Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, are beautiful flowers, so it’s no wonder why people want to know how to propagate echinacea from cuttings. Coneflowers attract butterflies, birds, and bees to your garden.
Coneflowers love the heat! They are tolerant of drought once they’re mature enough. These plants have prickly stems, making them more deer-resistant compared to most flowering plants.
There are different types of echinacea plants, but the most common one is Echinacea purpurea or the purple coneflower. These flowers look beautiful in traditional gardens or wildflower meadows. But they’re most beautiful when planted in masses, especially if they come in different colors.
How to Use Echinacea
As mentioned, coneflowers attract bees, butterflies, and birds to your garden. They also deter deer, preventing them from munching on your flowers.
Echinacea is also great for vases, bouquets, and overall flower arrangements because their stems are long. Coneflowers also look beautiful when dried.
Aside from its aesthetic value, echinacea has several uses in herbal medicine. The roots, stems, flower heads, and leaves are all used as medicine. Native Americans used preparations of the echinacea root to treat different issues, including the common cold and flu, strengthen the immune system, and treat vaginal fungal infections.
Today, many people use echinacea as oils, extracts, pills, and ointment. Be sure to check in with your doctor or pharmacist and ask for more details about echinacea root medicines and supplements.
9 Steps to Propagate Echinacea from Cuttings
Thanks to its usefulness and beauty, many people want to know how to propagate echinacea from cuttings. Here are nine simple steps you should follow:
Step #1: Water the main plant
The best time to get cuttings from echinacea is in late fall or early winter when they’re dormant. Before you take the cuttings, water the main plant deeply (about three inches). This ensures that the roots are hydrated and the soil is soft, making it easier for you to take cuttings.
Step #2: Prepare a container for the cuttings
The next step is to prepare the pot for the roots. Use a four-inch pot and mix three parts coarse sand and two parts milled sphagnum peat moss together. Pour water into the mix and let it drain for about 30 minutes and set aside.
Step #3: Dig the main plant
Carefully dig around your echinacea plant until you can see the roots. Be sure to do this gently so you won’t damage them. Pour water over the roots to remove the soil around it. Choose the thick roots with a healthy sprout and at least one to three inches long. They’re your best bet for a successful echinacea propagation from cuttings.
Step #4: Divide the Root
Once you’ve picked a root to use, divide the root from the main plant using clean and sharp gardening shears. Trim the stem until they’re three inches long. Don’t forget to cover the hole left by the cutting with soil to keep the parent plant healthy.
Step #5: Dig a hole
Grab the container you’ve set aside and then dig a planting hole in the middle. Dig deep enough to ensure that the roots are covered with soil. Gently set the root in the hole so that the stem’s base is at the soil’s surface level. Fill the surrounding with soil and pat it down.
Step #6: Protect your echinacea plants
Place your pots in a partially shaded area, like inside a greenhouse or on your porch. It’s important to ensure that your cuttings aren’t subjected to extreme temperature changes and direct sunlight.
Step #7: Water your cuttings regularly
The potting mix should always be moist. Allow the top portion of the soil to dry slightly before watering them again. This ensures that your soil is moist, but not wet/soggy.
Step #8: Wait for a new stem or leaf to grow
Within two to three weeks, you should be able to see a new stem or leaf growing from your cuttings. Sooner or later, they’ll outgrow their four-inch pot, so be sure to transplant them to a bigger one (about six inches) after new sprouts emerge.
Step #9: Transplant to a sunny garden bed
When summer rolls in, grow your coneflowers under light shade and water them about an inch every week. Increase it to direct sunlight before the summer season ends. You can transplant your echinacea plants into your garden bed during the fall. Plant them in well-draining soil and space them at least one foot apart.
Why Plant Your Echinacea Cuttings in a Mini Greenhouse?
Coneflowers are no-fuss plants. Meaning they’re easy to grow and care for since they’re not vulnerable to common plant diseases. However, they can sometimes be affected by gray mold, vine weevils, leaf miners, and powdery mildew. Growing your plants inside a mini greenhouse with good ventilation lowers the risk of diseases and fungal infections.
On the other hand, mini greenhouses can also protect your plants from bad weather. Snow, frost, high winds, heavy rain, and storms, can easily damage your garden. Greenhouse gardening provides them with a safe space to grow, regardless of the weather.
Final Thoughts on How to Propagate Echinacea from Cuttings
Now that you know how to propagate echinacea from cuttings, the next thing you need to do is to grow them! Coneflowers are beautiful plants that don’t require much care and attention. Whether you plant them in a greenhouse or your backyard, you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful and colorful blooms.