Growing Coneflowers

How to Grow Coneflowers

• Put a thin layer of compost around the plants, then a 2–inch layer of mulch to help keep the plants moist and prevent weeds.
• Native coneflowers really do not need fertilizer; as discussed above, just ensure your soil has plenty of organic matter when you plant.
• In late spring, provide supplementary water only if the season is extremely dry or your coneflowers are newly planted.
• Optional: To encourage delayed blooming for fall enjoyment, cut coneflower plants back by 1 foot when plants come into bloom. This will result in later-flowering, more-compact growth because coneflowers can get leggy. Cut some and not others for more staggered bloom heights and times.
• Optional: When flowers are faded/done blooming, deadhead if you wish to prolong the blooming season. But consider leaving late-season flowers on the plants to mature; the seed heads will attract birds and promote self-seeding. Deadheading will prevent self seeding if this is your preference. To deadhead, cut the dead flower back to a leaf where you can see a bud ready to swell. 
• Watch for beneficial soldier beetles in August and do not harm them.
• In the fall, a light mulch in colder regions is beneficial. 
• Cut back in late winter/early spring when you’re tidying up the garden.

Growing Coneflowers in Pots

We tend to grow coneflowers in the ground as perennial plants, but you can certainly grow them in pots if the containers are deep enough for the plant’s taproot (at least 2- or 3-gallon pots). 

• Ensure there are holes in the bottom of the pot. Put a thin layer of crushed gravel at the bottom of the pot for drainage.
• Fill container halfway with potting mix. Tamp down. Plant the root ball an inch below the rim of the container, spreading out the roots and adding soil slowly until even with top of root ball, tamping soil lightly along the way. Water deeply. 
• Keep pots in partial shade for two or three days and then move to a site that receives full morning sun and partial afternoon shade.
• Always water deeply when the soil is dry to touch. 
• Fertilize pots every couple of weeks with a water-soluble 10-10-10 fertilizer. 
• Deadhead for continued bloom, clipping right below base of the flower stem. Do not water leaves from above, as this can encourage fungal disease on leaves. Instead, water at soil level. Use an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution spray if you see any aphids or pests.

If you wish to keep the coneflowers in pots through winter, wait until the plant growth begins to slow in fall, then prune your plants back to soil level, and then move the pots to an area with low-to-moderate, indirect light where the temperature will stay between 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the soil every couple of weeks and water lightly when the top 3 inches are dry.

When new growth appears in the spring, transition the plant to a brighter, warmer (60 to 70 degrees) setting. Moving the plant helps to prepare it for living outdoors in the spring and summer. 

Every 3 to 4 years, it’s fine to divide and repot your echinacea plants. Do this in the springtime after new growth has started.