How to plant coneflower seeds? Mastering the sowing method is key
Although it is named "pinecone," the coneflower is actually a kind of daisy, not an edible nut or fruit! Coneflowers are exceptionally hardy, and their flowers are small and delicate with rich, varied colors, making them a common ornamental flowering plant for green and plum-blossom environments. Many people are especially fond of coneflowers and want to grow them at home or in the yard as decorative flowers. So below, the editor will introduce some coneflower growing methods for everyone!
How to plant coneflower seeds
1. Seed treatment
Before sowing, first soak the seeds to promote germination and disinfect them.
Put the seeds into a basin, add warm water at 35℃—40℃, stir gently so that all the seeds are soaked in the water, and after 2—3 hours, put the seeds into an 800—1000 times potassium permanganate solution for about 15 minutes of disinfection.
Next, scoop the seeds out, place them evenly on newspaper, and then put them in a sunny, well-ventilated place to dry for 1—2 hours, and they are ready for sowing.
2. Specific steps
Coneflower sowing generally uses the broadcast sowing method.
When sowing, first put some fine soil into the pot, then use your hands to mix the seeds evenly with the fine soil, next sprinkle the seeds evenly over the substrate, then cover with another layer of substrate and water thoroughly once. When watering, use a gentle flood irrigation to avoid washing the seeds together, which would cause uneven seedling emergence. Generally, the seedlings break through the soil in about 8 days, and the seedlings are all up in about 15 days.
3. Management after sowing
Coneflower seedlings need relatively little water in the early stage, generally no watering is needed, and keeping the soil moist is enough. When the seedlings grow 2—3 true leaves, begin watering, generally once every 15—20 days, and if there is cloudy and rainy weather, pay attention to draining promptly.
As the coneflower seedlings grow, weeds will also gradually appear. To prevent weeds from competing with the seedlings for water and nutrients, weed promptly, preferably by pulling them out by hand.
If sowing in autumn, water once with antifreeze water before winter, and within 2—3 days after watering, cover the seedlings with plastic sheeting for warmth. When the temperature rises in spring, the covering can be removed in early April.
Coneflower sowing method
Sowing can be done in late April in spring or early September in autumn. After deeply turning and leveling the open-field seedbed, water thoroughly, and wait until the water has completely seeped into the ground, then evenly broadcast the seeds.
When broadcasting, ensure about one thousand seeds are sown per sq m, keep the temperature at around 22℃, and seedlings will emerge in 13 to 15 days.
When the seedlings grow 2 true leaves, they can be transplanted.
How to transplant coneflowers
When lifting the seedlings, dig out the seedlings together with their roots and soil, minimizing damage to the seedling roots to improve the survival rate after transplanting.
When planting, choose the number to plant according to the size of the flower pot, generally 3—5 is best.
Use a trowel to dig a small hole in the pot, put the seedling in and then straighten it, then fill it with the surrounding soil, press the soil firm with your hands, and then water thoroughly once to ensure the seedlings survive.
Key points for later care
1. Light
As mentioned above, they quite like sunlight and can adapt to dry conditions. Their most comfortable light duration is 14-16 hours per day, so they are very suitable for growers living a bit farther south to plant, and it is best if there are also seven or eight weeks when the light intensity is high. But if planted in the north, they generally only bloom in May, though they can last until September.
2. Fertilizing
After purple coneflowers have been planted out, they can basically be given fertilizer once or twice a week, and at the same time magnesium should be supplemented in a timely manner, which can prevent problems caused by unbalanced nutrition. In addition, a certain amount of slow-release fertilizer can also be added at planting time, which allows them to grow better within 3-5 months without lacking nutrients.
3. Temperature
The temperature they like also differs at different stages. When growing well, it should be kept at 16-24℃, and at night at 10-16℃, but when germinating they need a relatively high temperature, preferably kept at 22-24℃. In this state, they can germinate in 2-4 days.
The coneflower is a flower that is delicate yet not coquettish, elegant yet not vulgar, very fresh and beautiful, and its flowering period is very long, so it is deeply loved and sought after by everyone. How could such a beautiful flower not make you want to grow it by your side?