Sweet Sandia coneflower literally loves very hot, dry climates, however, it does adapt to wide fluctuations in temperature and humidity. This plant does not thrive in a very humid environment or in very rainy areas with soggy soil. For best growth, keep temperatures between 16 – 24 ℃ during the day and 10 – 16 ℃ at night. For grinding, high temperatures are required, if possible between 21 – 24 ℃; This phase lasts between 2 and 4 days.

The purple echinacea is a long-day plant, which prefers to have very good exposure to the sun. During flowering, provide 14-16 hours of sun on your plan over a 7-8 week period. For maximum growth and optimal flowering, you should plant your purple echinacea in a location that provides at least 5 hours of sun per day. The plant can adapt to a partially shaded location, but the stem can twist when it tries to bask in the sun.

Purple echinacea planted in a garden prefers fertile, well-drained, neutral, sandy soil with a pH of 6.5-7. Less restrictive than other plants in the ground, it can grow in many different types of soil, including stone and clay. However, sweet Sandia does not like wet or silty sand and grows well in humus-rich soils.

Sowing seeds in spring or fall is generally recommended. Soak them in hot water for 20-30 minutes beforehand, then change the water to a temperature of 55 – 60 ℃ and keep it for 10-15 minutes; add cold water to bring everything down to 25 – 30℃ and let sit for 8-10 hours. This will speed up the germination of the seeds and will also disinfect them.

Opt for well-drained, breathable soil, then add a layer of fertilizer ahead of time. Before sowing the seeds, mix them with a small amount of soil and sow evenly over the fertilized soil. Then cover them with a layer of soil and gently water them until the soil is moist enough. Do not flood the growing medium, as this could upset the distribution of your young shoots. Most of the time, young purple echinacea shoots take 8 days to emerge from the soil. If temperatures stay close to 22℃, it could take a couple of weeks.

When your young shoots have developed 3 branches and are 10 cm tall, it is time to transplant them into individual pots. Use 15 – 15 cm pots and place only one plant per pot. Your growing medium should consist of 1/3 organic fertilizer, 1/3 garden soil, and 1/3 sand. Once your plants are transplanted, compact the soil and water it sufficiently, then place the pots in a cool place. 7-10 days later, move your pots to a sunnier corner so your plants can develop normally.

Purple echinacea thrives best in soil with enough nutrients, but too much fertilizer can weaken its stems or even cause them to twist. Add slow-release, long-acting fertilizer to your soil when planting. Once the plant is in the ground, add additional fertilizer 1-2 times a week, plus 0.05% magnesium sulfate once or twice, to prevent deficiency. You can also apply chelated iron 1 or 2 times for the same reason, to prevent a deficiency. Finally, you can also cover your sweet Sandia echinacea with compost to provide it with the necessary nutrients for the healthy development of its leaves and flowers.

Pruning your sweet Sandia echinacea in spring will make it denser and allow it to have a longer bloom period. The main goal of pruning is to remove all dead leaves and heads. Removing the heads will allow the plant to bloom throughout the summer, with each flower lasting for weeks. The latter will start to hatch at the top of the stem/branch, then the side buds will form and then develop lengthwise, as the flowering stage progresses, then the head flowers wither.

The seed crop usually blooms only in the second year. The shoots can be harvested when they begin to hatch. Cut the stem with sharp scissors from the underside of its lower leaves. Remove stem leaves after harvest and remove the excess bud from behind flower heads to prevent excessive nutrient and water intake.

Sweet Sandia echinacea can be propagated by seed or by cutting. See the explanations above for the seeding method. For the cutting method, wait until spring, then cut a branch about 2 inches long and keep 2-4 leaves. Remove the tip of the branch, cut it below the node and insert it directly into the ground. You also have the option of dividing your plant in spring or fall. Separate it from the rhizome with a knife, then divide it into several seedlings. On average, each plant should be able to have 4-5 small shoots, plant them in soil prepared for this purpose.

Just like when you plant your sweet Sandia echinacea in the rainy season, more pellets will be needed in the growing medium to prevent root rot caused by standing water. In the fall, if you leave the flowers of your sweet Sandia echinacea on the tree after flowering, many birds like the goldfinch, for example, will come directly to collect the seeds and then disperse them in the neighborhood thanks to the guano. It is also possible that a certain proportion of the seeds fall naturally and actually do self-sowing.

In cold regions, sweet Sandia echinacea should be covered and somewhat sheltered to prevent freezing. In winter, please move your plants indoors and store the room at a temperature above 0℃ so that they can continue to grow healthily. Also, you should place your sweet Sandia echinacea in a ventilated area with good air circulation around it. If the flowers wilt or are affected by frost, the aboveground parts of the plant can be cut back until germination the following spring.

This may be due to a fungal pest or disease affecting the leaves and petals causing mold or damage to the plant to the point of bud and leaf drop. Leave enough space between plants when planting, optimize air circulation, and keep the plant and soil slightly dry.

Pour about two fingers of water into the soil (about 1 inch) each week for healthy growth. If there is a lack of water, your sweet Sandia echinacea will wilt and then die. It is best to water it once a week through a perforated hose. In summer, a good few inches of water won’t harm the plant, but soggy soil will.

Improper nutrition, poor soil, and lack of sunlight can prevent the plant from flourishing. As for the doses, we suggest you mix 3.7 liters of water with a tablespoon of soluble fertilizer; Apply your mixture to your sweet Sandia echinacea every 7 to 14 days during bloom, in summer. Use well-drained soil that is deep enough for roots to anchor well. All sweet Sandia echinacea varieties of sweet Sandia echinacea should be planted in a sufficiently sunny environment and especially not completely in the shade.

A person with these symptoms could well be infected with eriophyids, which are small insects that live in and feed on flower buds. This can lead to stunted or twisted flowers and missing petals. If your plan is infested, the best thing to do is prune it back completely in the fall and then destroy all above-ground parts (stems, leaves, and flowers) to prevent a rebound as soon as next year. . Do not use this green waste for composting, instead place it in a bag and throw it away.