaves. Flowers appear in the second year. The place for this plant must be chosen only sunny. Unfortunately, in the shade, Echinacea is likely to die. Calculate the place so that, for at least five years, a tree does not suddenly grow next to the echinacea or some kind of structure appears that blocks the sun. There will be no problems with the soil. The only soil that this flower does not like is light sandy. Growth and development on such soil is very slow.

If you have purchased an adult plant in a pot, and most likely you will, then dig a hole, the depth of which will be forty centimeters, and fill it with a soil composition of sand, earth and humus to a third of the depth. Echinacea roots should not be freed from the ground. The plant is carefully transferred from a container or pot into a prepared hole. Moreover, it is necessary to plant a bush at the same depth as it grew in a pot.

Remember to trim off all the stems as soon as the end of October arrives. Also at this time, the root collar is mulched, using compost, followed by covering with dry leaves. Such preparation for winter will allow Echinacea to survive, even if there is severe frost and little snow.

Watering mode

Echinacea is very fond of water treatments. It is necessary to water the bushes abundantly. You shouldn't do this during the day, but in the evening it's time. Such procedures induce grateful growth and development of the shrub, as well as profuse flowering. It is important to water regularly to prevent drying out and waterlogging of the soil.

Fertilizer

Any echinacea, including perennial echinacea, planting and caring for which will be discussed later in this article, responds very gratefully to the introduction of various nutrients. It is necessary to feed this plant annually. Two dressings are carried out in one season. First, a week after planting in the ground, and then - during the period when the buds will form.

Reproduction

Echinacea multiplies, planting and caring for which we discuss in this article, quite easily, with the help of seeds. They are planted either in specially prepared containers or in open ground.

Sowing seeds in pots is done at the end of February. The soil mixture is used for this purpose universal. But the seeds are sprinkled on top not with soil, but with a very thin layer of sand, which is moistened with a spray bottle. Seeds germinate for about one and a half months. In early May, sprouted seedlings are planted in open ground. And now all that remains is to regularly moisten and loosen the soil.

You can reproduce by dividing the bush. This is best done in April. Each part must be immersed in a solution of a stimulating substance and planted without deepening the root collars into the ground. But keep in mind that such reproduction can lead to long-term illness of the plant and even to its death. Therefore, this procedure should be done with the utmost care.

Diseases and pests

In general, echinacea is considered a plant that is quite resistant to various ailments.But still, if the summer was too rich in precipitation, and there was regular waterlogging, then you may well find rot or powdery mildew on your plant. In this case, immediately resort to treating the bushes with fungicides.

Medicinal echinacea

As you know, many plants have, in addition to decorative attractiveness, a number of useful properties. These include medicinal, or perennial echinacea, the planting and care of which will be discussed later. The juice of this plant can significantly increase the body's ability to resist various infections. And the roots contain a huge amount of nutrients. They are harvested at the end of summer, before the plant begins to wither completely, then they are crushed and an alcoholic tincture is prepared. And tea from the inflorescences of this plant, which you can brew throughout the summer, is also very useful. In addition, by cutting off the inflorescences, you not only get a healing drink that strengthens the immune system, but also stimulate the echinacea to lay more and more new buds. This means that your bush is becoming more magnificent and more beautiful. The most popular variety of this medicinal plant is Echinacea "Purple". It is best to use plants for medical purposes that are at least two years old.

Echinacea purpurea: planting and care

To make your echinacea bloom in the first year, sow the seeds back in February. In May, the resulting sprouts should already be placed in the open field. Add manure and ash to the soil to provide nutrients. Remember that manure must be rotted.

Seeds are collected in late summer or early autumn. When all the petals are dropped, spiky balls can be seen on the peduncles. Once these balls are dry, simply shake them over paper or cloth and you will have seeds that need to be stored until February.

In order to grow and develop well, a flower needs the sunniest place. But at the same time, it should be watered regularly and abundantly. If moisture is insufficient, the flower will grow weak and development will be very slow.

When preparing for winter, the echinacea bush must be cut so that cuttings about five centimeters in length remain. They should be well spud and hidden under dry leaves or any other natural material. In winter, it is periodically necessary to cover the plant with snow.

Beautiful and fluffy

With all the variety of varieties, echinacea terry is especially loved by flower growers. Planting and caring for it is carried out in the same way as for all more modest varieties. It is believed that these plants are a little more capricious, survive the winter worse and are sensitive to the regularity of soil moisture. Echinacea planting and caring for which we discussed in the previous sections does not like transplanting. It happens that after this procedure the bushes get sick for a long time and bloom poorly.

Any echinacea, planting and maintenance of which should be regular, goes well with daylily and autumn asters. In addition, it is just an excellent compositing neighbor in landscape design for various cereal plants. That is why she is the favorite of many designers. A huge amount of medicinal raw materials is created from this plant. In this case, absolutely all of its parts are curative. And from the leaves of echinacea, you can even make a delicious and healthy salad, rich in a lot of vitamins.

Echinacea is a perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family. Translated from Greek, the name means "prickly like a hedgehog."

This is due to the shape of the inflorescence: the core consists of numerous tubular flowers (like a hedgehog), framed by petals of a bright color, like a chamomile. Echinacea was first described by Karl Linnaeus in 1753 and was assigned to the genus Rudbenkiya, but after about 40 years it was allocated to its own genus.

Botanical description

The plant is rhizome.Its height is 1-1.5 m. The stem is erect, rough. Basal leaves are wide, oval with serrated edges, attached on long petioles. Stem leaves are almost sessile or sessile, lanceolate, arranged alternately.

The inflorescences-baskets (typical for Asteraceae) are large. The marginal reed inflorescences (petals) are colored white, pink, red. The core has a dark red, red-brown color. The fruit is a tetrahedral achene. Blooms from about mid-summer to late September.

Growing echinacea from seeds

Echinacea seeds photo

Generative (seed) propagation is applied to varietal plants (hybrids do not retain varietal characteristics during seed propagation).

Sowing in open ground

How to sow echinacea in the ground photo

• Echinacea seeds are sown in open ground in early spring or late autumn.
• Dig up the soil, level the bed, make shallow grooves (seeding depth of 1-2 cm) at a distance of 20-25 cm, sow seeds less often, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil, water.
• The first shoots are cut to a distance of 7-8 cm, then - 10-15, as a result, bushes are left at a distance of 25-30 cm for low-growing varieties and 40-50 cm for powerful plants. excess plants can simply be transplanted to a new location as seedlings.
• In the first year, Echinacea builds up the root system, and flowering will begin the next season.

Sowing seedlings at home

Echinacea from seeds at home photo shoots

To obtain ready-made spring planting seedlings, it is necessary to grow seedlings.

Please note that the seeds have a hard shell, so before planting they should be soaked in warm water, or better in a growth stimulator. Even so, germination takes about 1 month.

• Sow echinacea seeds for seedlings at the end of February... Sow in wooden crates, containers, or individual cups - whichever you prefer.
• The soil should be light, water and air permeable.
• Deepen the seeds by 5-10 mm.
• The distance between the seeds is 5-7 cm.
• Moisten the crops, cover with foil, place in a bright place, maintain the air temperature at 13-15 ºC.
• When seedlings appear, remove the film. Maintain moderate soil moisture.
• In early May, start hardening, leaving it outside, starting from a couple of hours, and gradually increase the time to a full day.
• Plant hardened plants in open ground in May, when the soil is already warmed up and the threat of recurrent frosts has passed.

Planting echinacea outdoors

How to plant echinacea in open ground photo

Grows best in areas with bright sunlight.

The soil requires a fertile, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Light sandy soils or too wet soils are absolutely not suitable. If the soil is acidic, add garden lime.

• For seedlings, dig holes about 5 cm deep, for cuttings - a little more than the size of the root system.
• Maintain a distance between plantings of about 30 cm. Place a small amount of compost at the bottom of the planting hole.

If you purchased a large seedling in a container, dig a hole about 40 cm deep. Cover it with a third of a mixture of garden soil, compost, sand in equal proportions. Cross the fathoms together with the earthen lump. The root collar should remain at the same level as when growing in a container.

How to care for echinacea in the garden

• Water the echinacea generously and frequently. Do it better in the evening.
• Remove weeds regularly, periodically loosen the soil.
• From the second year of life, start feeding. Apply organic matter or complex mineral fertilizer twice a season (in early spring and after flowering).
• If there is no need to collect seeds, cut off wilted inflorescences with a piece of stem to the first green leaf.

Echinacea propagation by dividing the bush

Most often, the plant is propagated by dividing the bush (thus the varietal characteristics are preserved). You can share a 4-5 year old echinacea bush.Perform the procedure in spring (April) or autumn. Carefully dig out the bush, divide it into parts so that each contains 3-4 buds of growth, plant it.

Echinacea diseases and pests

If the summer is rainy with temperature fluctuations, powdery mildew may be affected: shoots and leaves are covered with a whitish bloom. It can also happen from an excess of nitrogen fertilizers. It is necessary to carry out the treatment with Bordeaux liquid or colloidal sulfur.

Cercosporosis, septoria are dangerous fungal diseases that manifest themselves in various spots on the leaves. The plant becomes weak and may die. Remove the affected areas, treat with a fungicide.

When viral diseases are affected, leaves turn yellow and dry, peduncles are deformed. Affected plants must be removed from the site and burned; treat the growth site with a strong solution of manganese.

Pests: bedbugs, drooling penny, slugs. Collect gastropods by hand, use traps. Insects will help get rid of insecticide treatment.

Seed collection

How to collect echinacea seeds photo

Seed ripening is uneven. When the center of the pith darkens, these seeds can be harvested. Carefully remove them (it is better to put on a rag glove), peel off the remnants of inflorescences and dry. Seeds quickly lose their germination.

Echinacea wintering

Echinacea is frost-resistant. Young plants and, if a cold, snowless winter is foreseen, should be covered for the winter. At the end of October, cut off the stems, mulch the root collar with compost, cover with dry foliage and spruce branches on top.

Types and varieties of echinacea with photos and names

In the natural environment, there are only 9 types of echinacea. Basically, Echinacea purpurea is cultivated with bred varieties and hybrids, less often - Echinacea strange.

Echinacea purpurea Echinacea purpurea

Echinacea purpurea echinacea purpurea cultivar rubinstern photo

Plant height is about 1 m. Stems are erect. Basal leaves are wide, oval, attached on long petioles; stem - oblong, sessile. The ligulate flowers are about 4 cm long, have a purple-pink color, the core is red-brown.

Varieties:

Granatstem - plant height reaches 1.3 m. The ligulate flowers have two-toothed tops, are painted in a purple hue, the core is brown. The diameter of the inflorescence is 13 cm.

Zonnenlach - reaches a height of 1.4, the diameter of the basket is 10 cm. The tops of the reed inflorescences are divided into 3 teeth, the color is dark red, the core is brown.

Echinacea purple terry variety Cranberry Cupcake photo

Cranberry Cupcake is a very interesting variety. The core is massive, lush, consists of hundreds of small tongues, the color is dark pink, the petals are colored light purple.

The King - the stem rises by 2 m. The massive inflorescence reaches a diameter of 15 cm. The color is red-pink.

Echinacea purpurea white variety Echinacea purpurea White Swan photo

White Swan - white inflorescences.

Indiaca - color range from pale pink to light brown.

Echinacea purpurea cultivar Magnus Echinacea Purpurea ‘Magnus’ photo

Magnus - plant height is 1 m. Very popular variety. The core is light brown in color, the petals are pale pink.

Ruby star - echinacea 70-80 cm high, the diameter of the basket is about 14 cm. The core is brown in color, the petals are crimson.

Echinacea Sunset Echinacea x sunset

Echinacea Sunset Echinacea x sunset photo

A series of hybrids developed by Richard Skoll. They are notable for large inflorescences. Reed inflorescences are bent, can have the color of mango, mustard, strawberry, peach, exude a wonderful aroma. Henna-colored core.

Popular varieties:

Julia (from the Butterfly Kisses series) - reaches a height of 45 cm. The flowers are bright orange.

Cleopatra - the diameter of the inflorescence is 7.5 cm. The petals are sunny yellow.

Echinacea Evening Glow Echinacea Evening Glow photo

Evening Glow - cone-shaped core, dark color. Reed flowers are yellow with an orange stripe and pinkish tint.

Cantaloupe - the color corresponds to the name. The ligulate flowers are arranged in 2 rows, have a pink-orange tint, the core is shaggy, of a darker shade.

Echinacea Passion Flute Echinacea Passion Flute photo

Passion Flute - ligulate inflorescences are twisted into a tube, painted in golden yellow, the core has a greenish-mustard tint.

Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry Echinacea Double Scoop Cranberry photo

Double Scoop Cranberry is a catchy cranberry echinacea.

Echinacea strange Echinacea paradoxa

Echinacea Strange Echinacea paradoxa in garden design photo

Notable for the bright yellow color of long petals bent down. The plant forms powerful bushes, hardy in dry summers.

Echinacea in landscape design

Echinacea in landscape design photo with other flowers

Echinacea is good in group plantings, as a decorative element in the background and middle ground in mixborders. Combines with phlox, aster, monarda, blackhead, geyhera, antennae, salvia, aruncus, hydrangea, lilies, astilba, fescue, Japanese spirea, bells, catnip, veronica, look great against the background of coniferous bushes and trees.

With what to plant echinacea photo flower beds

An interesting combination of echinacea in group plantings with flowers such as decorative yarrow, physostegia, alder cage.

The healing properties of echinacea

The rhizome contains essential and fatty oils, enzymes, resins, various trace elements (silver, selenium, manganese, zinc, calcium, potassium). The ground part is rich in polysaccharides, tannins, flavonoids, organic and hydroxy brown acids, essential oils, and resins.

Echinacea preparations (plant juice, decoction, tincture) have antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, wound-healing effects, strengthen the immune system.

Contraindications for use are individual intolerance, pregnancy and lactation, diseases: leukemia, collagenosis, multiple sclerosis, progressive tuberculosis.

Echinacea is a resilient, durable and highly effective perennial.

This is what Echinacea purpurea looks like.

There are five types of herbaceous plants called echinacea. In floriculture, the most widespread is Echinacea purpurea - a tall perennial with basal leaves, an erect green stem and more than a meter in height, with crimson or purple spots.

Echinacea grows well in the central regions of European Russia, blooms well in the southern region, but only on a lower peduncle. It is planted in flower beds, large specimens look good
against the background of green bushes, in groups on the lawn. In addition, this is a wonderful cut crop, in which high decorativeness is combined with long (up to two months) flowering.

Growing echinacea from seeds

There are two ways to grow echinacea from seeds:

• Planting seeds in open ground
• Growing through seedlings

Let's consider both of these options.

How to grow echinacea from seeds outdoors

Seeds are sown in the ground in spring and autumn, but it must be borne in mind that the seed coat is very hard and takes a long time to soften. That is why spring sowing is not always successful. The first shoots can appear in two weeks or six. Many growers stop watering the plantings of echinacea after 3 to 4 weeks, deciding that the seeds will no longer sprout.

But echinacea itself tells us when it is better to plant it. Whoever has been growing echinacea for more than one year knows well how easily it reproduces by self-seeding. Seeds that fell from flowers in autumn give abundant shoots in spring. Therefore, it is much easier and more expedient to plant them in the ground in late autumn, then in the spring you will get numerous shoots.

But in any case, in the first summer, the plant will form only a rosette of leaves, and will bloom only the next year. To admire the flowers of echinacea in the year of planting, you will have to grow it through seedlings.

Video about planting echinacea in late autumn:

Growing echinacea through seedlings

    Soil preparation. The easiest way is to buy ready-made soil at a flower shop, but since the echinacea plant is not picky, you can cook it yourself.No special composition of the soil is required, the main thing is that the earth is light, moisture-absorbing and breathable.

And it will not be superfluous to disinfect the soil, and not only of its own production, but also of the store. To do this, hold the package with soil in the cold for ten days or spill it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

    Landing dates. Echinacea seeds begin to be sown from mid-February.

Growing echinacea from seeds.

    Seed preparation.Since the seed coat is hard, it is advisable to soak them in a solution that stimulates germination, or at least in ordinary water. To do this, wrap the seeds in a napkin, put them on a saucer and moisten this napkin regularly. Many now use toilet paper for these purposes, paper is also good for this, the main thing is that the seeds are always moist and there is air access to them.

    Sowing seeds.When the seeds begin to hatch, it's time to start sowing. Unfortunately, there will most likely not be a friendly germination, so start planting when at least some of the seeds hatch.

To grow Echinacea seedlings, wooden boxes, all kinds of bowls or cups are used. Make grooves or grooves 5-10 mm deep in the ground, spread the seeds in them and sprinkle them with a thin layer of earth or sand. Moisten the soil with a spray bottle, cover the box with plastic and set it in a bright place.

    Germination temperature.Echinacea seeds germinate at a temperature of 13-15 degrees, but the room temperature is also quite comfortable for them.

    Seedling care.Care consists only in moistening the soil in the seedling box and of course do not forget to remove the film when seedlings appear.

Watch an educational video about growing echinacea from seeds:

Planting echinacea in the ground

When to plant. Like most flowers, echinacea is planted in the garden when the threat of frost has passed, usually at the end of May.

    Landing place. Echinacea is recommended to be planted in the sun, but based on my own experience, I can say that it feels great in partial shade. Even in partial shade, the color of flowers is richer and brighter. Of course, these flowers cannot be planted in the shade, there the flowers will be small and may disappear altogether.

    The soil. Echinacea can grow in almost any soil. If the ground is very sandy, then add some good earth or humus when planting.

    Planting echinacea. The grown seedlings are planted in flower beds at a distance of 30 cm, the holes are made not deep 10 - 15 cm. If you bought already grown plants, then the planting holes are prepared more, focusing on the size of the roots. After planting, water the seedlings and mulch the soil.

Planting echinacea in the ground, video:

Echinacea care

Echinacea attracts attention with its exquisite appearance, its medicinal properties, but this plant has one more important advantage - it is easy to grow echinacea, its care is minimal. This unpretentious flower easily tolerates drought, temperature changes and other whims of nature.

    Watering. Watering is required regular, moderate.

    Top dressing. It can grow on rich soils without additional fertilizing. On poor soils, feed in the spring with nitrogen fertilizers (urea, saltpeter, mullein), before flowering with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate, any complex fertilizer)

If you grow echinacea for medicinal purposes, then any fertilizing with mineral fertilizers should be excluded!

    Pruning. Remove wilted flowers to stimulate flowering.

    Division of the bush. Echinacea can grow in one place for no more than 4 - 5 years. After this period, the bush must be dug up, divided into several parts and planted. Echinacea multiplies in the same way.

    Preparing for winter. In autumn, the entire aerial part of the plant must be cut to the ground. Echinacea tolerates the winter cold well, but nevertheless it will not be superfluous to huddle and cover the root zone with mulch.

Echinacea in the garden, video:

How to collect seeds

If you want to plant this majestic flower in your garden, you can collect seeds and grow echinacea from your own seeds next year.

To do this, select a well-ripened head and cut it off along with part of the stem. Then wrap the head in a cloth bag or paper bag to collect the loose seeds. Hang the cut stem upside down. Collect all seeds that have fallen into a bag and dry them on paper for another 10-15 days. Then pour them into a glass jar and refrigerate. There, the seeds can be stored with you for a whole year.

It is believed that seeds can only be harvested from conventional echinacea varieties, and terry varieties reproduce only vegetatively. This is not entirely true. From some varieties of terry echinacea, it is sometimes possible to collect seeds and grow flowers exactly like their parents, but only in the first generation. So don't be afraid to experiment.

Diseases and pests

Echinacea is a disease and pest resistant plant. If there are any problems, then, as a rule, they are associated with inadequate care.

With high soil moisture, Echinacea can be affected by viral or fungal diseases caused by spores of the genus Cercospora and Septoria. The disease manifests itself in the form of spots on the leaves and leads to the weakening and even death of plants.

When growing echinacea, it is important not to overmoisten the soil, it is the excess moisture that leads to the development of diseases, and also attracts pests. But this does not always depend on the person - the summer can turn out to be cold and rainy, which will cause the appearance of powdery mildew. You need to fight this disease in the same way as with other similar diseases - remove infected parts of plants, monitor soil moisture, and treat the site with insecticides.

Echinacea pests include slugs, bedbugs and a drooling penny.

Benefits of Echinacea:

Echinacea varieties

Echinacea "White Swan" Flower diameter up to 10 cm. Bush up to 80 cm high. Flowering: from August to frost
Echinacea "Mama Mia" Flower diameter 10 cm. The bush is 60 - 80 cm high. The width of the bush is 50 cm. Blossoming June - September.
Echinacea "Green Line" Flower diameter 8 - 9 cm. The bush is 60 - 70 cm high. Width 40 - 50 cm. Bloom: June - September.
Echinacea "Katarina" Flower diameter 7 - 8 cm. The bush is 60 cm high. Flowering time: June - October.
Echinacea "Aloha" The height of the bush is 90 cm. Width 50cm. Bloom: June August.
Echinacea "Butterfly Kiss" Flower diameter 7 - 8 cm. The height of the bush is 30 - 40 cm. Width 40 cm. Bloom: June - September.
Echinacea "Supreme Cantaloupe" The height of the bush is 80 cm. Width 50 cm. Bloom: June - September.
Echinacea "Cleopatra" Flower diameter 7 - 8 cm. The height of the bush is 35 - 40 cm. Width 30 cm. Bloom: June - September.
Echinacea "Green Envy" Flower diameter 12 cm. The height of the bush is 90 - 100 cm. Width 50 cm. Bloom: July - September.
Echinacea "Evening dawn" Flower diameter up to 15 cm. The height of the bush is 80 - 100 cm. Bloom: July - September.

Be sure to plant this miracle in your garden!

The author of the article: T.N. Serova florist

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Echinacea is one of the amazing plants that combine beauty, long-lasting flowering and beneficial medicinal properties. This is a honey plant that blooms in late summer, providing bees with nectar until the first frost. Echinacea planting and care in the open field will allow you to grow and transform the garden landscape with a variety of its colors.

Echinacea botany

Echinacea flower is a perennial, a compositae plant related to herbs, since its ground part consists of straight stems of peduncles and leaves of a dark green color, which die off at the end of the growing season. The leaf plates at the base of the root are wide, oval in shape with a serrated edge. The rough, straight stem is decorated with sessile, alternate oblong leaves, pointed at the base and apex.

At the end of the stem, an inflorescence is formed, consisting of tubular median flowers, framed by marginal reed petals. The central part of echinacea has a dark red color with a brown tint, the marginal petals can be white, pink, red and purple. After flowering, in place of the pineal part of the plant, a fruit is formed in the form of a tetrahedral, oblong, brown achene.

Important. Echinacea is recommended for cutting and decorating bouquets. Such a procedure will benefit the plant - it will allow you to get additional shoots with inflorescences capable of full flowering.

The underground part of the plant consists of a short thick rhizome and roots with a longitudinally wrinkled surface of brown or dark brown color. The length of the thick rhizome is no more than 10 cm. The roots are thin and tough, have a cylindrical shape, endowed with many thin suction roots.

Growing echinacea in the garden

Echinacea purpurea, due to its decorativeness and ease of cultivation, occupies a privileged place in the garden. When starting to plant echinacea, you need to take into account that the beauty will bloom in full force only in the second year. The seedling of the first year forms a rosette of dark green leaves, from which a peduncle will appear next year and the young plant will bloom in mid-July. The duration of its flowering is two months.

Obtaining healthy specimens of echinacea that can decorate any corner of the garden, serve as a food base for bees and insects, and become a raw material for medicinal drugs will require little effort. Cultivation agrotechnology consists in observing the following conditions:

• For planting echinacea, you need to stick to sunny areas;
• The soil can be neutral or slightly alkaline, fertile enough, since the flower grows in this place for at least five years;
• For planting plants, small depressions are prepared in the ground, at the bottom of which compost must be placed. Seedlings are planted at a distance of approximately 30 cm.
• It is recommended to water the planted plants.
• The purchased potted echinacea must be removed from the container with a clod of earth. Then place in a prepared hole, pre-fertilized with a mixture of sand, garden soil and compost.

Echinacea herb growing in the garden is not only a decoration of the site. This herb is unique in its medicinal properties. It is used not only as a pharmacy; there are many recipes for traditional medicine based on this plant.

Echinacea Garden Care

This flower culture is considered drought tolerant, but its luxurious appearance still largely depends on its content in the garden. A correctly selected sunny place will be complemented by soft loosened soil, cleared of weeds, with good timely moisture.

Important. If the plant will be used for the preparation of medicinal decoctions, infusions for fertilization should be used only organics, avoid the use of chemicals when watering.

The second year of the plant's life will add a little hassle, which consists in feeding. Fertilizers will help:

• Good growth;
• Bush development;
• Lush bloom of the flower.

It is necessary to carry out top dressing in spring and autumn, after the plant has finished the flowering phase.

Echinacea breeding methods

For the propagation of echinacea, modern methods of obtaining seedlings are used.These techniques make it possible to obtain planting material on an industrial scale, since the plant is a source of components necessary for obtaining medicines.

Also used by beekeepers, this honey plant provides bees with nectar when the flowering season is over.

Known and tested breeding methods for Echinacea:

• To obtain seedlings at home, you can use the seed propagation method. It is long enough, a flowering plant can be seen only in the second year.

Seeds can be sown in the ground at the beginning and end of the season, providing their germination with moisture and warmth. The easiest way to meet these conditions is in a greenhouse. The seeds have a fairly long germination period. Sprouts appear no earlier than 35-40 days later.

Seeds planted in March will produce plants that bloom in the same season. Seeds are sown in a container with prepared soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. Seeds sprinkled with a layer of soil or sand are moistened. The optimum temperature for sprouting is about 13 ° C. Further care consists of watering the seedlings and loosening the soil.

Seedlings are planted in a permanent place in the last days of spring;

To buy an echinacea seedling in the spring, you should not buy cuttings of this plant. It is correct to buy a potted plant that has a closed root system. If the plant was purchased during a cold season, it should be placed in another pot with the prepared nutrient mixture. With the onset of warm days, plant the plant in a permanent place.

• Echinacea propagation by its vegetative organ - the rhizome is performed when the plant is at rest. Spring is considered the best time for vegetative division of a plant. At this time, the base of the shoots is not stiff and is easily divided into cuttings. Each stalk should have 3-4 renewal buds. The cut must be treated with wood ash. This procedure will speed up the appearance of sprouts and roots.

The resulting petioles are planted in containers without burying them in the soil. After rooting, the resulting seedlings are placed in a permanent place.

Only adult 4-5 year old plants can be used for grafting.

• Meristemic propagation of echinacea, an unconventional way of propagation of many plants, including echinacea. The meristem is the point of growth of a plant, which can be located in the axillary buds, in the apical bud, in the terminal part of the root, under the bark.

Basically, this is a method of vegetative propagation, performed by microcutting plant material.

Miniature echinacea plants obtained in nurseries have a number of advantages over seedlings obtained in a different way:

• They are healthier;
• Resistant to viruses.

The method is highly productive; about 10,000 seedlings can be obtained from one mother plant.

For home use, the method is rather complicated. The seedlings go on sale at the beginning of spring. After purchasing such a seedling, it follows:

• Transplant into a pot with soil nutrient composition;
• Grow up within a month in a shaded cool place;
• Moisten the soil.

A hardened plant can be planted in a permanent place.

Echinacea diseases and pests

Echinacea is naturally resistant to disease and pests.

However, there are a number of diseases and pests that are dangerous for this flower:

• Fungal and viral diseases that can lead to plant drying out are of particular danger to echinacea. The affected plant should be immediately removed, the planting should be treated with phytoncides;
• The main pests of echinacea are slugs, aphids, caterpillars. Timely treatment of planting flowers with insecticides will destroy and scare away harmful insects.

Diseases and pests appear in places where echinacea grows only when the agricultural technology of growing a flower is violated.

Combines with many plants.As a yellow background for echinacea, an unpretentious whorled coreopsis is suitable.