Echinacea Sombrero Sangrita 3L
Description
Echinacea are low maintenance plants provided you give them a sunny spot and a well-drained soil, these perennials don’t like wet feet in the winter. The best flower colour occurs in a sunny position. During the first year keep the soil moist, but once established they are fairly drought tolerant. If you see leaves wilting or drooping, dry or cracked soil, or dry leaves that turn yellow, you should water your plant right away. If you see any of the characteristics just mentioned, be sure to give your plant a good watering, and then pay close attention to it for the next few weeks to be sure it is getting the moisture that it needs. In general, keep Echinacea on a lean diet, just fertilising once in the spring with an organic fertiliser. Remove faded flowers to prolong flowering. Cut down to soil level after they stop blooming or after a frost. Alternatively, you can leave the seed heads as they are over the winter. This can help promote self-seeding
Planting Conditions
Performs best in a sunny or partially shaded position in any moist but well-drained soil. If your soil does not drain well add some organic matter such as: well-rotted manure, compost, leafmould, composted bark etc…. to help with drainage. This versatile perennial will thrive in both sheltered and exposed positions.
Watering & Feeding
Water regularly until established, especially if grown in a container. Geums dislike soils that are prone to waterlogging, if the soil feels moist but not wet, it does not need watering. If the soil feels soggy or wet, it needs some time to try out. If the soil feels dry, then it’s time to water. If planted in a container it will be saturated when moisture begins to seep from the drainage holes, while ground watering should stop when the ground begins absorbing slower than your watering. Keep watering to a minimum in winter. Geums are not particularly hungry plants, so giving the compost a mulch annually with garden compost in the spring should be sufficient.
General Care
Throughout the flowering season cut back old stems to the base of the plant to encourage more flowers. Once flowering has finished cut back to ground level in early autumn or during the winter. To maintain garden performance dig up your Geum every three years in autumn and break into separate pieces, each with roots. Plant out straight away, discarding any weak pieces. Don’t let your divisions dry out.
