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Aug 12, 2015 3:09 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jessie Worsham
Stockbridge, GA (Zone 8a)
Northwest Georgia Daylily Society
Cat Lover Daylilies Echinacea Region: Georgia Heucheras Hostas
Hybridizer Irises
I have some Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia Goldsturm) and Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea & powwow wild berry) that have been so easy-care, that I haven't really done anything to them for the last 2-3 years except fertilize and water. Which is a good thing, but I think they could be better. I'd like to get some answers on a few things from those who are more experienced. Any advice is welcomed.

When is the best time to cut the flowers back? I've heard this will extend the bloom season. Is that true?

If I want to share these plants, when is the best time to dig/transplant?

Last year I tried collecting the black eyed susan seeds. I shook the brown flower remnants into a paper bag, dried and refrigerated the seeds. I planted in a warm window in early spring in a seedling mix (the same I use for my daylilies). I added a little hydrogen peroxide to my water to prevent damping off, but none of my seeds sprouted. What am I doing wrong?
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Aug 12, 2015 6:31 PM CST
Name: Jim D
East Central Indiana (Zone 5b)
Annuals Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Garden Procrastinator Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Native Plants and Wildflowers Region: Indiana
Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Dragonflies Cottage Gardener Butterflies Birds
One two things , the Goldstrum needs stratified outside just like the Echinacea Purpurea , When doing them (growing for yourself) take a seed head , let dry a few weeks , turn upside down in the ground or large pot that holds moisture well , outside , all winter ,(stratification required)
While dormant or at first sprout in spring , best time to move them ,( Larger plants) old plants)
Deadheading can extend bloom time but not much if any for me ,
Hope this helps Thumbs up

oops I have White Swan , Don't know about Pow Wow But neither of these require stratification or so I hear , I stratify mine (White Swan) Anyway
In the Butterfly garden if a plant is not chewed up I feel like a failure
Last edited by jimard8 Aug 13, 2015 9:03 AM Icon for preview
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Aug 12, 2015 7:22 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Bob
Vernon N.J. (Zone 6b)
Aquarium Plants Bookworm Snakes Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Heucheras
Echinacea Hellebores Dog Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Hostas Region: New Jersey
Deadheading helps with Echinacea but I have not noticed much of a difference with Rudbeckia. Echinacea do not really like a lot of fertilizer , most years I only give a bit of bone meal. I would divide or transplant in the Spring , they take longer then others to establish. I almost never plant one after mid July because survival rates are low after that.
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Aug 30, 2015 3:16 PM CST
Greencastle IN (Zone 5b)
Daylilies Hummingbirder Lilies Region: Indiana Dog Lover Echinacea
Butterflies Birds Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Garden Photography Garden Ideas: Level 2 Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I have moved both in August and very early September and had them do fine the next year here in zone 5b. Our first frost is typically around the middle of October. I like to make sure things have time to get rooted and settled in. In Georgia you could maybe push into September easily. I have also moved them in early spring with success,
“Once in a while it really hits people that they don’t have to experience the world in the way they have been told to.”
- Alan Keightley
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